I would take it all with a bushel of salt.

There is all sorts of information and misinformation about which names are or may be associated with a clan---or 2 or 3 or more. Some of it is put out by clan associations in search of as many members as possible. Much of it is promoted by tartan merchants with more merchandise to sell than scruples.

There are only two ways to know with any degree of certainty which, if any, clan your ancestors were associated with. One is the slow, arduous, yet certain work of genealogical research, carefully tracing your ancestors backward in time, documenting one generation before moving on to their parents.

The other method has come into being in the last 7 or 8 years. Y chromosome DNA is passed from father to son, as are surnames. A man can test for it and MAY discover men whose DNA matches his. Or one may discover nothing useful. Or, more likely, one may discover who one is NOT related to, and thus areas where further research is not likely to prove fruitful.


Family Tree DNA at www.familytreedna.com has the largest database of all the genealogical DNA testing companies, and is therefore most likely to have matches, or nearer matches, with other men. Their FAQ is fairly good at explaining how it works. Costs of the tests range from US$99 to US$300, depending on how exactly you hope to match with others. And you can upgrade later. If you join through a surname project, there is sometimes a discount.

Good luck!