31 Oct 2024

The MacDougall DNA Project at FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) currently has around 390 participants.

Of these, we have 53 men who have presently tested positive for YP326, a noteworthy marker on the R1a “Scandinavian” branch of the Y-chromosome tree. YP326 is considered to be the marker for individuals who are descended from Somhairle MacGillebride, AKA Somerled (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerled). These 53 project members are also positive for YP5543 which is a descendant mutation of YP326. It is believed that YP5543 is the signature marker of men who are descended from Dougall, son of Somerled and progenitor of the Clan MacDougall. The significant prevalence of YP326 among Scandinavian, Icelandic, and Western Isles Scotsmen strongly supports the view that Somerled, himself, was of Scandinavian descent.

In addition, the project has around 200 members who are positive for R-M269, a significant marker on the R1b branch of the Y-chromosome tree. The R1b branch is more “Celtic” in nature and very common among Scottish and Irish men. Within R-M269 MacDougall members we see about 40 distinct groupings including groups of MacDougall men who share a paternal ancestry in Perthshire, Stirlingshire, Roxburgh and Argyll and Western Isles (incl. Mull, Jura, Barra, and Easdale). About a dozen of these R-M269 men are Dowell or McDowell men. So far we have not found any McDowell men who are positive for the YP5543 marker.

We have around 35 MacDougall men who are positive for I-M223, I-M253, and J-M172 which are more common in England and Ireland. And finally we have about 25 MacDougall men who descend from Clanranald in Glenurquhart and Glenmoriston as well as a number of men who descend from R1a SNPs which branched off many generations before the existence of Somerled and Dougall.

Finally, nearly 100 of our project members have no MacDougall connection on their paternal line. It may be that some are connected to MacDougalls through other family members.

We are often asked how MacDougall men who are not positive for YP5543 got their MacDougall surname. The answer lies in the patronymic naming system that was used in parts of Scotland until the early 18th century whereby children would take their family name from the first name of the father – hence, young Hamish who was the son of Donald, would be referred to as Hamish MacDonald … where mac or mc (there is no difference) means son of, and sometimes also adorned with a “modifier” like Mor (big), Og (young), Ruadh (red-head) etc. The Scottish feudal and clan systems also meant that many tenants of clan territories, or subordinate vassals might take the name of their clan leader or superior a their own, often as a mark of respect. This is before we even consider name changes through adoption or illegitimacy. Accordingly, surnames are a poor predictor of paternal lineage in Scotland.

Another frequent question is: “Are MacDougall men who do not have the YP5543 marker still able to be members of Clan MacDougall?” The answer is an emphatic YES. Every Scottish clan is comprised of men who can claim descent from the chiefly family, as well as men and women who are / were related to MacDougall family, and people who came by their MacDougall name through other means. Ours is an inclusive clan and we can all proudly proclaim our allegiance, wear our colors, and celebrate our heritage!

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