The Phillips DNA Project

Family Group 16 has become our latest group to score a European match!  Kit number 150069 traces his Phillips line back to an Owen Phillips who was born about 1810 in Ireland.  This match makes sense, because Group 16 has very Irish-looking yDNA.  Their yDNA matches the Irish Modal Haplotype, which is believed to stem from a prolific 5th century Irish warlord known as Niall of the Nine Hostages.  It is thought Niall may be the paternal ancestor of one in 12 Irishmen.  Interestingly, Group 16 is our only group who matches the Irish Modal Haplotype, perhaps indicating the surname Phillips was not very common in early Ireland.