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From:
Subject: Re: [DNA-R1B1C7] R1b1c7 in Scotland
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2007 18:36:28 EDT
Hi John, good to hear you are still working on the R1b1c7 in Galloway and
Ayrshire. I'm currently working on an article that relates to a particular group
of surnames that begin with the prefix "A", which in Scotland appear almost
exclusive to Galloway and South Ayrshire. These include surnames like
Acarson, Amuligane, Acannan and survived amongst certain families right down until
about 1600.
This study might be useful for those interested in the general spread of DNA
amongst certain native families in south Ayrshire and Galloway. I took a
trawl through Ysearch to isolate as many results that give their origin from the
old earldom of Carrick in South Ayrshire, Galloway and parts of
Dumfriesshire. This threw up some interesting results. In the context of the following
article, which only covers Carrick, it was interesting to compare names like,
McCall and McWhirter, which have early origins in Carrick.
_Brittonic-A_
(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~alanmilliken/Research/DNAStudies/Brittonic-A.html)
Its heavy reading! McWhirter is the key name to pick out, and it can be
traced back to the Cithariste or Harpers of Carrick. In the following excel
webpage, I have listed six McWhirter results that apparently have a genealogical
link to Carrick.
_DNA-Galloway_
(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~alanmilliken/Research/DNAStudies/dna-galloway.htm)
Scroll down to the section on South Ayrshire. Three of the results fit Ken's
I1b2a1 Modal for the Isles/Scotland. Are we looking at 'wee' cluster of
settlers from the Western Isles. From what I can see, the personal name Somerled,
was commonly used by a family who held land from the earls of Carrick from
the 1200s onwards and they are linked to the McWhirters.
I recently had a look at my FTDNA webage was amazed to find so many
Dochertys and similar variations that are very close to my type. There were other NW
Irish Surnames. I guess it is difficult for me to rule out the possibility
and that at least some of the R1b1c7 group in Galloway could have originated
from NW Ireland. I certainly don't see this group being part of a later wave of
Irish settlers, but a group or more of people who crossed into Galloway
before 1200 at different times. Recently, I added some more charters to my
Nithsdale Charter List and in one of them, appears the name of "Murchereach, priest
of St Carpre of Dunescor". "Murchereach" strongly echoes an Irish origin.
_Early Nithsdale Documents 1200-1240_
(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~alanmilliken/Research/ScottishRecords/Miscellaneous/NithsdaleDocuments2.htm
l)
In my article on Surnames Prefixed by the Brittonic 'A' & 'Ap' I make
reference to the Clan Kenelman and its captain Michael McGorth. ‘Kenel’ is the
anglicised form of the Gaelic ‘Cenel’, which broadly means ‘kindred of' or
'people of’. The term Kenel is used by Gerald of Wales in his 'The History and
Topography of Ireland, where he writes of the "Kenelcunil", that is, the Cenel
Conall of NW Ireland. To find the term Kenel being used in Galloway raises the
question of their origin. Could they have come from Ireland? The Cenel
Gabhran and Lorne of Argyle provide comparable Scottish examples, which you also
know claim descent from the Dalraida. It is a great pity the genalogies of
the Kenel Main, Manus or Maghus have never survived.
In the excel sheet, I included four McCord results. The first two can be
traced to Ayrshire, and the two remaining come from Ulster. I included them for
comparison. The McCords of the Scottish variety originate from Wigtownshire.
It would be interesting to know more about the 'Kenel Maine' and when they
first emerge as a Cenel in Galloway. I presume, like the Cenel Gabhran and
Lorne of Argyle, the progenitor of this clan came from Ireland.
Alan
In a message dated 21/07/2007 18:37:01 GMT Standard Time,
writes:
I'd like to pose a question for the DNA experts that is probably lurking in
the minds of many who are R1b1c7. How and when did the DNA come to
Scotland? And why are so many Galloway and other border/lowland families
R1b1c7?
A secondary but related question might be how old is the DNA?
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