Mistaken DNA Test

[DrWilson]

So I had my DNA test re-analyized by a professional.

Turns out I am 63% Scottish

I reached out to my mother after decades of silence to ask why? I thought her english.

My sister said no way mom is Scot-Irish

So I spoke to my mother. She is indeed Scottish and the mix she mentioned matched my results.

Now I'm currently in Edinburgh Scotland. Enjoying my roots wearing proudly my clan tartan, which is Gunn clan.

[davidlpope]

So I had my DNA test re-analyized by a professional.

Turns out I am 63% Scottish

I reached out to my mother after decades of silence to ask why? I thought her english.

My sister said no way mom is Scot-Irish

So I spoke to my mother. She is indeed Scottish and the mix she mentioned matched my results.

Now I'm currently in Edinburgh Scotland. Enjoying my roots wearing proudly my clan tartan, which is Gunn clan.

Did you test with LivingDNA?

[KMCMICHAEL]

I was unaware that DNA tests could discern between Scottish and British?

[davidlpope]

LivingDNA is the only company that I know that differentiates by counties/regions within Britain. This is done on the basis of region-specific SNPs. That's the theory, at least.

[slothead]

So I had my DNA test re-analyized by a professional.
Turns out I am 63% Scottish
I reached out to my mother after decades of silence to ask why? I thought her english.
My sister said no way mom is Scot-Irish
So I spoke to my mother. She is indeed Scottish and the mix she mentioned matched my results.
Now I'm currently in Edinburgh Scotland. Enjoying my roots wearing proudly my clan tartan, which is Gunn clan.

Who did the original DNA tests for you? And which type was it (autosomal, Y-, MT-)? What didn't it offer that you felt you needed it re-analyzed?

[LKM]

A DNA test can show traits that are more common among different groups. A full DNA sequencing can even tell the difference between regions in Scotland or Wales. The Welsh, Scottish, and Irish share several genetic traits that are not common among the English who are descended from the Anglo-Saxons, Danish, and Normans. The Scottish Highlands have more Norse mixed into the DNA, while the Scottish Border Lands are closer to a mix of Northern Welsh, Danish, Anglish, and some Irish. In Northern England there is more Danish DNA from the Danelaw while Southern, especially the South East, there is more Norman DNA. At several points in English history it was illegal to interact with someone who was Scottish, Welsh or Irish. I' glad this has changed. That being said, there are several areas where there was mixing among the groups earlier in history then others and there were families that traveled through the whole of the British Isles. I do find it interesting how many times in history people that were Scottish or Welsh used English names so that they could do business with an English family.

As someone who is Welsh, Scottish, English, Norse, Native American, and almost everything else (the only continents I have not found ancestors from are Antarctica and Australasia) I find it annoying when people try to hide part of the family tree because of what others might think about it. My mothers side of the family also hid some of their history from the family and if my Moms' dad was still alive he would be furious to hear that I found African ancestors in his line.

[HGMIVL]

Nice to know all that, and congratulations on your find!

As an American of colonial ancestry, I'm as much a mutt as expected, but the Big Three testing companies: Family Tree DNA, Ancestry.com, and 23andMe, don't delineate between Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Ulster, or English. They just show as "British Isles" or "Great Britain and Ireland," at least to the other Americans with whom I've discussed this. Perhaps I should test with a British company to find out a little bit more...

[O'Callaghan]

It's complicated.

Most highland clans are descendants of Gaelic Celts, but some descend from Vikings. Then you have the ancient Picts, who may or may not have been Brythonic Celts. Parts of the borders once belonged to a Saxon kingdom, but were conquered by the Scots.

All that is without taking into account more recent migrations in modern times.

[Dunbar]

Y-DNA can get very specific. My father did Y-111 markers and Big-Y with FTDNA. The Big-Y test he did, along with several other Clan Dunbar project members helped pin me to the other side of my brick wall. My line goes back to 1650 when my ancestor came to the colonies from Scotland, either as a prisoner of Cromwell from the Battle of Dunbar or as a merchant. We don't know his parents but we do know he descends from the 5th son of Sir Alexander Dunbar, heritable sheriff of Moray (son of the last Dunbar Earl of Moray). Within a few years of appearing in the Boston area he is the 3rd highest tax payer in Hingham MA and has several hundred acres with orchards fields etc. The head of our name, Sir James Dunbar 14th Bt. of Mochrum (descended from an older brother), has documented paper back to Gospatric, 1st Earl of Dunbar and former Earl of Northumberland, and his grandfather Crinan, Heritable Abbot of Dunkeld and Moramaer of Atholl. I am a co-admin of our DNA project and ran down another paper trailed Bt. descendant of Crinan. Their 2 Big-Y tests along with a couple other put us descending from the 5th son mentioned above, David of Durris. Our Clan genealogist is in Moray now doing research on the 3-4 generation gap. It's tough going when you are dealing with the 2nd or 3rd son of a 2nd or 3rd son, even with a landed family. We can see where the Coburns relate to the Dunbars much earlier in the common ancestor. Scot DNA is different from the Saxon, Norman, Dane etc in England. Going way back Scots came from the Russian Steppe then to the Iberian Peninsula then to Ireland and what is now Scotland. Gospatrick is descended from Wessex royal family on his mothers side but the Y-DNA remains Celt. Crinan, as Heritable Abbot of Dunkeld, is likely of the kindred of Columba, the Saint who brought Christianity to Alba, and is very possibly descended from Nial of the Nine Hostages in 5th century Ireland.

DNA can go where paper often can't. Good on you for getting them straightened out.