MacGregor DNA project blog update January 2016
Welcome to the annual blog
update of the MacGregor DNA project.
Last year I gave an introduction to the various DNA tests and what they
could show. In the past year, while numbers in the project have continued to rise,
most people seem to be opting for either the Family Finder test, or for SNP
testing, in order to determine where on the human family tree they lie. For
this year’s update I have decided to focus in particular on two case studies
– one of which has been supplied by Prof. Neil
McGregor in Australia. I’ll get to these in a moment.
When I wrote about Family
Finder last year I didn’t really emphasise the importance of uploading a
personal family tree into a personal DNA webpage. If you are familiar with
.GEDCOM files this will need no introduction but for the benefit of those
unfamiliar with the file format I hope these brief comments will help.
There are numerous
propriety software packages on the market for recording family tree information
and since, for once, the online community has agreed on a common format for
exporting files, it does not matter which is used. For PC a commonly used program is ‘Family
Tree Maker’ and for MAC ‘Reunion’ is often found (though Family Tree Maker for
MAC also exists). In the main, all programs do the same thing so it really comes
down to personal preference in the way data is entered and displayed as to
which one to choose. The two I have mentioned are simply those that I use
myself and should not be viewed as a recommendation.
The important thing about a
GEDCOM file when used with Family Finder is that it creates a list of surnames
which can easily be searched to see if any surname is the same in two, or more,
‘genetic cousins’.
Also new for this year’s
update is the mitochondrial grouping for those who have done this test in the
MacGregor project. It is very unlikely that exact matches will be revealed by
this grouping (unlike male Y chromosome DNA) because MtDNA does not go with
surname and it is quite unlikely that two people in what is essentially a male
surname-based project would happen to
have the same mother’s mother’s mother etc, although if a close match on the
full genome sequence for MtDNA were found, it might suggest a common emigrant
ancestor.
The grouping of MtDNA
results can be found at:
As for previous updates I
am conscious that it isn’t possible to cover all participants in the project in
detail, especially now that there are over 1100 folk taking part. I am happy to
make up some comparative charts for project members, much as will be presented
below in relation to the Stirling connection. I only request that if you wish
me to run a chart that you say the kit numbers or group with which you wish to
be compared. I can only run these comparisons for the Y chromosome test – and
it does not give useful results if less that 37 markers are compared: in other
words, the number of individuals who match within one or two mutations on 12 or
25 markers is so great as to make comparisons meaningless.
The other limitation to
note on these generated charts is this: a computer program will only do
comparisons on statistical or numerical result similarities, and since DNA
mutates randomly close family connections (that is, over the last 500 years)
can get obscured by random mutations – some families’ DNA mutates faster than
others. Various factors have been cited for increased mutation, such as age of
father, place in the sequence of births for a couple, environment, diet, and
radiation. The value of such comparisons therefore lies in the clues that it
affords to possible connections: when paper genealogy fails then such clues can
be very important!
Case Studies 1
The Stirling MacGregors
I was asked to compare the
111 marker results for kit number 13201 – representing the branch of the main
MacGregor line who adopted the alias Stirling sometime during the 17th
century. The story goes that a MacGregor (some say of the Glenstrae family, and
some say his forename was Robert, or William or Duncan) was employed in the
house of the Stirlings of Keir near Dunblane when the soldiers came looking for
the MacGregor. They were met by the lady of the house who declared “there is
no-one named MacGregor here” and from that time the MacGregor and his family
used the surname Stirling.
While the
family tradition is that the Stirlings originated in Glenstrae the evidence
shows the first use of the Stirling alias is
a “Willeam McGregour VcCoueill callit to ane toname (alias) Stirling” in the
1611a list [prepared for the Laird of Luss]. This person seems to be the
William spoken of in the tradition above regarding the establishment of the
Stirling alias. This makes him a William McGregor son of Donald. The 1611a list (#81) lists him as being of
the House of Gregor McAne and hence of the Brackley family. Searching the data
would place him in the following tree.
Gregour McAne (b~1520 alive 1595).
|- Eion Dubh (b~1550 executed 1612).
#43 in 1611a list (In Glenurchy)
| |- Patrick (b~1570)
| |- Alasdair cass (b~1571 executed 1613) #44
in 1611a list (Eion’s son)
| |- ? #48 in 1611a list (Eion’s son)
| ‘- Donmall (b~1572) (#45 in 1611a list
(Eion’s son).
| ‘- William (b~1590) #81 in 1611 list.
‘- Niall (5 sons)
This family came from the lands in Glenurchy and may have claimed “FROM
GLENSTRAE” as distinct from “OF GLENSTRAE”. [previous 15 Line comment received from Neil
McGregor after seeing a draft of the blog].
In order to see whether
there were some possible connections with other participants who had also done
the 111 Y chromosome marker test I abstracted all the 111 results in the
MacGregor Ian Cam subgroup [supposed founder of the clan who died 1390 in
Glenorchy/ Glenstrae]. What was known to
this point was that every individual who had the surname Stirling and had the
genetic profile of a MacGregor had a specific mutation from 17 to 16 at marker
32 – a mutation not borne by any other members of the Ian Cam group. This
suggested that this specific mutation had occurred by at least 1700.
Running the marker results
through the comparison tool created by Dean McGee (this can be found at http://www.mymcgee.com/tools/yutility111.html) gives a
possible “Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor’ result for comparing any two
individuals with each other. This is only a rough guide to relative distance
between two results and since we expect that the time back to the originator of
the clan is probably 600-650 years clearly any figures which exceed this number
of years in the grid would be too far back if we accept decent from Ian Cam [or
supposed father Gregor]. However, the program is assessing relative distance
between individuals on the basis of numbers of mutations, and in that context
it gives a helpful indication of possible closeness of different branches of
the family.
In the chart the kit number for Stirling is 13621 (click image to
expand).
Figure 1: TMRCA for members of the Ian Cam
MacGregor group
So, according to this grid,
the possible time distance between 13621 and, for example, 2124 – the line of
the clan chief – is found by reading along the grid line of 13621 horizontally
until it meets the line coming down vertically from 2124. This gives an
estimate of 460 years and a split point of c1500 AD. There has been a
suggestion that the Stirlings are were originally Glenstrae MacGregors – this
estimate would not rule out that being possible. Less likely would be any
connections closer than 260 years because we know that there has been a Y
chromosome mutation in the Stirling family that must have taken place before c1700. Also less likely are those time
distances which exceed 900 years separating them from other participants – simply
because surnames as such did not exist prior to about 1300 AD. This suggests that SNP testing (on individual
results which show a larger time interval from other results) would be worth
pursuing to see whether or not the individual concerned has the MacGregor SNPs
S690 or S697. As more SNP results appear it may be that we will have to
reconsider the formation of clan name groups as predating the adoption of an
identifying surname. That will be a while coming however. [If you wish to see
current results google Alex Williamson’s Big Y tree].
It is important to note
that not all the individuals in the above grid are called MacGregor. When the
Ian Cam group was created individuals were added to the group on the basis of
what their STR numerical results suggested (that is, they looked like
MacGregor). In the above grid it is therefore significant that those which show
the furthest time distance are 381858 Murray, 292892 and 350316 Stewart, 121048
McPherson, 120820, 189492 and 258767 McFarland and 237186 Hunt. Only two of the
‘further out’ results are MacGregor which suggests that even if the Y
chromosome STR results look similar, SNP
testing will be necessary to find out if individuals belong to the main surname
group or whether they split off earlier. So far the McFarlands have tested S690-
but 292892 Stewart is S690+.
If we look at the chart which the above table generates we see that
there are some interesting family groupings suggested:
Fig 2: 111 marker Ian Cam group chart
In particular, on the right
hand side of the chart we see that many of the kit numbers mentioned in the
last paragraph are all grouped together in very close proximity which seems to
imply some closer genealogical connection. It would be interesting to know what
the terminal SNP for each of these individuals is.
Most of the other branches
appear to represent separate families though as I mentioned earlier it’s hard
to say anything absolutely since DNA can mutate randomly even within the same
branches of a family. In the chart above
it seems like Stirling kit 13621 is more closely related to McGrigor kit 256584.
If this truly is a family connection then it must be before 1700 because kit
256584 does not carry the distinctive Stirling mutation at position 32.
It is useful to compare the
locations of the Stirling results in the 111 analysis in Fig 2 above with those
members mentioned in the following case study which makes a similar claim to
Glenstrae origin but using DNA and documentation to make the case.
Case Studies 2
A surviving MacGregor of Glenstrae family?
The second case study is
extracted from a longer version which will be published in the Clan Gregor
Society Spring 2016 Newsletter, and will subsequently be available to download
from this blog. The material has been put together and analysed by Neil
McGregor in Australia using 111 marker results from Family
Tree DNA, Big Y results from Family Tree DNA, and MacGregor results from
ScotlandsDNA. [the following text is an abbreviated version of their article].
Analysis of the y-DNA is associated with the known
descendants of John McGregor (John of Monzie) who married Ann Stobie on
14 June 1826 in Monzie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland. As the y-DNA only traces
the male line we obtained data from three male lines descended from John of
Monzie. These sons were Charles John (b 1836 at Glassworks, Alloa), John
(b 1838 at Balmain, NSW) and James (b 1840 at Braidwood, NSW) (See
figure 1 and tables 1-2 for the lines of the DNA samples and the results of the
analysis). The data in tables 1 and 2 show that the family descend from the
Clan Gregor hierarchical family and that the DNA from current descendants of
John’s line (NRM & AAM) differs from the current descendant of Charles
(GCM) line by 2 mutations (one in each from the common ancestor) and James’s
line differs by three mutations from the other two. Both John and Charles lines
differ from the Clan line by five mutations (389a and 389b appear to be a
single mutation not two) and James by six mutations. The Y-DNA pattern of John of Monzie (b1790), the common ancestor,
can be predicted and would have differed from the Clan line by four mutations -
his Y-DNA data is given in Table 1. The actual dates from the birth of John of Monzie to all the tested
subjects is between 150 and 175 years, being 4-5 generations. The calculations
are based upon the McDonald mutations rates and using average generation time
of 30 years results in a reasonably accurate prediction. James’s data indicates
that the family may have a higher mutation rate than is normal but recent
research has indicated this may simply be the result of where the
mutations occur on the Y-DNA and not an actual increase in mutation
rate.
Lines of the Y-DNA samples from John McGrigor (Monzie b
1790).
John McGrigor (Monzie born 1790)
|-
Charles John (1836) (Alloa Scotland) 3rd generation Graeme Chisholm
MacGregor
|-
William (No samples acquired from this line)
|-
John (1838 - Balmain NSW) 3rd and 4th generations Neil
Roland and Alexander Andrew James
‘- James (1840) (Braidwood NSW) 4th
generation James Hardy
From these data we can estimate the time to the Clan
common ancestor (Table 2) to be ~1350 using the McDonald mutation rate for the
normal population. This figure is different if we calculate the mutation rates
based upon the higher mutation rate seen within this family’s actual data, the
date to common ancestor being between 1380 and 1618 with a median of 1480.
Table 1. Summary of the Y-DNA 67 marker test for the Clan
and the two subjects and that of John (1790).
Table 2. Time to common ancestor (Years) for John 1790
and his three descendants.
Using the Y chromosome mutation rates proposed by Doug
McDonald the separation from the Clan modal occurred ~1380, however, as
mentioned above, using the individual mutation rates determined for this
family’s actual data gives later values. The mutations rates of NRM and GCM
give the separation date as ~1480 and for GH ~1618. This date related to GH is
far too short to the present and the mutation rate therefore too high to be
meaningful over all the generations so only the data based upon NRM and GCM
will be used.
Examination of the Clan documented history only places
three Clan Gregor family lines in the Monzie/Crieff parishes in the 1600s and
they are: Glenstrae, Glenlednock, Roro and a group who used the alias McAra,
whom the documents show are actually of the Roro line. These Clan Gregor
families have their common ancestors at various dates: Glenlednock have been
proposed to have separated from the Glenstrae line in ~1400 and the Roro line
prior to that date. However these dates are only speculative. Thus, the DNA
evidence supports the possibility that the Bega family [family of NRM who first
settled in Bega, Australia] could be derived from any of these three families.
We have approximately 18-20 generations between the above tested individuals
and Gregor [name father of the clan] born ~1300, which equates to 1 mutation
every 3 to 4 generations. Whilst this mutation rate is higher than normal, it
actually is found in the Familytreedna.
Firstly,
it is noted that the Bega [NRM] family has a unique mutation in the Clan dataset
at DYS 389a and DYS389b of 14/31. No other tested subjects have this marker so
we cannot be matched using that data. It is likely that this mutation occurred
after 1500 and before 1790 and therefore would only be seen in recently related
individuals. Analysis of the Clan Gregor Y-DNA database shows several distinct
clusters with few mutations and several high mutation clusters. Analysis of
these latter groups shows potential correlation between the mutations and
certain geographic locations. Two of these appear to be sequential, and they
are mutations at DYS576 at 16 and 17 when compared with the general Clan data
at 18. Those at 16 are the Stirlings who lived in Dunblane and those at 17 from
people who claim to be from the Glengyle family. Both these groups could have
descended from the Glengyle although other data suggest that the Stirlings are
from the house of Gregor McAne of Brackley and have lived in Glenurchy on the
Glenstrae lands. It is very unlikely that the Bega [NRM] family are
descended from the families of Roro, Glengyle, Brackley / Ladasach, or McRob.
This strongly suggests that the Bega family are descendants of the one
remaining family: the Glenstrae line.
Assessment
of other genetic matches.
The Bega [NRM]family has a mutation of 9 at 459b. This is
shared by 5 other participants in the Clan Gregor database.
Table 3 Analysis of subjects within Clan Gregor who have
9 at 459b.
This seems to be an early mutation in one branch of
the family. These kit numbers were assessed using comparative Y-DNA analysis,
and table 3 shows the mutations within the group. Table 4 shows the dates to
common ancestor for the group and this suggests that the closest common
ancestor was with kit number 191228. The date of common ancestor being ~390
years ago or ~1560 using the same mutation rates as for Neil [NRM] and his
cousin Graham in the analysis. The oldest known ancestor for kit 191228 was
Alexander McGrigor born in 1790, living in Lanarkshire.
Table 4. Time to common ancestor for the members of the analysis.
Kit 94903 has their oldest known ancestor in Lanarkshire
in 1790. Kit 119330 has their oldest known ancestor in Buchanan in
Stirlingshire, and 121048 has their oldest known ancestor as one James
McPherson from Abernethy/Kincardine and that they lived on the lands of the
Grants. Kit 120679 did not report a location or ancestor.
The
important factor about these different family locations is that they are very
widespread across the Highlands and part of the lowlands. Whilst the dates and
locations may be related to movement during the “clearances” or post
Jacobite wars (1745/46), as appears to be the case with kit 191228, the others
cannot be attributed to these events. This suggests that the 9-9 mutation group
have an early mutation from a family that is now well scattered – most likely
due to the early habitation of the occupation sites, movements during the proscription
or some other upheaval. If the mutations occurred early in the family then the
low numbers in the database could suggest that many of the 9-9 kindred may have
been killed during the proscription hence their low numbers within the Clan
database. The known aliases used by some within the 9-9 kindred are Graham
for kit 191228, McPherson for kit 121048 and Murray which was
used by the Bega (NRM kit 16198) family.
McGrigor
in Lanarkshire.
McGregor (Kit 191228) respectively is the closest non
immediate related DNA sample to the (McGregor Bega Kits) [NRM] and also to
McPherson (Kit 121048) suggesting that all three have a high probability of
being from the same family and from the discussion above, therefore most likely
Glenstrae. Importantly the DNA data suggests that the common ancestor is likely
to be Alaster Ruadh MacGregor. (The DNA suggests ‘time to common ancestor’ is
390 - 450 years respectively for all 3 Kits). This suggests that the
individuals are likely to have arisen from different sons of that Chief
(Alaster Ruadh 1524-1547).
[detail omitted which will be in the full report when published]
Of all the possibilities, when considering the actual
family history, traditions and marriage connections, etc., the data at hand
suggests Kit 191228 is most likely a descendant of Ewin the Tutor and probably
from Kilmannan himself through the son Hugh. A more detailed report on this
will be submitted later, in conjunction with the history of Kilmannan and Rob
Roy that to date seems not yet to have been posted. In support of this
contention Kit 191228 has 4 separate Autosomal DNA matches with known
descendants of Kilmannan’s via his female line.
As Kit 191228 McGrigor and Kit 121048 McPherson both
match the Bega McGregor [NRM] kits, with the DNA data being supported by the
documentary evidence, the conclusion is that the Bega [NRM] McGregors are also
Alaster Gald - Glenstrae descendants.
Neil McGregor has summarized this and other data analysed
in a revision of the chart published in last year’s blog.
Fig 3: Proposed Clan Gregor descendancy chart as at end
2015
Just to repeat the invitation to request comparisons with other
participants stated above: please state the group or individuals with whom you
wish to be compared and I will help you interpret the results. Please note that
it is only feasible to compare like with like (i.e. 67 markers with 67, 37 with
37). As usual my email address is richardmcgregor1ATyahoo.co.uk (substitute @
for AT).
Richard McGregor January 2016
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