DNA and The Founder of Clan MacLeod
In about 2004, a DNA project attempted to uncover the genetic origin of Clan MacLeod. The project studied the Y-DNA of about 400 men who bore surnames which equate to MacLeod. The study's findings showed that 32% of the men tested had a common ancestor in the male line; and that this ancestor lived about 1,000 years ago. This particular group was by far the largest group of related men. In consequence, the project concluded that this group's common ancestor, though he might have lived further back in time than Leod, is the genetic founder of the clan. In 2011, the results of a much smaller study were published. Of a sample of 45 men with the surname MacLeod, 47% were found to share a common ancestor in the male line (the remaining 53% of the sample contained 9 different genetic male line lineages). The genetic marker of the 47%-lineage was found to be the S68 branch of Haplogroup R1b. This marker is found not only the Western Isles, but also in Orkney, Shetland, England, Norway, and Sweden. In consequence, the study concluded that the genetic origin of Clan MacLeod likely lies in Scandinavia.
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