Frain, Frayne, Freyne, Frane.

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Thus far, DNA Results are proving that there is wide genetic diversity within this group of surnames.  Participants, surnamed: Franey [Freney], Frain, Frayne, Frayn, Dufresne and French were found to belong to five different haplogroups and none thus far appear to share a common ancestor in the direct male line within genealogical time frame:

Haplogroup G

Haplogroup I

Haplogroup R1b1a2

Haplogroup R1b1a2a1a1a4

Haplogroup R1b1a2a1a1b4



In relation to the surnames Frain, Freyne, and Freeney, the website Goireland.com states:

FRAIN, Freyne, Freeney

‘de la Freigne is an earlier form of the name (with many variant spellings) and as such it repeatedly occurs in every collection of documents relating to counties Kilkenny and Tipperary from the year 1302 when Fulk de la Freigne was seneschal of Kilkenny. The form used in mediaeval deeds in Latin is usually de Fraxineto. It is thus etymologically akin to the better known surname French: Latin fraxinus, French fréne (ash). The surname of the Barons De Freyne, of Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon, is French. Freney does not seem to have been used before the sixteenth century. Freney of Ballyreddy is recorded as one of the chief gentlemen of the barony of Ida (Co. Kilkenny) in 1608. Later in the same century the Book of Survey & Distribution shows Freneys to have been old proprietors in that barony. James Freeney, of Ballyreddy, was one of the prominent people attainted after the Jacobite defeat. Frain (Frayne etc.) is more numerous today than Freeney. The former is most often met with in Mayo and Roscommon; while Freeney is mainly found in Dublin. Mother Ursula Frayne (d. c. 1886), notable for her work with missionary priests in Canada and Australia a century ago, was from Co. Carlow.’

As proven by current DNA results, there are numerous unrelated ancient progenitors of the families eligible to join the Project. Clearly, genetic testing offers the best solution to determining just how many separate points of origin there were. We know already that these surnames are not all related by blood, although some might be connected by ‘house’ or clan. Utilising DNA testing in tandem with traditional paper trail research is a very powerful combination for trying to unravel the mysteries of who is related to whom, and which related families are more closely related than others. It is hoped that more men will DNA test so that clusters of related kinfolk will form and then perhaps some light will be shed on individual family and surname origins.


For more information please visit Martin Frain's website: www.frainfamilyhistory.com


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