The project's goal is to research the Mid Argyll Kinship Group circa 1300 to late 1500s. . The geographic area of the study is the parish of Kilmichael Glassary and the surrounding districts, such as Bute, Arran, Cowal, etc.
The surnames in the group are Duncan, Gay, Gray, Henry, Henrie, McAlpin, McCain, McCane, McKane, McKain, McKean, McKeen, McDonald, and McLea. In Gaelic, Mac Donnchaidh, Mag Aodh, Glass, Mac Eanruig, Mac Ailpín, Mac Eáin, Mac Dónaill, and Mac an Leagha. Another surname of interest in the research are McLachlain (Mac Lachlainn) and the project is open to any male that is high level DNA match to the group.
The reason are so many surnames in the group is because surnames were not fixed in Argyll in the 1500s. Gaelic families often followed traditional patronymic customs of mid Argyll. This generated several surnames within the same family during that century. This is why we have McAlpin, Henry, Duncan, McDonald, etc., showing up within the same paternal clan.
The surnames in the DNA match group were in use in Kilmichael Glassary in the 1500s. Most of these surnames appear in records connected to the Mac Lachlainn 'clan' of Dunadd. It is speculated that the Mid Argyll Kinship group is actually the Mac Lachlainn of Dunadd family.
This project will have Dr Kyle MacLea as an administrator, he is a geneticist by profession and teaches at a university. I will be a co-administrator helping out with the primary source research and Gaelic language elements.
Link to Join the Mid Argyll Kinship Group DNA project: Mid Argyll Group
