Since at least 1600, my ancestors were ordinary folk who lived their lives in one or other of the British Isles off of the North West coast of Europe.
During that interval, those ordinary folk we are included:
| mt-DNA | Y-DNA |
| Catherine McKay – Farmer Ishabeal McLeod – Farmer Christina McLeod – Maid of all Work Isabella Niccol – Housewife Mary McFadyen Elliott – Shopgirl, Millgirl, Market Gardener | Cathal Ó Beólláin– Farmer & Labourer Phillip Bolan – Labourer Charles Boland – Engine Keeper James Easdon Bolland – Yarn Dyer Charles Bolland – Sanitary Ware Inspector John Bolland – Plumber |
But this restricted genetic lineage ignores the autosomal contributions of McPhees, Niccols, Easdons, Jacksons, Forresters, Cossars, Burnes, McQueens, Porteuses, Thomesones, Pattersones, Mungalls, Ferguses, McFadyens, Steins, Connells, Kiddies, Bonners, Armours, McDades, Elvens, Dochertys, Fureys, Ovens, McGuillans, Prentices, Yuills, Galloways.
My mitochondrial heritage appears to be more complicated than the Y-haplogroup I arise from. My mt-DNA is) J1c3g: my Y-Haplogroup is R1b – most likely something like R1b1a1b1a1a2cla5b1a1.
Genetically, I am European – from the North West Atlantic fringe. We first appear in the historical record as barbarians. But the origins of all homonims, of which I am an instance, lie in Africa.