All male Moriarty descendants, regardless of race, ethnicity or the precise spelling of their last name, are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Moriarty Surname yDNA project. The project analyzes the Y-chromosome to determine kinship. Men inherit both their Y-chromosome and their surname from their fathers; and pass both on to their sons.

Women do not have a Y-chromosome, and traditionally adopt their husband’s surname. Therefore, female descendants are only able to participate in the Moriarty Surname yDNA project through a male Moriarty relative. However, Moriarty women, or those with a Moriarty ancestor, are encouraged to consider the FamilyFinder test in their own right.

Project Objectives

• To identify the haplotypes associated with the various distinct branches of the Moriarty families in the Kenmare, Killarney, Tralee, Annascaul and Dingle areas of Co. Kerry
  

• Determine how Moriarty Irish emigrants to a given country are related to each other.
  

•         Enable a living male Moriarty anywhere in the world to identify his Irish family of origin.
  
  
  DONATIONS
  
  Donations to the Group General Fund will be used to sponsor participants who have Irish ancestry that the Moriarty DNA Committee feels will help reach our project goals.