General research aims:

To create a validated yDNA dataset of English and Scottish noble family lineages that ruled during the Anglo-Norman era (1093-1286) in Scotland. The dataset can be used to bridge the gap for individuals who cannot prove their ancestry from these noble lineages via traditional genealogical evidence. This is especially a problem for people of British diaspora where their ancestors left Scotland between 1600-1800; many of whom, are the descendants of younger sons of noble males who migrated to new lands for better opportunities because they were not in line to inherit.

This research will also aim to provide guidance on how a mixed disciplinary approach to genealogical research can be implemented to maximise the development of family trees. The reference dataset generated on proven SNPs associated to specific SNP progenitors or multi-generations SNPs will be a reliable source to prove descendant claims or reject them. This will then hopefully improve on the high number of poorly researched family trees with many errors on platforms such as Ancestry.com and help eradicate replication of erroneous trees.

The project also aims to compare the SNPs of English Norman nobles to the Anglo-Normans nobles that ruled Scotland which share the same surname. This is to assess whether Anglo-Norman surnames were adopted in Scotland during this era or by a process of inherited, thus, confirming the hypothesis that Anglo-Normans were invited into Scotland during this period, particularly under the reign of David I.

As this PhD research progresses into more advanced stages, more research questions will develop in addition to the general research aims highlighted above.

Surnames of high interest:

Anglo-Norman (including Flemish and Breton):

Balliol, Bisset, Barclay, Boyd, Bruce, Camron, Chenye, Cockburn, Douglas, Fleming, Forrester, Fraser, Gordon, Graham, Hamilton, Hay, Herries, Lindsay, Lyle, Maxwell, Menzie, Montgomery, Monypenny, Mortimer, Mowat, Murray, Muschet, Olifard, Preston, Ramsay, Russell, Seton, Sinclaire, Sommerville, Vaus/Vans

Anglo-Norman surnames from the Ragman Rolls of 1296 but likely extinct:

Archer, Baret, Belle, Bernard, Billingham, Blanerne, Blunt, Boghan, Bois, Botle, Boule, Boure, Boys, Boyt, Breton, Bryce, Briden, Brown, Burgh, Cadiou, Cantelu, Caron, Catton, Chaplin, Chathou, Chatton, Chaumbre, Clerk, Cochet, Comyn, Cor, Corbet, Cribbes, Cantelou, Champion, Darel, Denum, Fauconer, Ferrer, Frere, Fulton, Geffrey, Giffard, Gilbert, Goldingham, Graunge, Gaunter, Hage, Hateley, Hill, Hog, Holcote, Hoton, Herford, Lang, Liberton, Lorence, Lynne, Mar, Mare, Marshall, Mercer, Merton, Montford, More, Maul, Newton, Nicol, Norman, Nevile, Otre, Paris, Perel, Perre, Picton, Porter, Pride, Richard, Roche, Roland, Roffy, Roule, Rydel, Soules, Straton, Sutton, Taylor, Torry, Totherigg, Torthorald, Tour, Umfraville, Waleys, Watton, Welles, Weir, Whitewell, Wright, Yetham

Pictish:

Abernathy, Campbell, Keith, Leslie, Ogilvy

Other surnames of ambiguous origins:

Annan, Borthwick, Carlyle, Crichton, Cunningham, Dishington, Drummond, Dunbar, Eglinton, Erskine, Fenton, Forbes, Gray, Haliburton, Hepburn, Hume, Kennedy, Kirkpatrick, Lauder, Living, Mureston, Logie, Menteith, Mure, Ross, Ruthven, Sempill, Strachan

All spelling variations of the surnames highlighted will also be considered.

Any enquiries regarding the research project can be made to Philip Stead.