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MacFarlane DNA study

The barons of Arrochar who became the chiefs of clan Macfarlane descended from the Gaelic earls of Lennox. A younger son of the 2nd Earl of Lennox was the founder of this family, Gilchrist, whose great-grandson, Parlan, in turn became the name-founder of the clan. From his son, Malcolm, onwards the surname MacFarlane became fixed. There are instances of a cadet taking his father's Christian name as surname, such as MacAllan (son of Allan MacFarlane) and Thomson or Thomason (son of Thomas MacFarlane). Many of the rank and file of the clan took other names designating their vocation, such as Stalker and Miller, while others adopted names from motives of prudence when the clan came into conflict with the authorities. As a result clan Macfarlane has many associated Sept surnames and some bearing these names were originally Macfarlanes. From the ancestral lands of Arrochar the Macfarlanes spread throughout the Highlands and to Northern Ireland. Today Macfarlanes are found around the world.

MacFarlanes world-wide are needed to take part in a study of the Y-chromosome which only males carry. [But please see paragraphs 4 and 5 below.] Given the nature of Scottish clans all MacFarlane [however spelt] males and all males bearing any of the Sept surnames of the clan are urged to take part in this important project. It is hoped that the results will reveal the genealogical ties between the chiefs, their cadet houses and the various septs.

The MacFarlane Project aims to find out what DNA says about our ancestry. Who are we and where did we come from? We know that our clan chiefs descended from the earls of Lennox but can we confirm that the earls and their ancestors the mormaers of Lennox descended from the kings of Munster? Do all those with the surname MacFarlane, any variant, have a common ancestor? Can we identify cadet houses? Which associated Septs were originally Macfarlanes? DNA testing will help us find the answers to these questions and more.

Our host lab FamilyTreeDNA.com has the world’s largest yDNA (direct male line ancestry) and mtDNA (direct female line ancestry) database and tests more yDNA markers and mtDNA markers than any other lab in the world, and now they also offer the new autosomal block DNA testing. What is autosomal block DNA? It is the DNA found in blocks between the yDNA of your direct male line and the mtDNA of your direct female line, so now any male can test for the full range of his DNA and any female can do the same! Autosomal block testing will enhance DNA evaluations and provide additional insight into the relationships between individuals with any DNA match (yDNA or mtDNA) up to 10 generations back thus better defining branches in a family tree.

Because of the new Family Finder DNA test ($289.00 USD) we can now accept anyone who descends from a MacFarlane (of any variant spelling) or someone with a Sept surname (any variant) within ten generations; this overides the old limitation to participation by males only bearing these surnames. Please check the list below to see if you find your surname there. To participate meaningfully in this project, you will need to share your ancestry back to the earliest known MacFarlane/etc. in the form of a pedigree chart, family group sheets, or a GEDCOM file. You do not need to be a member of any of the clan Macfarlane societies in the world to participate, although you may wish to make such an association in order to meet many more of your probable kin.

Project Surnames

Allan, Allanach, Allanson, Allison, Arrell, Arrol, Barclay (in Ulster), Bart, Bartholomew, Bartie, Bartson, Brice, Bryce, Caa, Callander, Caw, Condey, Condeyie, Condy, Cunnison, Galloway (in Stirling), Grassick (in Montrose), Grassie (in Aberdeen), Greusaich, Griesch (in Aberdeen), Gruamach, Kennson, Kinnieson, Kinnison, Knox, Leaper, Lechie, Lennox, MacAindra, MacAllan, MacAllen, MacAndrew, MacAndro (in Dunbarton), MacCaa, MacCause, MacCaw, MacCondey, MacCondeyie, MacCondy, MacEach, MacEachern, MacEoin, MacErrachar, MacErracher, MacFarlan, MacFarland, MacFarlane, MacFarquahar, MacGaw, MacGeoch, MacGilchrist, MacGreusach, MacGreusich, MacInally, MacInnes, MacInnis, MacInstalker, MacIock, MacJames, MacJock, MacKindlay, MacKinlay, MacNair, MacNaiyer, MacNayer, MacNeur, MacNider, MacNiter, MacNoyer, MacNuyer, MacRobb, MacWalter, MacWilliam, McFarlan, McFarland, McFarlane, Michie, Millar, Miller (in Dunbarton), Monach, Monachock, Nacfaire (in France), Parlan, Robb, Smith (in Dunbarton), Spruell, Stalker, Thomason, Thomson, Weaver, Webster, Weir, Williams, Williamson, Wilson, Wylie, Wyllie.

Please use the link below to learn more:

www.familytreedna.com/public/MacFarlane

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Permalink Reply by LuRose Williams on March 8, 2010 at 11:05pm

I am a Williams and here are the Allele:

12 25 15 10 11 13l12 12 1312 13 28

18 9 10 11 11 24 15 20 31 14 15 16 17

Russell J Williams
Kit#162876
Family Tree DNA

Permalink Reply by Chev. Terrance Gach MacFarlane on March 9, 2010 at 8:31am

Your 25 haplotype markers got jumbled -- am I correct to read them as:

12-25-15-10-11-13-12-12-13-12-13-28-18--9-10-11-11-24-15-20-31-14-15-16-17?

Also, please tell me your Haplogroup and I can compare your results to the 131 members of the study.

Thanks,

Terrance

Permalink Reply by LuRose Williams on March 9, 2010 at 8:51am

You have the numbers in correct sequence. The Haplo Group is R1b1b2 the RM269.

If you need anything else let me know... Thanks.

LuRose

Permalink Reply by Chev. Terrance Gach MacFarlane on March 9, 2010 at 9:54am

LuRose:

Thank you for providing your Hg and confirming your haplotype. I have compared your markers to our database, but unfortunately I could not find a match for you. Hopefully the new "Family Finder" test coming out later this month will add new information to our database and a match may appear for you later.

Thanks again,

Terrance

Permalink Reply by Chev. Terrance Gach MacFarlane on June 5, 2010 at 8:14pm

For all of you men out there interested in genetic genealogy but who have never tested your yDNA (which only men carry) here is your chance to do so at a discount.

FamilyTreeDNA.com is offering another yDNA test sale this Summer! The discounted prices are only good for new orders for the three specific tests mentioned below. For those of you who were waiting for a discount offer -- here it is.

The offer will only run for 20 days from today so you must act quickly to take advantage of it!

Here is the notice I just received:

"Last Summer we offered a pricing special that was the most successful offering of its type in our company's history.

Here are the details:

Y-DNA37 for $119 (Regular price would be $149)
Y-DNA67 for $199 (Regular price would be $239)
Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $159 (Combined test would cost $238)

The promotion will start June 5 and will end June 25.

Kits need to be paid for by June 30, 2010."

Permalink Reply by Chev. Terrance Gach MacFarlane on June 25, 2010 at 6:58pm

The June DNA testing discount offer has been extended to June 30, 2010. All orders must be made and paid for by that date.

MacFarlane DNA study

Project Surnames

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