About us
“The greatest history book ever written is the one hidden in our DNA.”
—Dr. Spencer Wells
The McCracken surname has its origins in Scotland. The surname McCracken first begins to appear in the historical records of southwest Scotland in the late 1400's and in Ireland by the early 1600's. With a distance of only 17.5 nautical miles separating southwest Scotland from northeast Ireland, McCrackens were able to reach Ireland by ship in less than three hours in the early 1600's. McCrackens are shown to be in Ireland prior to the colonization of Ulster which began in 1604. During this colonization known as the "Plantation of Ulster" McCrackens in greater numbers crossed over to Ulster in search of better economic opportunities & conditions than what was available to them in Scotland. These McCrackens now from the northern counties of Ireland would later be known as Ulster-Scots. Many of these Ulster-Scots dissatisfied with their opportunities in Ireland would over time immigrate in significant numbers to the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa as well as to the British West Indies and to a lesser extent to Argentina & Chile, with some returning to Scotland. McCrackens who had remained in Scotland also immigrated but it appears they did so in far fewer numbers than those from Ulster.
FREE Y-DNA testing available for selected new members from Northern Ireland and Scotland.
With the objective of being able to analyze and compare the Y-DNA of McCracken males from Scotland against the existing McCracken Y-DNA database, any McCracken male born in southern Scotland (Wigtownshire, Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire or Kirkcudbrightshire) and who submits his Y-DNA sample along with their paternal family history tree (proven McCracken family roots in the area going back at least 150 years) to the McCracken Group Administrator for review & confirmation, will receive a complimentary Y-DNA test. This offer includes your predicted haplogroup. If your interested in taking advantage of this offer then please send an email with your family history information to the McCracken Group Administrator by clicking on his email address listed above.
FREE Y-DNA analysis is also offered to a McCracken male who can prove he descends from one of the following men:
1. William McCrackan was born 1735 at Old Glenluce, Wigtownshire,Scotland & settled in New Haven, Connecticut in 1767. Son of Andrew McCrackan & Margaret McDoul (McDowell). Brother of John, Alexander, James and Grisel McCrackan. Husband of Sarah Miles. A British Loyalist during the American Revolutionary War. William died in 1809 and is buried at the Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven.
2. Joseph McCracken was born 1736 at Worcester County, Massachusetts. The son of immigrant parents John & Jeanette McCracken from Ulster Province, Ireland. The husband of Sarah Turner. A veteran of the French & Indian War. During the American Revolution Joseph rose to the rank of LtCol in the Continental Army. He died on 5 May 1825 and is buried at the Revolutionary Cemetery, Salem, Washington County, New York.3.