Welcome to the UlsterHeritage DNA Project

The goal of the Ulster Heritage DNA Project is to study the surnames, families, clans, of the people of Ulster and their descendants throughout the Diaspora. Another goal is to allow Ulster descendants in the Diaspora to locate their kin still in Ulster and to communicate with them. The Ulster DNA Project will use Y chromosome test to accomplish these goals.

Anyone from Ulster or of Ulster ancestry is urged to participate. This includes Ulster families of Native Irish, Hebridean Gael, Ulster Scot and English Settlers, Norman, Welsh, Frisian, Manx, etc., origins.

Ulster has several factors that have made family research and surname study there problematic, however DNA testing has given researchers a very powerful and effective tool to bring clarity and uncover obscured Ulster family histories. 

This project has evolved from the very successful work of individual Ulster family DNA projects. These projects very dramatically demonstrated the need to separate history from pseudo history and to correct many mistaken ideas that originate in generic surname books.

The Ulster Heritage DNA Project will not only further one’s family history, but can also confirm a family’s geographic origins, show a clan affiliation when appropriate, and even show deep ancestry dating to medieval times and before. Ulster has a very rich history that includes Native Irish clans, Gallóglaigh clans, Vikings, Ulster Scot families with more recent links to Scotland, etc.; all these will be effective researched via this DNA Project.

Note: the UlsterHeritage DNA Project is not a commercial enterprise and the administrators are Volunteers.  There is no charge or fee to participate in the UHDP. Caution: Individuals and families may view, save and print the yDNA results or other information on this site for their private research and non-commercial use.   For anything other than personal use and family history research, you should obtain permission from the UHDP and the individual members of the project before using any materials on the website. When information from this web site is used, please acknowledge the UHDP as the source.

Project Coordinator - Barry McCain

Webmaster - Jim McKane