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Big Y-700 vs. Y-37: Which Test Should You Take (and When)?

🧪 The Two Tests: What They Do

🔹 Y-37

This is the starter test. It checks 37 short repeating patterns (STRs) on your Y chromosome.

What it tells you:
- If you’re likely related to someone
- Roughly how close the relationship is (e.g. within 5-10 generations)
- Your broad haplogroup
Good for:
- Budget-conscious testers
- Initial screening to see if a line is worth pursuing

🔸 Big Y-700

This is the advanced test. It looks at:

All 700+ STR markers and
500,000+ unique SNPs (tiny mutations used to map your exact place on the Y-DNA tree)
What it tells you:
- Your precise haplogroup (not just a guess)
- How you connect to other testers in your line
- Rare mutations that define your family’s unique genetic signature
- Matches within a genealogical timeframe (e.g. last 300–500 years)
Good for:
- Confirming or refuting family line theories
- Identifying connections to specific clans, septs, or locations
- Helping expand the tree for all future testers

🧠 Think Strategy, Not Just Price

Here’s the real talk:
Big Y-700 gives you way more useful information. It helps not only you, but the entire Macneil DNA project. Every test refines the Y-DNA tree, which means everyone benefits.

That said, if you’re on the fence or have limited funds, here’s a smart approach:

🛠️ Recommended Testing Strategy

Start with Y-37 if:
- You’re unsure about your male line
- You’re testing someone else and want to confirm the line before investing
- You’re budget-constrained
Upgrade to Big Y-700 if:
- You get useful matches at Y-37
- You want to pinpoint your haplogroup
- You want to contribute to growing the Macneil Y-DNA project
- You’re trying to answer a specific research question (e.g., “Am I from the Gigha line?”)
Test someone else if needed:
- You’re female
- Your paternal line isn’t Macneil, but your uncle’s is
- You’re tracing your maternal grandfather’s male line

Targeted testing is key—make sure the right male in the family gets tested. Otherwise, the data won’t help your research.

🧩 Why This Matters for the Clan

Every Big Y-700 test helps:

Place us more precisely on the Y-DNA tree
Prove or disprove relationships between lines (Barra vs. Gigha vs. Ulster)
Discover new branches that might represent lost or undocumented Macneil families
Build a stronger case for historical recognition of sub-lines within the clan

Big Y-700 vs. Y-37: Which Test Should You Take (and When)? Read More »

What’s a Haplogroup? Understanding Your Place on the Tree of Mankind

Genealogy CMAA

Let’s simplify something that sounds complicated: haplogroups.

If you’ve taken a Y-DNA test or looked into your Macneil or McNeill ancestry, you’ve probably seen terms like R-M269 or R-DF27 tossed around. These are haplogroups—but what are they?

Let’s break it down so a 15-year-old (or your cousin who hates science) can understand.

🌳 What Is a Haplogroup?

A haplogroup is just your branch on the male family tree of all humanity. Think of it like this:

The Y-DNA test looks at your father’s father’s father’s line, going back thousands of years.
Over time, little changes (called mutations) show up in that Y-DNA. These changes get passed on.
When a new mutation shows up and gets passed to future generations, a new branch forms on the big family tree. That branch is called a haplogroup.

So your haplogroup is a marker that says, “This is your male-line team.”

🪵 How the Tree Works (No Botany Degree Needed)

Let’s say the Y-DNA family tree is like a giant oak:

The trunk is where all human men start—way back in Africa.
Big branches represent ancient groupings (like Haplogroup R, I, J, etc.).
Smaller branches are more recent—like R-M269, which is common in Western Europe.
Twigs represent family lines that may have lived in Ireland, Scotland, or Spain a few hundred or thousand years ago.

Every time a new tester takes Big Y-700, that tree grows new twigs. You’re helping build the map of human history by testing.

🧬 Macneil/McNeill Haplogroups: Why They Matter

In the Macneil DNA project, most of our members fall under the broad haplogroup R1b—a branch common in Western Europe.

But within that, there are multiple sub-branches that tell a deeper story:

Some are more closely tied to Barra and the Hebrides
Others suggest ties to Ireland or the Plantation of Ulster
A few may even trace back to Norse or Spanish migrations

Knowing your haplogroup helps you:

Connect with relatives who share that line
Understand your ancient roots
Confirm which Macneil/McNeill branch you descend from

⬆️ Upstream and ⬇️ Downstream (Easy Definitions)

Upstream = your ancestors. Think: your dad, grandpa, great-grandpa. The older branches.
Downstream = your descendants. Think: your sons, grandsons, great-grandsons. The newer branches.

So when someone says “you’re downstream of R-M269,” they just mean your male line came after that branch in the family tree.

🧭 Where Does This All Lead?

To knowledge.

Knowing your haplogroup doesn’t tell you your great-grandfather’s name. But it tells you where your paternal line fits into the big picture:

You might be linked to a Viking settlement.
Or an ancient clan that ruled a Hebridean island.
Or a group that migrated to Ulster in the 1600s.

And if you match someone else in the Macneil/McNeill Y-DNA project—you might have just found a cousin.

🎯 TL;DR – Quick Recap

Haplogroups = branches of the Y-DNA male family tree.
They tell you where your direct male line comes from.
They’re built from tiny mutations passed down through fathers.
Your place on the tree updates over time as more men test.

So next time you see something like R-BY20380 in your results… that’s your twig on the tree of mankind. And it’s worth knowing.

What’s a Haplogroup? Understanding Your Place on the Tree of Mankind Read More »

How to Use Y-DNA Testing to Trace Your Ancestry

Genealogy CMAA

Have you ever wondered where your McNeill or Macneil line really came from—or how you're related to others with your surname around the world? Y-DNA testing gives you a way to find out, and no, you don’t need to be a scientist to understand it.

🧬 What Is Y-DNA (and Why Should You Care)?

Y-DNA is a special kind of DNA that only males have. It's passed directly from father to son, almost unchanged, for thousands of years. That means it can tell you a lot about your father’s father’s father’s father, all the way back—potentially even to medieval Scotland or beyond.

If you carry the Macneil/McNeill name or are descended from a male Macneil line, this is the one test that gives you the clearest picture of your ancient and more recent paternal ancestry.

🔍 What Can Y-DNA Tell You About Your Macneil Line?

Find out which Macneil/McNeill family line you come from – There are multiple groups: Barra, Gigha, Colonsay, Ulster, etc. Y-DNA helps you figure out which one you belong to.
See how you're related to others with the same surname – Are you a close cousin or just share the name?
Connect with distant cousins worldwide – From Scotland to Canada to Australia.
Discover where your paternal ancestors lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago – Based on your haplogroup (your genetic “branch” on the tree of mankind).

🧪 Which Test Do You Need?

There are two main Y-DNA tests available from FamilyTreeDNA:

✅ Y-37 (Entry Level)

Tests 37 markers.
Great for getting started, especially if budget is tight.
Can be upgraded later.

🔥 Big Y-700 (Best Value)

Tests 700+ STRs and over 500,000 SNPs.
Places you precisely on the Y-DNA tree.
Shows detailed matches, rare mutations, and deeper ancestry.
Recommended for anyone who wants serious answers.

If you can afford Big Y-700, start there. Otherwise, begin with Y-37, see who you match, then upgrade.

🌲 What’s a Haplogroup, and Why Does It Matter?

Think of a haplogroup like your family's “chapter” in the big book of humanity. Every male line belongs to a different branch of the Y-DNA family tree. For example:

Macneils of Barra tend to show one haplogroup (such as R1b).
McNeills of Ulster or Lowland Scotland may show another.
Ancient differences can point to Norse, Celtic, or even Iberian roots.

Once you test, you'll see exactly where your branch fits—and how it compares to others in the MacNeil Y-DNA Project.

🧭 How to Use the Results (Even If You’re Not a DNA Geek)

Compare yourself to known testers from your surname group.
Check the maps – Where are your closest matches located?
Read the tree – Your place in the Y-DNA haplotree shows how far back you share a common ancestor with others.
Watch for new discoveries – As more men test, new branches form and your results get updated automatically.

👨‍👩‍👧 Can Women Use Y-DNA?

Not directly—but you can ask a male relative to test:

Your brother, uncle, cousin, or father—as long as they carry the Macneil Y line.
Make sure they descend from the right male line you’re researching.

⚠️ Important Tip

Not all Macneils are genetically related. Some took the name through adoption, clan loyalty, or local tradition. Y-DNA testing helps cut through that confusion and prove whether the connection is real or just on paper.

🎯 Final Thought: Why This Matters

Y-DNA isn't just about ancient history—it’s about knowing where your people come from. It’s about reconnecting with your roots, discovering cousins across the globe, and strengthening our collective Macneil story.

So if you're a Macneil, McNeill, or one of our related families—test your Y-DNA. You're not just doing it for yourself. You're doing it for the clan.

How to Use Y-DNA Testing to Trace Your Ancestry Read More »

Calling All CMAA Members! It’s time to send in your articles for The Galley

CMAA Webmaster

What is The Galley?

Published twice a year, "The Galley" is a family literary magazine by the Clan MacNeil Association of America (CMAA). It represents the international diaspora of Clan MacNeil kin, with a focus on cultural, historical, and personal accomplishments. Each issue features profiles of interesting MacNeils (of any of the related family sept names … think Neill, O’Neal, McNeill, and about 120 others), whose accomplishments run the gamut of fields of endeavor.

Our magazine highlights Scottish-related events in the US, from Highland games to Burn’s Night celebrations and reunions (including our Annual General Meeting). It includes the work of emerging poets, fiction writers, and essayists, artists, and cartoonists. There are reviews of books, films, and exhibitions, as well as CMAA officer and commissioner reports from around the country, as well as articles from kin abroad. We celebrate births, deaths, marriages, graduations, travels, public service, and other milestones. Our Clan Genealogist writes regular articles on genealogical discoveries and avenues for exploring family ties.

Significant Recognition

Do you know that the Library of Congress has accepted "The Galley"? Yes, it's true! Being accepted by the Library of Congress is a significant achievement for a publication. This is because the Library acquires only a small percentage of published items and it indicates that the publication has cultural, historical, or other significant value.

The Galley was a top-performing publication in the Family Tree Newsletter Contest, which was sponsored by the Odom Genealogy Library for ten years, from 1995 to 2004. The publication won several awards during this period, including first place in the Magazine category and the Grand Prize (for all categories) for four consecutive years. In 2002, a new category was added, the Master's Class Division, and The Galley won this category in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Content We Love

The CMAA is always seeking contributions for its bi-annual magazine "The Galley". As a platform for bringing our family together and introducing them to interesting people/events around the country and around the globe, we share items of family interest in "The Galley". It provides a great opportunity for members to showcase their talents and share their stories with others.

We welcome contributions in a variety of forms, including:

Family stories and personal profiles
Accomplishments
Genealogical information
Scottish event details and news
Poetry, art, music, dance, humor, and recipes
Book, CD, and DVD reviews
Travel adventures
Births, graduations, weddings, and obituaries
Scottish cultural items
Tales regarding heirlooms, homes, and businesses in the family
Reunions
Community service projects (on a local or even international scale)
Historical documents and accounts
Games competitions (all areas)

We welcome your contributions, whether you enjoy writing, sharing your genealogical research, or have a talent for creating works of art. Submit your work today and help preserve the legacy of the MacNeil Clan for future generations.

Submit Your Content Now!

To submit your work for publication in "The Galley," please send your text as a Word document or email and submit the highest-quality photos via email to TheGalley@clanmacneilusa.us. The Galley team will review the submission and contact you with any questions. Another submission option for members is to log in to the website and submit through the portal. If you need to send your contribution through the mail, contact Editor Vicki Corporon to make arrangements. We look forward to hearing from you!

Deadline for contributions for the Fall/Winter edition: September 15th
Deadline for contributions for the Spring/Summer: March 15th

The Clan MacNeil Association of America is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve and promote the heritage and culture of the MacNeil Clan. The association serves as a resource for individuals of MacNeil descent and those interested in Scottish heritage, providing opportunities for members to connect with like-minded individuals. To advance its mission, the association sponsors events, publishes "The Galley," and maintains a website.

Calling All CMAA Members! It’s time to send in your articles for The Galley Read More »