Hi,

My name is Jan Patrick Mongoven. My g-g-g-grandfather was JAMES MUNGOVAN, born in/near Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland circa 1801. He emigrated to the US with his family around 1850 and soon found his way to Iroquois County, Illinois. Some of his children produced many more children...and they more...until now there are thousands of descendants of this man and his wife, CATHERINE COSTELLO.

We Mongoven's (Mongovan's, Mungovan's, etc., etc.) know that we are descended from Co. Clare. The surname was primarily found in West Co. Clare, but we have little proof of the origin of the name. Two authors offer us this: "The family name stems from O' Mongavain [O' Mongevaine -- Mongavan, Mungavan, Mungavin]; descendant of Mongvan [white hair]; an old County Clare surname." [From "Irish Names and Surnames" by Rev. Patrick Wolfe; 1923; Irish priest of Limerick; O = grandson or any male descendant.] "(O) MUNGOVAN - O Mongabhain (mongbhan, white hair). A west Clare family." (from "The Surnames of Ireland" by Edward MacLysagh; Irish Academic Press).

Some claim that the name is of Norman origin. I tend to lean toward this hypothesis. Since so many records of the time were not kept or were lost...frustrating to us all...we need help from science. That's where DNA testing comes in. It is my understanding that I will be the first Mongoven (Mongovan/Mungovan, etc.) to be tested. My Y-chromosome will be tested to determine my Y-chromosome's 37 genetic markers. I inherited this chromosome from my father, who got it from his, and so on back to James Mungovan...and to HIS father and so on back into the ages.

With my information in the database, I hope someday to be able to connect my markers with those of families from the Norman region of France. Time (and the wonder of science!) will tell. I'm also having a full mitochondrial DNA test done as well for my maternal (Swedish) side...but that's another story and doesn't apply to our Mongoven side.

I urge any Mongoven men (since men are the only ones with Y-crhomosomes) to visit the website (Family Tree DNA) that is performing my test ( http://www.familytreedna.com/ ) for information and pricing of the simple test kits.

I ask that you inform yourselves and then decide whether or not you wish to participate in this process. We need to solve our ancestral mystery with regard to the origin of the Mongoven (MUNGOVAN) name. The Mongoven Family DNA Project honors the memories of our ancestors. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Sincerely,
Jan Patrick Mongoven

Hi,

My initial 12-marker results are in and available at the Family Tree DNA website (www.familytreedna.com). My information can be located by searching for kit 51271. I have uploaded my GEDCOM information for James Mungovan (my 3rd great grandfather) and his descendants.

Locus DYS# Alleles


1 393 13
2 390 24
3 19* 14
4 391 10
5 385a 11
6 385b 15
7 426 12
8 388 12
9 439 11
10 389-1 14
11 392 13
12 389-2 30

*Also known as DYS 394

My haplogroup is R1B1. "Haplogroup R1b1 is the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype" (from the Family Tree DNA website).

In a few weeks I'll have my 37-marker test completed, which will provide much stronger linkages to a most recent common male ancestor. It will also be important as we ask the question: Was the Mungovan/Mongoven name Norman? Basque? Other??? I strongly urge any Mongoven (including variant spellings, of course) males to take part in this project.

Sincerely,
Jan Patrick Mongoven

Hi all ~

The Irish Heritage DNA Project is another valuable site. It can be accessed at http://homepage.eircom.net/~ihdp/ihdp/ and my (Mongoven - FTDNA #51271) Y-chromosome DNA markers can be compared to others of Irish ancestry. Perhaps you can find a name that fits with your own family tree. Given the paucity of Irish records, many more of us need to get involved, in order to help solve our genealogical mysteries. Surely somebody in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, etc. has pictures, Bibles, notes, etc. that can help us trace our family.

Jan Patrick Mongoven

Hi ~

I've completed the Y-chromosome 37-marker DNA testing at Family Tree DNA. My results are available there at www.familytreedna.com and my results are shown next to kit 51271. I also posted my results at the Irish Heritage DNA Project website at http://homepage.eircom.net/~ihdp/ihdp/dna_results.htm . Perhaps it's time for other Mongoven/Mungovan/Mongovan/etc. males to be tested. With solid traditional genealogy, the science of DNA is a powerful tool...let's find out where we originated in Ireland/Europe.

Sincerely,
Jan Patrick Mongoven