Thirty two men have tested so far and twenty-five have a significant match showing they come from a common ancestor from many centuries ago. Their names are Mac Harg, McHarg, McHargue, McChargue and Meharg and their known ancestral geographic origins include Scotland and Ireland. This common ancestor is a descendant of the same Northern Ireland and Scottish Lowland haplogroup which includes the ancient Ui Neill dynasty (Niall of the Nine Hostages) of 5th century northwest Ireland.

A divergent Meharg line has now emerged that seems to center in the middle of County Down between Rathfriland and Clough near Castlewellan.  The three men of this line share a common ancestor that existed prior to 1800. This line is not of the UiNeill family.

One McIlhargie has tested and does not match either of the groups.  More McIlhargies, preferably from Scotland or Ireland, need to test before any assumptions about the MacHarg and McIlhargie/y connection can be made.

Two McCards whose family had always been told they were originally McHargues, joined the project.  DNA testing has proven that this line of McCards are in fact, McHargues.  They descend from Henry and Louisiana McHargue/McCard of Upson County, Georgia. Another recent interesting finding is about the McHargs who originated in Megantic County, Quebec.  Descendents of Joseph b. 1816 and his brother, David have tested and confirmed that sibling relationship.  A descendant of Samuel McHarg of Megantic, b. 1833, previously assumed to be a brother to Joseph and David,  is related but not closely.  He, in fact, has a perfect 37 marker match to a descendant of David McHarg and Mary Davidson of Maybole, Ayrshire

Even with this news, the project is not complete.  Connections are starting to show between the various family lines and with more participants from the many families taking part, we might be able to link all the families at some point.  I have many family trees created so far for Mehargs and McHargs of Scotland and Ireland and would like to get yDNA signatures for all of them eventually. 

There is a McHargue family website at www.mchargueclan.org. Please contact Glynis McHargue Patterson at glynispatterson@gmail.com to contribute information for the website and/or to be added on to a McHargue mailing list for family updates.