25. ‘Y-Chromosome Testing: To what extent can it provide insight into the origins and connections between kindreds recorded in the 1467 manuscript?’

by Alasdair F. MacDonald

Synopsis

The interpretation of traditional origin legends and clan pedigrees has often been a hotly debated topic. DNA testing is now able to provide insight into the origin of Highland clans and explore the reliability of pedigrees such as those recorded in the 1467 Manuscript.
The methodology used will be explained in light of the limitations and challenges encountered in order to establish reliable test data.
The presentation will highlight research and findings for several kindreds and explore to what extent Y-Chromosome testing might corroborate pedigrees, illuminate origins and provide insight into patrilineal dynasties in the late medieval period.

Image caption: ‘Map’ of the 1467 MS genealogies, from https://www.1467manuscript.co.uk/03 mapkindreds.html

About the speaker

Alasdair F Macdonald is a teaching fellow at the Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies at the University of Strathclyde. He is an administrator of a number of Clan and family DNA projects as well as the Scottish DNA Project. He is a co-author of Tracing Your Ancestors Using DNA : A Guide for Family Historians (2019, 2nd edition due in late 2024) and the Declaration of Arbroath Family History Project (2020).

How to participate

This talk will begin at 7.30 pm (GMT) and last up to one hour, followed by questions. As the audience for each talk will be limited to 100, please register in plenty of time by e-mailing us (click either on the ‘Register for Events’ button above, or click here click here ). You will then be sent a code to allow you to join the talk.

• Participation in these lectures is free to members of the Society and to students.
• Non-members (other than students) are politely requested to pay a lecture fee of £5.

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