Latest Blog Posts

Pinpointing your Scots-Irish origin from Autosomal DNA test Results!

The Autosomal DNA test is by far the most popular commercial ancestral DNA test worldwide (tests like Ancestry.com’s, 23andMe, MyHeritage and FTDNA's Family Finder). BUT are you really getting the... More

The Isle of Skye ‘the Genetic Heartland of the Scots’

Previous Scottish Origenes research has revealed how the Irish and Scottish Gaels share a common origin within the Rhineland of Central Europe, and that the progenitors of both groups sought refuge... More

The Scots Irish (Ulster Scots)

The first ever Plantations Surnames of Ireland map has been completed just in time for the Back to Our Past Event in Belfast in 2019. The map details the precise location where farmers with each... More

The Origin of the Scottish Gaels as revealed by their DNA!

Commercial ancestral Y-DNA testing has revealed that up to 40% of all Scottish males (and males with paternal Scottish ancestry) will have a Gaelic origin (the Y-DNA test only explores the paternal... More

Putting some Leaves on the M222 SNP Tree

Step I: When the Gaelic surname 'MacMichael' becomes Norman 'Mitchell' A change in ‘cultural identity’ can be quite rapid (think modern Americans who are a mix of almost every nation on the planet)... More

How Scots-Irish (or Irish-Scot) are YOU?

Ireland is one of Scotland's closest neighbours, and their shared heritage runs deep; it is reflected in surnames (Mac or Mc?), language (Gaelic) and not to forget their national drink (Whisky or... More

Putting a Timeframe to your Y-DNA matches!

Anybody who has taken a simple painless commercial ancestral Y-DNA test (which only explores your paternal ancestry) will potentially have matched many people with lots of different surnames, and... More

PAPER AND SPIT!

Don Anderson, who is an adoptee from Oregon, has released a book which is a must read for all adoptees wishing to uncover the identities of their birth parents. Its also a must read for anyone... More

BigY Match Mapping!

The DNA does not lie and upon commercial ancestral DNA testing the people who appear as a genetic match to you share a common ancestor with you, it is merely a matter of when that shared ancestor... More

A Case Study utilizing the NEW Scottish Maps to Pinpoint an Ancestral Origin

A Sample DNA Case Study which shows how the NEW Scottish Origenes Surnames, Clans, Castles and DNA maps can be used together with a simple painless commercial ancestral DNA test to rediscover your... More

The Scottish Surnames, Clans and Castles Maps are finally HERE!

DETAILING the origin of approximately 4,000 different Scottish surnames, the Medieval territories of 400 of the most prominent Scottish Clans and Families, and the precise location of 1000 Scottish... More

The Grahams (3 DNA Reports)

Surname distribution mapping reveals that the Graham surname is associated with Scotland and bordering English Counties. Since farmers with each surname still concentrate in the area where one’s... More

Targeted Recruiting for DNA testing

The beauty with the DNA approach to researching one’s ancestral origin is that the DNA does not lie! The area identified in an Irish, Scottish, English or Welsh Origenes personalised DNA report can... More

The Ferris Surname in Britain and Ireland

Surnames evolve over both time and distance, and change usually at the whim of an administrator who simply records an unfamiliar surname as he hears it. In this manner similar sounding surnames... More

The New Scottish Surnames and DNA Map is now available to purchase!

The New Scottish Origenes ‘Scottish Surnames and DNA Map’ can now be purchased by clicking here. The map details the precise origin of approximately 4,000 Surnames that are associated with Scotland... More

Commercial ancestral DNA testing reveals more MacGregors in disguise

At Family Tree DNA’s  annual conference in 2012 I presented results demonstrating that the Scottish 'Valentines' were descended from a MacGregor who had changed his surname sometime in the early... More

DNA uncovers a 400 year old family secret!

I’ve been busy recently doing Case Studies and working on a Surnames and Y-DNA Map of Scotland (previewed here). But this Valentine Case Study is one of my all-time favourites and I’d like to share... More

Sneak Peak of the New Scottish Origenes Surnames and DNA Map

Paternally inherited surnames first appeared in Scotland in an agricultural based society. Since land ownership, or rather farmland tends to be handed down from father to son through the generations... More

Pinpointing Your McMillan Origin

On the 9th of May I gave a talk at the request of Irishgathering.ie to the ‘Sons of the American Revolution’ who were visiting Ireland. It was there that I met Charles McMillan. Charles had taken a... More

Barr Case Study 'Pinpointing a Paternal ancestral Genetic Homeland (and Beyond!)'

The more genetic markers one shares with another individual who has also taken a commercial ancestral Y-DNA test, then the more recent one’s common male ancestor lived. Hence matches at the 67 and... More

Pinpointing Your Scottish Paternal Ancestral Genetic Homeland!

Sometimes a quite remarkable Y-DNA Case Study comes along that I will try my best to get published in a Genealogical magazine. The latest one published in Family Tree Magazine details the Paterson... More

A Scots Viking Y-DNA Case Study!

I recently completed one of the most in-depth genetic genealogy Case Studies for a gentleman based on the Isle of Man called Bill Henderson. He had contacted me to do a free analysis on his Y-DNA... More

Clan MacKenzies Norman-Irish Roots as Revealed by Commercial Ancestral DNA Testing

Every successful Irish, Scottish, or English Origenes Case Study tells an interesting story, some like the Durkin Case Study are easy to solve, others like the MacKenzie Case Study which features in... More

OriGENES presentation for FTDNA at WDYTYA LIVE 2013

I was a guest speaker for Family Tree DNA at the 2013 Who Do You Think You Are LIVE event in London. The slides for that talk can now be downloaded by CLICKING HERE. This is my second set of talks... More

The McReynolds Case Study featured in Irish Roots Magazine

Mr McReynolds contacted me hoping that I would be able to interpret his commercial ancestral Y-DNA test results and help to solve the mystery as to the origins of his McReynolds ancestors. After the... More

Scottish Origenes Presentation at Family Tree DNA Conference

I was invited by the world’s largest commercial ancestral DNA testing Company 'Family Tree DNA' to give a talk entitled 'Pinpointing a Geographical Origin' at their 8th Annual Genetic Genealogy... More

A Medieval Ethnicity Map of Scotland

The Royal house of Scotland sprang from the Kings of the Scots, who constituted only one of the 6 peoples inhabiting the modern lands of Scotland. Yet when Kenneth, son of Alpin, united the Picts and... More

The Science of Scottish Surnames

When one thinks of Scottish surnames, one almost always thinks of those that begin with Mc’ or Mac.’ This is an over simplification as Scottish surnames are quite diverse and reflect the various... More

The Human Colonisation of Scotland

Scotland was first settled roughly 10,000 years ago after the end of the last ice age. The first reference to the people of Scotland comes from Roman sources that referred to the people north of... More

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Case Studies

From Gaelic 'MacMichael' to Norman 'Mitchell'

Modern commercial ancestral DNA testing can reveal changes in the cultural identify of our ancestors!

Click here to read Mike Mictchell's Y-DNA Case Study

PAPER AND SPIT! Don Anderson's Case Study

An essential read for anyone who was Adopted, find out how to use your DNA to identify your biological father's surname and pinpoint specific locations associated with your Scottish Paternal ancestors.

Click here to download and read Don Anderson's Y-DNA Case Study

Using the New Scottish Origenes Maps to Pinpoint an Ancestral Origin!

A sample DNA Case Study which shows how the NEW Scottish Origenes Surnames, Clans, Castles and DNA maps can be used to rediscover your Scottish ancestral origin can be downloaded and studied.

Click here to download and study the Valentine DNA Case Study

Case Study 17: Utilising the NEW Scottish Surnames and DNA Map!

With over 4,000 Scottish surnames, find out how your DNA can reveal your ancestral origin!

Click here to read the Farris Case Study

Case Study 16: Uncovering a 400 year old Family Secret!

A name change and a link to a famous battle all uncovered with modern science!

Click here to read the Valentine Case Study

Case Study 15: Pinpointing Your McMillan Origin

There are an estimated 11 different McMillan Clans scattered throughout the West of Scotland. Only a Y-DNA test can determine which one you descend from!

Click here to read the McMillan Case Study

CASE STUDY 14: The Patterson story featured in Family Tree Magazine

Once in a while a special DNA Case Study comes along and I try and get it featured in a Genealogical magazine (see this blog post for the Magazine Article)

Click here to read the Scottish Patterson Case Study

CASE STUDY 13: Scottish Viking Ancestry

Mr Hendersons closest most frequent genetic matches revealed his Scottish ancestors lived close to Glasgow City roughly 1000 years ago.  

Click here to read the Scottish Henderson Case Study

CASE STUDY 12: A Family mystery solved!

A perfect example of how traditonal genealogical papertrail research and modern commercial ancestral DNA testing can work together to solve a family mystery. The McReynolds Case Study featured in Irish Roots Magazine (see here) 

Click here to read the Scottish 'McReynolds' Case Study

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