Mother's Day Sale, now through May 15: Family Finder $59 & mtDNA $119. Save even more when you bundle!

McDuffie

Duffy/McDuff/McDuffie/McFee/McPhee/McAfee and variant surnames
  • 390 members
Administrators
  • Greg Wick
Co-Administrators
  • Ed Aber Leek
  • Robin McPhee

$301.00

General Fund Total
Donate

About us

The Y-DNA results are located under the DNA Results tab in the "Classic" and "Colorized" pages. The individual tests are grouped by the project administrator into different subgroups. 

Each individual member's kit is organized by their haplotype, based off of their STR results and predicted or confirmed SNPs. If you are matched with other project members in a subgroup, than you all share a common ancestor at some point in time.

Check to see if your matches have a family tree uploaded, or contact them directly for more information. Some matches may be within a genealogical time frame and finding a common ancestor in paper records is a possibility.

Each subgroup is defined by their haplogroup. The list of SNPs in each subgroup heading is a short-hand descendancy chart from an ancient shared ancestor down to more recent times. As more project members take the Big Y700 test, more SNPs will be discovered and added to the phylogenetic tree. Some of the subgroups have had enough SNP testing done to bring their haplogroup (or terminal SNP) down into recent genealogical times. At least two or three Big Y testers are recommended for every subgroup in the project.

As with other surname projects, there are many unique and distinct paternal lines that make up the McDuffie diaspora. Since the origin of the surname around 1000 years ago, the surname was a mark of affiliation to a group or clan of families living in close proximity and with a perceived shared destiny. Not all of the males in the group or clan would necessarily have shared the same male ancestor at the time of surname adoption. Also, clans often absorbed other non-genetically linked groups as they expanded. Over the years this leads to many genetically separate lines with a common surname.

Project Results:


Please note: All results are subject to change as new information becomes available.  Oct 2023 - an update to the summary below due shortly.


A clear majority of project members belong to the R1b haplogroup, which is considered to be Celtic in origin. A few project members belong to the I-M253 haplogroup, which is considered to be Norse in origin. Haplogroups R1a, I-M223, G-M201, E-M2 and J-M172 are also represented to a lesser extant in the project as well. 


Several of the subgroups in the project include many versions of the McDuffie name, which indicates that the spelling of the surname did indeed change over time, regardless of origin or location.   


The first subgroup in the Y-DNA results page (green heading) are defined by the terminal SNP Z43258. This group of closely related members share the Fee/Fea surname, and two of the three share the same MRCA (most recent common ancestor).


The second subgroup in the Y-DNA results page (orange heading) includes several Duffys of Irish origin, and have tested down to the terminal SNP L130/BY3308. Big Y700 testing by more group members is needed to verify their terminal SNP, and expand this branch of the phylogenetic tree.


The third subgroup in the Y-DNA results page (cyan heading) are all part of the larger Clan Colla/425 null group. These Duffys are all of Irish origin and descend from the ancient princes known as "The Three Collas." Considerable progress has been made by project members in this branch through Big Y and individual SNP testing at YSEQ. There are currently seven branches of Duffys within this subgroup. Individual SNP testing or Big Y700 testing is required to discover which branch you descend from.


The fourth subgroup (light gray) may also be part of Clan Colla, or may be on a different branch of DF21. Upgrading their test results to 37, 67 or 111 markers and SNP testing will be needed to further refine their haplogroup.


The fifth subgroup (light yellow) includes a McDuffie and a Duffy who are defined by the terminal SNP CTS4466, and are part of the Irish Type II haplogroup, Upgrading their test results to 37, 67 or 111 markers and SNP testing will be needed to further refine their haplogroup. 


The sixth subgroup (aqua marine heading) of McAfees and MacDuffees is defined by the terminal SNP BY42411, and is part of the L513/L193 branch of the phylogenetic tree. Further Big Y testing by at least one more member of the subgroup will refine this branch of L193. 


The seventh subgroup (aqua marine heading) of MacDuffs, Duffs, and McIntoshes is defined by the terminal SNP Z17816, and is part of the L513/L193 branch of the phylogenetic tree. More SNP testing is needed in order to bring their terminal SNP into the genealogical era. Please consider recruiting other MacDuff or McIntosh members into the project, and SNP testing via Big Y700.


The eighth subgroup (aqua marine heading) includes two McDuffs, one Duff, one Duffy and two McPhees, and is part of the L513 branch of the phylogenetic tree.. Please consider upgrading to 67 or 111 markers and SNP testing via either the L513 SNP pack or Big Y500 in order to determine proper haplogroup placement within the project.


The ninth subgroup (yellow heading) is defined by the SNP M222+. This haplogroup is believed to descend from the Irish High King “Niall of the Nine Hostages,” and originated in Northwest Ireland. This large subgroup includes many Duffys, McAfees, McDuffs, Mahaffeys, McFees and Fees, among others. Members of this subgroup should consider SNP testing via either the M222 SNP pack or Big Y700 to further refine their placement in the subgroup.  


The tenth subgroup (light yellow heading) includes two McPhees who descend from a different branch of Haplogroup DF49, and is defined by the terminal SNP L227. Big Y700 testing will be needed by both subgroup members in order to further refine this branch of the phylogenetic tree.


The eleventh subgroup (red heading) is part of a larger haplogroup known as the Scots Cluster (SNP L1335). This subgroup is defined by the SNP FGC10125, and is closely related to the modal haplotype of Clan Campbell. This subclade may represent the "Chiefly Line" of Clan MacFie. At least one more Big Y700 tester is needed in the FGC10125 subgroup in order to bring their terminal SNP into the genealogical era.


Other subgroups of L1065 are defined by the shared ancestral SNP S744, and include MacPhies, MacRaes, Stewarts, Hayes and the Cathey surname group. Please consider further SNP testing in order to refine your placement on the phylogenetic tree.


The twelfth subgroup (green heading) are defined by the terminal SNP A7300. This subgroup is closely related to the modal haplotype of Clan Cameron. Several members in this subgroup share a geographical origin as well, hailing from either the Lochaber region or Glen Urquhart. The group has made considerable progress with SNP testing through multiple Big Y tests, and has now been further subdivided into two branches. If you would like to determine which branch you are on, please consider upgrading to 67 markers or the Big Y-700 test. 


The thirteenth subgroup (light blue heading) is defined by the terminal SNP BY7779. This subgroup includes five McAfee testers, and is closely related to the Clan MacFarland modal haplotype. This subgroup would benefit from Big Y700 testing in order to bring their terminal SNP into the genealogical era. 


The fourteenth subgroup (violet heading) are SNP DF27+ and includes a Duffee, two McAfees, a Coffey, a McPhee, two McDuffies and two Rigsbees. In order to make further progress please consider ordering the DF27 SNP pack or the Big Y700 test.


The fifteenth subgroup (light yellow) includes two McFees and are SNP U152+. Please consider SNP testing via either the L2 SNP pack or Big Y700 and joining the R-U152 Haplogroup project.


The sixteenth subgroup (orange heading) is comprised of testers who either have too few markers tested, or not enough matches in the database. Please consider upgrading to 37, 67 or 111 markers, and SNP testing via either the M343/M269 backbone SNP pack or Big Y700.


The seventeenth subgroup (violet heading) includes a McPhee and a Tanner who are in the I-M223 (Pre-R1b European) haplogroup, and are defined by the terminal SNP BY3794. This subgroup would benefit from additional SNP testing. Please consider upgrading to 111 markers or the Big Y700 test.


The eighteenth subgroup (coral heading) includes a McAfee and a McNicol who are in the I-M223 (Pre-R1b European) haplogroup and are defined by the terminal SNP Y4751. This subgroup would benefit from additional SNP testing. Please consider upgrading to 111 markers or the Big Y700 test.


The nineteenth subgroup (light yellow heading) includes two Moons and two McAfees who are in the I-M253 (Norse) haplogroup, and are defined by the terminal SNP Y15505. This subgroup would benefit from additional SNP testing in order to bring their terminal haplogoup down into the genealogical era. Please consider the Big Y700 test.


The twentieth subgroup (light gray heading) includes a Duffy, a McPhee, a MacDuff, a Currie and a Duty who are in the I-M253 (Norse) haplogroup. This subgroup would benefit from additional SNP testing in order to bring their terminal haplogoup down into the genealogical era. Please consider upgrading to 67 or 111 markers, and SNP testing via either the I-M253 SNP pack or Big Y700.


The twenty-first subgroup (light blue heading) is the McHaffie surname group and are in the I-P37/I2a haplogroup. This subgroup would benefit from additional testing. Please consider upgrading to 67 or 111 markers, and SNP testing via either individual SNPs or Big Y700.


The twenty-second subgroup (green heading) includes two McPhees who are in the R1a (Norse) haplogroup. This subgroup would benefit from additional SNP testing. Please consider upgrading to 111 markers or the Big Y700 test.


The twenty-third subgroup is the McGaffey surname group, and are in the G-M201 (Neolithic) haplogroup. None of these members have had any SNP testing done. Please consider upgrading to 67 or 111 markers, and SNP testing via either the G-L497 SNP pack or Big Y700. 


Please remember, project members whose haplogroup name is in green are confirmed, and those whose haplogroup name is in red are predicted. In order to confirm your haplogroup, you will need to order additional SNP testing, either via individual SNPs, SNP packs, or the Big Y700 test.


If you are not paired with at least one other project member you are not in a subgroup. I may have you separated out based on your SNP testing results or based on your STR matches’ SNP testing results. 


If you would like to form a subgroup of your own, please recruit family members to test and join the project. The more distant the genealogical relationship the better, 3rd, 4th or 5th cousins would be ideal.


If you have any questions about your placement in the project, your matches, or Y-DNA testing please contact the project administrator Greg Wick.