June 3, 2024

 The project now has 146 members with at least the Y-37 test, which is the minimum required to estimate a shared genetic group. Their Y-DNA separates 127 of those men into 13 distinct groups formed within the surname era and matching at least one other project member. Except for groups 1 and 2, they share no common ancestor born in the last 2000 years. 19 men match no other project member within the last 2000 years.

Over the past 6 years, many members have upgraded their Y-DNA results. This has shown that the Y-37 and Y-67 tests cannot reliably do much more than place people in a genetic grouping within the last 1000 years.  Some of the members have genealogical evidence that shows how they connect to other members who have at least Y-111. But some others do not. For those who do not, it is recommended you upgrade to BigY-700, to give you the best chance to determine where you fit and narrow down your search for genealogical evidence. We have had multiple cases where even Y-111 left a mystery, but BigY-700 immediately allowed a connection. Though we have other cases where it has not. In these cases, recruiting new members to take tests, or waiting for a match, are the only options.

As can be seen in the membership of this surname project, there are many spelling variations of this name. Most of the different genetic groups show multiple variations. The Neely variation is used below out of convenience, it being the variation used by over two thirds of the project members.

Surnames began forming in the British Isles after 1066, so there is no common paternal line biological source for all men with a Neely variant surname. 

The Neely project is up to 13 Genetic groups determined entirely on the basis of genetic evidence.

Within these groups, genealogical evidence shows how some of the men in these groups are related. For all the larger groups, the lines are fragmented, as genealogical evidence has not been located to completely connect all members. Genetic and genealogical evidence has been combined to propose structures. (See the phylogenetic trees near the bottom of About/Results.)

You can assist our efforts toward combining genetic and genealogical information:

1. Check the lines of descent link near the bottom of About/Results and confirm your kit is included. If not, and you wish it to be there, provide the project administrators with what you know, and approval to share it.
2. Consider upgrading your YDNA test to BigY-700, or Y111 at a minimum.
   
   

Group 1 and Group 2:

These are the only two Neely groups that share a paternal line ancestor born in the last 2000 years. Together they include half of the project members with Y-DNA results. As we now have many BigY-700 results, spread across both groups, they show their common ancestor is defined by the SNP mutation R-BY17509. He was born about the mid-1500’s.

• Group 1 comprises 36 members, 64% with BigY-700 and 72% with Y-111. They are split across 14 paternal line fragments. They share a common ancestor born in the late 1500s to early 1600s. That was the first man with the SNP mutation R-A17284.
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• 17 descendants of Thomas Neely (1695-1756): Estimated great grandson of Mr. R-A17284.
• 7 descendants of son Samuel
• 5 descendants of son Thomas
• 4 descendants of son Jackson
• 1 descendant of son John
• 8 descendants on 5 fragmented lines that appear to share a common great-grandson of Mr. R-A17284.
• 1 descendant of Samuel Neely “of the Oblong” (1738-1786)
• 1 descendant of Andrew Neely of Nottingham, NH (d. 1733)
• 2 descendants of Matthew Nealey (1767-1843)
• 3 descendants of Robert McNeal (1780-1841)
• 1 descendant of Henry Miller (1858-1923)
• 3 descendants of Joseph Neely (1790-1869): Estimated 4^th great grandson of Mr. R-A17284.
• 3 descendants on 3 fragmented lines that appear to share a common great-grandson of Mr. R-A17284.
• 2 descendants of John Neely (1755-1827): Estimated 3^rd great grandson of Mr. R-A17284.
• 3 descendants without Y-111 or BigY-700 tests and with lines that don’t connect to any other member. Their distance cannot be properly estimated, though they are almost certain to fall within group 1.
• 1 descendant of William Neely (1797-1897)
• 2 others without a Neely surname variation, and no known connection to one.
  
  
• Group 2 comprises 39 members, 74% with BigY-700 and 79% with Y-111. They are split across 14 paternal line fragments. One of these has a complete probable paternal line back to the first Neely found in Irish records: William Neely in the 1630 Donegal Muster Roll on the Chichester Estate. His entry shows “with sword”.  BigY-700 results estimate he was the son of the common patriarch of Group 1 and Group 2.
• 6 descendants of a Neely group that by the 1750s were settled near North Fork Fishing Creek, where it crosses the modern boundary between York and Chester counties in South Carolina.
• 3 descendants of William Neely “with sword” (~1596-1666): Son of Mr BY17509
• 4 descendants of Victor Neeley (~1710-1780)
• 3 descendants of Andrew Nealy (b. 1756)
• 5 descendants of a grandson of William Neely “with sword”, who share R-FTB23634.
• 12 descendants of a grandson of William Neely “with sword”, who share R-FT107341.
• 10 descendants of James Neely (1715-178x)
• 1 descendant of Joseph Neely (~1770-~1840)
• 1 descendant of Alexander Neely (1831-1899)
• 3 descendants of a grandson of William Neely “with sword”, who share R-FGC44555.
• 1 descendant of Henry Neely (~1695->1778)
• 2 descendants of John Neely (1715-1772)
• 2 descendants of a grandson of William Neely “with sword”
• 1 descendant of John Neelly (~1702-1778)
• 1 descendant of William Charles Neely (1800-1840)
• 1 descendant with only Y-37, and limited genealogical evidence. These are not sufficient to further refine where he fits, other than being in Group 2.
  
  

 Group 3 comprises 9 members, 8 having both BigY-700 and Y-111 (89%).

• 6 of these members have provided genealogical evidence showing they fall under two patriarchs:
• 3 descendants of John Neely (~1755-~1848)
• 3 descendants of John Neely (1749-1786)

 Group 4 comprises 7 members, 4 with BigY-700 and Y-111 (57%)

• 2 McNeely descendants of David McNeely (~1745->1800)
• 5 members have not provided or approved sharing genealogical information.

 Group 5 comprises 6 members, 1 with BigY-700 and Y-111 (17%)

• No members have provided, or approved sharing, genealogical information.

 Group 6 comprises 10 members, 4 with BigY-700 (40%) and 6 with Y-111 (60%)

• 3 descendants of James Neely (1701-1791)
• 6 descendant of Charles Alfred Neely (~1720-1788)
• 1 member with only Y-37, which is not sufficient to further refine where he fits.

 Group 7 comprises 2 members, 1 with BigY-700 and Y-111 (50%)

• No members have provided, or approved sharing, genealogical information.

 Group 8 comprises 2 members, 1 with BigY-700 and Y-111 (50%)

• No members have provided, or approved sharing, genealogical information.

 Group 9 comprises 4 members, 1 with BigY-700 (25%) and 3 with Y-111 (75%)

• 1 descendant of Thomas Neely (~1750-~1800)
• 1 descendant of Joseph Neely (1770-1849)
• 2 members have not provided or approved sharing genealogical information.

 Group 10 comprises 3 members, 0 with BigY-700 or Y-111 (0%)

• 3 descendants of Robert Neely (1741-1830)

 Group 11 comprises 4 members, 1 with BigY-700 and 3 with Y-111 (50%)

• No members have provided, or approved sharing, genealogical information.

 Group 12 comprises 2 members, 1 with BigY-700 and Y-111 (50%)

• No members have provided, or approved sharing, genealogical information.

 Group 13 comprises 2 members, 2 with BigY-700 and Y-111 (100%)

• No members have provided, or approved sharing, genealogical information.