The concept of a genetics study for Clan MacLeod was first proposed to the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies [ACMS] in 1974 as a chromosomal analysis, definitive DNA analysis not being readily available at that time. The proposal was declined because in the minds of the leadership at that time such would be "an invasion of privacy." Now, thirty years later, the ACMS has completed a study under the auspices of University College London [UCL], involving over 550 initial volunteers and yielding 367 usable samples. This study had two arms: an investigation of possible surname DNA linkages and a search for Viking DNA linkages. The results of this study can be found at the ACMS Web Site, www.clanmacleod.org.

The UCL study included only the surname, MacLeod, with its variant spellings. Now under FamilyTreeDNA two surname projects are in progress: one for the surname MacLeod, however spelled, and one for the Sept surnames of Clan MacLeod. The surname MacLeod has multiple variations and spellings and only the main ones have been included in the listing, although others are eligible to participate. There are two ancient branches of Clan MacLeod, the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan and the MacLeods of Lewis and Raasay, and MacLeods with connections to either branch are encouraged to participate.

Information on the Sept surname project is available at the following address:

www.familytreedna.com/public/MacLeodSepts/default.aspx