Campbell Report
30th October 2024
Conclusions on distinct genetic markers for the Campbells based on analysis of Y-DNA test results. 31 October 2024.
Big Y-700 test results have been completed for four documented male-line descendants of Colin Campbell of Loch Awe (d ca 1413), three of whom are descended from his son Duncan, 1st Lord Campbell (d 1453) and the other from Colin’s son Dugal Campbell (d aft 1404), 1st Captain of Dunstaffnage. The fourth test-taker is descended from Dugald Campbell, 2nd of Ederline (d 1746). For proof of the descent of Dugald, 2nd of Ederline, from the Campbells of Dunstaffnage, view the Campbell of Ederline Proofs of descent from Dunstaffnage document.
1. Colin Campbell of Loch Awe (d ca 1413), as the latest possible individual in whom R-BY58693 was formed
The test results of the descendants of Colin Campbell of Loch Awe’s sons, Duncan, 1st Lord Campbell, and Dugal Campbell, show that both these sons carried SNP R-BY58693. This means that they had inherited it from their father Colin and therefore that he was the latest possible individual in whom the SNP was formed. Any male carrying this SNP is descended from Colin, but there may well be other carriers of the SNP who do not descend from Colin, but from a lineage which branched off earlier.
There are currently 32 Big Y-700 test-takers carrying this SNP.
2. Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell (d 1453), as SNP progenitor of R-FT33170
Analysis of these results shows that the three descendants of Duncan all carry the SNP R-FT33170, but it is not carried by the descendant of Dugal. Since Dugal does not carry this SNP, it was therefore not inherited from his father Colin Campbell. It follows that the SNP must have been formed in Duncan or one of his descendants.
The three descendants of Duncan consist of one descendant of his eldest son Archibald/Gillespic and two descendants of Duncan’s son Duncan. The analysis of the results for these three descendants show that they all carry the SNP R-FT33170. Since it had clearly been inherited by two sons of Duncan, 1st Lord Campbell, but was not carried by his brother Dugal, it was formed in Duncan himself. This makes Duncan the SNP progenitor of R-FT33170 and means that any male carrying this SNP is a descendant of Duncan.
There are currently 19 Big Y-700 test-takers carrying this SNP.
3. Archibald/Gillespic (d 1432), son of Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell, as the earliest possible carrier of R-FT33329
The descendant of the 1st Lord Campbell’s son Archibald/Gillespic carries SNP R-FT33329, which is not carried by the descendants of the 1st Lord Campbell’s son Duncan. This means that this SNP was formed in Archibald/Gillespic or one of his descendants, the identity of whom has not yet been determined. Any male carrying this SNP is descended from Archibald/Gillespic, but there may well be other descendants of Archibald/Gillespic who do not carry it.
There are currently 11 Big Y-700 test-takers carrying this SNP.
Archibald/Gillespic was the ancestor of the Dukes of Argyll and the Campbells of Cawdor.
4. Duncan, son of Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell, as the earliest possible carrier of R-FT353107
The descendants of the 1st Lord Campbell’s son Duncan carry SNP R-FT353107, which is not carried by the descendant of the 1st Lord Campbell’s son Archibald/Gillespic. This means that this SNP was formed in the younger Duncan or one of his descendants. The results indicate that the latest individual in whom the SNP was formed was the Rev. Patrick Campbell of Torblaren (ca 1633-1699). Any male carrying this SNP is descended from Duncan, son of the 1st Lord Campbell, but there may well be other descendants of Duncan who do not carry it.
There are currently 3 Big Y-700 test-takers carrying this SNP.
Duncan was the ancestor of the Campbells of Auchinbreck.
We acknowledge with many thanks the cooperation and financial support of members of the Clan Campbell Society (North America).
Recent research has revealed important evidence on the origins of the Campbells of Glenorchy, as described in the following press release. We would like to acknowledge the input of the Campbell DNA Project to this research.
Press release - October 2023
Leading branches of Clan Campbell ‘are not related’
Two leading branches of the Clan Campbell have been found to be unrelated to each other in research carried out by Alasdair Macdonald and Graham Holton at the University of Strathclyde.
The genealogists at the Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies have identified the genetic profile of the Campbells of Glenorchy, a family descended from Sir Duncan Campbell, 2nd Lord of Glenorchy, who died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
The research used DNA evidence to conclude that the family dates back to the 13th century and is a separate line to the Campbells of Argyll, whose descent is from the first Lord Campbell, also Sir Duncan Campbell, who died in 1453.
The Campbells have one of the largest number of cadet families, descended from the sons of clan chiefs, of any clan in Scotland.
The study is ongoing, and is likely to take some time to develop solid conclusions on the earlier history of the Glenorchy lineage, but the researchers have proposed several possibilities.
The study used the Y chromosome, which can only be passed directly down the male line from father to son. Over the last 18 months, testing of several people with four distinct lineages, all descended from the second Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, has revealed that they are defined by a genetic marker called R-Y33315. This included two lineages that share Sir Duncan Campbell, 1st Baronet (c.1550 - 1631) as their common earliest ancestor and a further two with documented descents from Archibald Campbell, 1st of Glenlyon (c1490 - 1552), who was the younger brother of Sir Colin Campbell, 3rd of Glenorchy (d 1523).
Alasdair Macdonald said: “Dating of marker R-Y33315 suggests that the common ancestor of those who carry the marker was born around 1500. Another, smaller branch, defined by the marker R-Y130955, and also carrying the name Campbell, probably branched off a little earlier, with these two branches having a common ancestor defined by the marker R-BY23069 around 1150.
“The Campbells of Glenorchy and the Campbells of Argyll share a marker called R-L1065, but the common ancestor lived around the 3rd century. To all intents and purposes, these two major families named Campbell are not genealogically related but it is not yet certain why the Campbells of Glenorchy carry a different genetic marker, and so have a different male-line ancestry, from the Campbells of Argyll.
“An ancestor of the Campbells of Glenorchy may have adopted the name Campbell out of loyalty in the thirteenth century, but how did one or perhaps more members of this family come to be accepted as sons of Duncan Campbell, the first Lord Campbell? Alasdair Macdonald.
Graham Holton explained that it could be that this was due to illegitimacy but this might be too simplistic, as the Campbell branch which carries the R-Y 130955 marker shared the same progenitor as the Glenorchys. This line traces back to Kenmore on Loch Fyne but may have moved there earlier from Perthshire. The common ancestor between this branch and the Glenorchys was a man who lived around 1150.
“This date may be firmed up by further testing of documented descendants, but it is clear that there was a major family named Campbell, genetically different to the Campbells of Argyll, in existence from the earliest days of fixed surnames.
“The maternal grandmother of the first Lord Campbell was Mariota, the heiress of John of Glenorchy. It’s also possible that he was a Glenorchy Campbell and that a male relative of John of Glenorchy was fostered.
“Many questions currently remain unanswered but further targeted testing of well-documented male line descendants may provide some answers.”
Anyone who may be able to assist the research project by having a documented descent, or by commenting on the current findings, is invited to contact Graham Holton or co-researcher Alasdair Macdonald at SIGS.
Funding of test kits was provided by the University of Strathclyde, the Campbell DNA Project hosted at FamilyTreeDNA.com and private individuals.
An article detailing the initial findings will be published shortly in the West Highland notes & queries.
End of press release
Continuing Research
We will be seeking male line descendants with well documented descents from the following Campbell lines, for possible Y-DNA testing:
Auchinbreck, Craignish, Dunstaffnage, Glenlyon, Kilmichael, Loudon, Ormidale, Otter and Strachur.
If you have a long documented descent from one of these lines, please contact Graham S Holton and/or Alasdair F Macdonald at the following addresses:
alasdair.f.macdonald@strath.ac.uk