To date, through DNA testing, we have discovered that there are two distinct groups of Gillilands and they are not closely related. They have been designated as Group 1 and Group 2. The split in the haplogroup occured as shown in the chart below.

Group 1 is identified by the SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) SRY2627 (also known as M167), one of the first SNPs discovered in the human Y chromosome, back in 1997. It is subgroup of haplogroup R1b1 - the most common haplogroup in Western Europe. The subgroup was formerly known as R1b1c6 and is currently, as of March 2013, R1b1a2a1a1b5a in the tree used by Family Tree DNA and R1b1a2a1a1b1a2a1 in the ISOGG 2013 tree. All Group 1 Gillilands are encouraged to join the SRY2627 FTDNA Project.

Group 2 is identified by the SNP M222. This diagnostic marker is associated with many individuals whose roots lie in the counties of Northwest Ireland, Ulster and Lowland Scotland. Group 2 Gillilands are encouraged to join the R-M222 FTDNA Project.

Goals:

• To test as many of the Gilliland descendants in the United States to see which group they fall into OR to see if another group emerges.
• To find and test Gilliland descendants in the United Kingdom to see how they match with descendants in the U.S.
  

R    M207

•    R1    M173

•   •    R1b    M343

•   •   •    R1b1    L278

•   •   •   •    R1b1a    P297

•   •   •   •    •    R1b1a2    M269

•   •   •   •    •   •    R1b1a2a    L23

•   •   •   •    •   •   •  R1b1a2a1    L51

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    R1b1a2a1a    P310

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •    R1b1a2a1a2     P312

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •    R1b1a2a1a2a    DF27

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •    R1b1a2a1a2a1    Z196

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    R1b1a2a1a2a1b     L176.2

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •    R1b1a2a1a2a1b1    Z262

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •    R1b1a2a1a2a1b1a   SRY2627   Gilliland Group 1

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •    R1b1a2a1a2c    L21

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •    R1b1a2a1a2c1   DF13

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    R1b1a2a1a2c1a   DF49

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •    R1b1a2a1a2c1a1    DF23

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •    R1b1a2a1a2c1a1a   Z2961

•   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •   •    •   •   •    R1b1a2a1a2c1a1a1   M222   Gilliland Group 2