The Mackenzie project was begun in 2003. DNA testing may be able to prove or disprove some of the traditional genealogies of the MacKenzie clan. Not all surnames in the project have had traditional genealogies preserved so DNA may help participants to find related people so they can compare their knowledge and add to the clan’s lore.

To understand how to read results, see below.  Also, an excellent tutorial on DNA is found on the Blair Surname site called DNA 101.

Recommended books on DNA in general include: Emily Aulicino, Genetic Genealogy: The Basics and Beyond; Blaine T Bettinger, The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy; David R Dowell, NextGen Genealogy: The DNA Connection; Spencer Wells, Deep Ancestry (Haplogroups)

Please note that the FTDNA Surname Group Administrators are not FTDNA employees. They do not receive any form of financial payment or any other incentive or reimbursement.

This project uses the standards of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation 2017, the most recent editions of FTDNA’s Terms, the Genetic Genealogy Standards, and ISOGG’s guidance for Project Administrators.

Understanding Y-DNA Results: 

Males pass Y-DNA only to their male children. The results of the Y-DNA testing are found in Y Results and are grouped by Y-DNA haplogroups, and by matching groups.  The locations on the Y-DNA chromosome are called markers and have names such as DYS390, DYS381, etc. The numbers represent repeats of patterns and are called allele repeats. Men who are in the same haplogroup and also have similar numbers of allele repeats are grouped to form family units. Those who have tested at only Y-DNA12 or Y-DNA25 are encouraged to go to Order Tests and Upgrades and upgrade to either Y-DNA37 or Y-DNA111 so they can be more accurately placed in their proper grouping.  (Note: FTDNA no longer test Y-DNA STR levels 12, 25 or 67.)

Understanding mtDNA results:

Females pass mtDNA to all their children, but males cannot pass mtDNA to the next generation. Therefore, both males and females can test their mtDNA which comes exclusively from their maternal line.  In mtDNA results, the results are grouped in mtDNA Haplogroups. HVR1 and HVR2 represent different areas of the mtDNA and the numbers listed indicate the mutation signature in each area. People with the same haplogroup and same sets of mutations in both HVR1 and HVR2 have a common ancestor. However, since mtDNA mutations occur much more slowly than with Y-DNA, people are less likely to know their straightforward female line back many generations; therefore identifying and naming common ancestors is less likely with mtDNA than with Y-DNA.

Our greatest need at this time is to have males test who have good paper trails to ancestry in Scotland so we can help those who do not have well-documented ancestries find genetic cousins.