Guthries of Mondooey, County Donegal, Ireland

GUTHRIE RESEARCH TREE: GFG18

Guthrie Family Group 18 (GFG18): Overview and Origins

• GFG18 Designation: Represents a distinct genetic lineage of Guthries primarily from Mondooey, County Donegal, Ireland, with documented descent from William Guthrie (born between 1780-1790) and his wife Mary (maiden name unknown).
• Historical Context: The family resided in Mondooey Middle townland within Raymoghy Parish, a rural area in the Barony of Raphoe North, characterized by arable farming and Presbyterian influences, reflecting broader Ulster Scots settlement patterns.
• DNA Insights: Associated with Y-DNA haplogroup R-M269, refined to R-FTE46438, confirming a unique branch not directly linked to other major Guthrie groups, though sharing broader Celtic roots.
• Origin Theories: Evidence suggests Scottish roots, likely tied to the 17th-century Ulster Plantation, where Scots migrated to Ireland; the surname Guthrie often derives from Gaelic terms meaning “windy place” or “son of Uchtre,” with possible Anglicization from Irish names in some contexts.
• Key Descendants: Includes son James Guthrie (c.1828-1910), a farmer who married Anne Jane Kilpatrick, with seven children, highlighting continuity in local agriculture.

Core Family Structure

The foundational lineage of GFG18 traces back to William Guthrie, a farmer listed in the 1826 Tithe Applotment Books for Mondooey, Raymoghy Parish. He and Mary had at least three children: Matilda Jane (c.1819-1886, unmarried), James (c.1828-1910), and Nancy (c.1830-1885, unmarried). The family’s Presbyterian affiliation is evident in marriage and death records, aligning with the religious demographics of the area.

Local Setting in Raymoghy Parish

Raymoghy Parish, also known as Ray or Raghniohie, spans about 14,820 acres along Lough Swilly, supporting arable farming with some bog and mountain terrain. In the 19th century, it hosted fairs at Manor-Cunningham and was home to Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic, and Presbyterian congregations, with the latter prominent among Ulster Scots descendants. Mondooey townland, divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper, was a modest agricultural holding, as seen in tithe and valuation records.

Potential Genealogical Connections

While GFG18 stands as a genetically distinct group, broader Guthrie origins in Ireland often link to Scottish migrations during the Ulster Plantation (early 1600s), when lowland Scots settled in Ulster for land grants. In Donegal, such families integrated into Presbyterian communities, as reflected in local church records. Further DNA testing could clarify ties to other Guthrie branches.

The Guthrie Family Group 18 (GFG18) encapsulates a modest yet enduring lineage of rural Irish Guthries, rooted in the townland of Mondooey within Raymoghy Parish, County Donegal. This group, as designated by the Guthrie DNA Project, represents one of over 15 genetically distinct Guthrie family clusters worldwide, emphasizing the surname’s multifaceted origins and migrations. At its core is William Guthrie, born between 1780 and 1790 likely in County Donegal, who farmed in Mondooey Middle until after 1843, alongside his wife Mary (maiden name unknown). Their documented children—Matilda Jane (c.1819-1886), James (c.1828-1910), and Nancy (c.1830-1885)—illustrate typical 19th-century rural family dynamics, with unmarried daughters contributing to household labor and sons inheriting agricultural roles. James, the primary heir, married Anne Jane Kilpatrick in 1863 at the Presbyterian Meeting House in Donaghmore, producing seven children who continued the farming tradition into the 20th century, as captured in the 1901 Census.

Genetic Profile and Project Context

Within the Guthrie DNA Project, GFG18 is classified under haplogroup R-M269, further specified as R-FTE46438 through Big Y testing. This Celtic-associated haplogroup indicates deep European roots, with three confirmed Y-DNA matches linking descendants directly to the William and Mary line. Autosomal DNA participants bolster these connections, particularly for female lines, though Y-DNA remains key for paternal verification. The project’s goals include tracing shared ancestry across global Guthrie families, revealing GFG18’s isolation from larger groups like GFG2A (with Scottish and Northern Irish ties) or GFG8 (possible Irish non-paternal event origins). Kit 430562, from James Guthrie’s descendants, exemplifies this, urging more participants to refine the group’s resolution.

Historical Background of Raymoghy Parish

Raymoghy Parish, historically known as Ray or Raghniohie, lies in the Barony of Raphoe North, encompassing approximately 14,820 statute acres along the navigable Lough Swilly. In 1837, it supported 5,756 inhabitants, with arable land dominating amid improving agriculture, supplemented by bog and mountain areas. The parish’s economy revolved around farming and cattle fairs at Manor-Cunningham, held bimonthly. Religious institutions included the Church of Ireland rectory (built 1792), Roman Catholic chapel at Drimairghill, and two Presbyterian meetinghouses under the Synod of Ulster, plus one for Seceders. Education featured three public schools and nine private ones, educating around 510 children, alongside Sunday schools. Mondooey, split into Lower, Middle, and Upper townlands, was typical of smallholder settlements, appearing in Tithe Applotment Books (1823-1837) and Griffiths Valuation (1847-1864). The area endured the Great Famine (1845-1852), with Donegal’s potato dependency driving emigration, potentially explaining untraced Guthrie branches. Post-Famine reforms, like the Wyndham Act (1903), aided land ownership, as seen in the 1901 Census Guthrie household.

Genealogical Origin Theories

The Guthrie surname predominantly originates in Scotland, from the lands of Guthrie in Angus, derived from Gaelic “gaothair” (windy place) or “MagUchtre” (son of Uchtre, of uncertain etymology). In Ireland, it appears in Ulster (e.g., Antrim, Donegal) as an Anglicization of Gaelic Ó Fhlaithimh (“descendant of Flaitheamh,” meaning prince) or Ó Lathaigh (“mud” or “slime”) in Clare. For Donegal Guthries like GFG18, the most plausible theory involves the Ulster Plantation (1609 onward), when Scottish lowland families were granted lands to colonize Ireland, promoting Protestant settlement. Examples include Guthries from Forfar, Angus, migrating to Belfast or Ulster in the 1700s, establishing iron foundries or farms. In Donegal, Presbyterian records from 2nd Ray Church (1833-1864) show Guthrie marriages, suggesting integration into Ulster Scots networks. Alternative theories include non-paternal events or adoptions, as seen in other Guthrie groups, but GFG18’s DNA supports a consistent paternal line. Counterarguments note potential Irish Gaelic roots in specific locales, but Scottish migration dominates for Ulster Guthries.

Research Avenues and Broader Implications

Genealogical pursuits for GFG18 benefit from resources like WikiTree profiles (e.g., James Guthrie-2910), Griffiths Valuation, and parish registers from Raymoghy’s churches. Emigration patterns post-Famine suggest checking U.S. or Canadian records for branches. The family’s story mirrors Ulster’s complex history: Plantation-induced demographic shifts, religious divisions, and economic resilience amid famine and land reforms. Ongoing DNA efforts could link GFG18 to Scottish clans or other Irish groups, enriching the global Guthrie tapestry.

Key Citations:

https://www.cotyroneireland.com/marriages/ray2.html – Presbyterian marriage records from 2nd Ray Church, including Guthrie entries.

https://guthriegenealogy.blog/gfg18/ – Overview of GFG18 and William Guthrie lineage.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Guthrie-2910 – WikiTree profile for James Guthrie, detailing family in Mondooey.

https://guthriegenealogy.blog/given-names-f-thru-j – Ungrouped Guthrie families, including James of Raymoghy with DNA kit.

https://guthriegenealogy.blog/guthrie-dna-project – Guthrie DNA Project goals and grouping methodology.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guthrie_(surname) – Surname origins, including Scottish and Irish derivations.

https://www.houseofnames.com/guthrie-family-crest – Scottish etymology and early history.

https://www.ancestry.com/last-name-meaning/Guthrie – Irish Anglicization details.

https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/irl/DON/Raymoghy – Historical and geographical summary of Raymoghy Parish.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GuthrieClan/posts/10159706015817286 – Discussion of Scottish Guthries migrating to Ulster.

https://guthriegenealogy.blog/guthrie-family-groups – List of all Guthrie Family Groups, including GFG18 context.

http://donegalgenealogy.com/raymoghymn.htm – Marriage notices in Raymoghy, mentioning Guthries.

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