Boyd

So that’s haplogroup A1b1b2b, Robert? If yes then then it appears that we took the surname “Boyd” in the 1500s. Our Adam would have taken the surname Boyd at that time and not have been an indigenous European. We could spend many an hour taking a guess at when, why and how but at this time it will just be a guess. Taking the Big-Y will allow you to dig down deeper inside the male lineage, but it is not intended to offer the sort of matching with others that you get in the Y-37, Y-67 and Y-111 tests. I took the test when a sale was on and it helped me understand more about my paternal origins. Now for the Boyds of Kilmarnock. We could be paternally connected, but my guess is that it’s unlikely. However, to get the certainty you require a male with that confirmed lineage would need to take the test. I would expect him to be a R-U198 but I have no grounds for saying this other than it’s a northern European DNA and most tested Boyds are in this group. So back to the two Y-DNA questions – Neither.

I do have a wild theory, but it is not totally without substance. During the reign of King James the fourth the Boyds were proscribed. The Lord Boyd had been toppled by James the third- many years later James the fifth would restore the Boyds- but all during the reign of James the fourth it was Archibald Douglass the Earl of Angus who held Kilmarnock and served as Sheriff of Ayre. His wife was a Boyd. Also in his care was her niece Margaret (Maggy as the king called her- She gave the King two children, one of which was Alexander Stewart Bishop of Glasgow. Now there is mention of this Alexander having a "brother" named Patrick Boyd. Maggy was forced by the king to marry the infant orphan named John Muir- the "Laird of Rowallan". They had a child named "Mungo"- who was arrested for a murder of a Crawford with his "brother" Patrick Boyd. She may have had as many as nine children in total. She spent nearly her whole life at court with her aunt- There were African "Moores" in the court of James the fourth who had been brought to him by pirates. They are mentioned as an expense- they were musicians. It was John Boyd son of William son of Patrick Boyd "of Bolnschaw" who was entered into the role of Burgesses in the city of Glasgow as a "maltman" on the first city roll of Burgesses. I believe we will someday prove that we descend from this Patrick Boyd of Bolnschaw- the natural son of Margaret Boyd and some random court jester. long about 1480 or so. They used to tell us that we were not Scottish, whatever that means. We now have six Boyd families, not connected on paper) still living in Scotland- who share our "A" haplotype- Only one group can be "ancient" - and there is a chance that the "origin" Y-DNA died out long ago. Both groups have been Boyds for a really long time.

Hello Barry, As you know, I have been digging round a Mungo Boyd in Edinburgh and from but time constraints have mean t that I have not looked much more since we last communicated. He was the son of John of Kyllismore (whereever that is). Do you have any links or material that you can send to me by e-mail? I have seen the following with “Crawfurd” mentioned: http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/details.aspx?reference=GD8%2f222&st=1&tc=y&tl=n&tn=n&tp=n&k=Hamilton+of+Bogside&ko=p&r=&ro=s&df=&dt=&di=y But it does not get me anywhere. I think it’s a given that we took the name “Boyd” I plan to be in the Airth area in May and will factor in a visit to some archives in Falkirk. However, you may whet my appetite to visit another place.