Help Weave Together the Fabric that makes up Clan MacNeil Worldwide

Discovering Your DNA

Discovering your DNA is an exciting opportunity to reveal valuable insights about your ancestry. With the vast number of DNA testing companies available, it's easier than ever get your DNA tested. That said, analyzing your DNA alone doesn’t uncover any insights; you also must be able to do a DNA comparison.

Of course, most companies allow you to compare with other people who are also using their platform. However, since it's likely that all your relative aren't all using the same company, there's a big piece missing. Fortunately for those with MacNeil heritage, Clan MacNeil worldwide actively runs two DNA research projects. That gives you – and Clan MacNeil – a real opportunity to explore our collective ancestry.

Clan MacNeil Projects

Joining a DNA research project can be an exciting opportunity to learn more about your family history and solve genealogical mysteries. Clan MacNeil has two primary projects available you, each with a slightly different focus. Both projects provide valuable opportunities for MacNeils to learn more about their family history and ancestry. By participating in one or both of these DNA research projects, you can gain a deeper understanding of your heritage, participate in group conversations, and potentially uncover new information about your ancestors.

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA)

The team of Alex Buchanan (Australia), Vince McNeill (Canada), and Alissa Nolan (US) lead the MacNeil project on FamilyTreeDNA which (as of this writing) boasts a substantial 945 members. Using primarily Y-DNA (paternal), this project assists MacNeils in understanding their early family history. By comparing Y-signatures from participants of different lineages, uncertainties about close relationships can be readily answered.

This project may also help you determine whether you are of Norse or 'Celtic' descent in your paternal ancestry. This information can be valuable for those interested in learning more about their heritage and cultural background.

If you're interested in joining this project, create an account on FTDNA. Likely, your next step is to obtain a DNA test kit and provide a sample of your DNA. FTDNA does allow you to upload your raw DNA, so that might also be an option. Once you have an account, you can opt in to the MacNeil project under the “Group Project” menu.

GEDmatch Project

The second project Clan MacNeil hass is on GEDmatch. It aims to compare autosomal DNA results from testing companies around the world for MacNeils. This project is lead by CMAA Genealogist, Alissa Nolan and will provide a global perspective on MacNeil ancestry. It too can help individuals learn more about their genetic connections to others with MacNeil heritage.

Upload DNA results to GEDmatch from these autosomal DNA companies:

To join this project, download your DNA data from your provider (see their site for instructions) and upload the file to GEDmatch. Your upload will generate a kit number. Once you get your kit, email the numberr to Alissa at genealogy@clanmacneilusa.us. If you know them, include your clan ancestor name, and birth and/or death and locations.

Summary

Both projects provide valuable opportunities for MacNeils to learn more about their family history and ancestry. By participating in one or both of these DNA research projects, you can gain a deeper understanding of your heritage. You could possibly connect you with long lost relatives. So, don't wait any longer, unlock the secrets of your DNA today!

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How to Get Started Tracing Your Roots

Start With You

When building your genealogy, start with yourself and your immediate family. Be sure to capture full names, birth dates and places, marriage dates and places, and death dates and places.. Once you have this information, gather documented proof for each fact.

It's also a good idea to talk to older family members while you still have the opportunity. Gather any family stories and photographs they may have. Additionally, you can use online genealogy websites like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org to help you find additional records. Online resource can also connect you with other people researching the same ancestors.

Family Traditions

Do not accept family traditions as fact! They are tradition, often combining fact with some fiction. Keep in mind these traditions and stories have likely changed over time since written record keeping is fairly new in the scheme of things. These passed down stories may not align with the true historical events. It's not uncommon with any culture but we know that before the coming of Christianity, Celtic record keeping was done orally.

However, you also shouldn't just discard a tradition either. Instead, attach a note stating that it is family tradition. They can be a great source of information about the customs, culture and beliefs of your ancestors and the time period they lived in. Traditions can contain valuable clues or leads that can help you to find additional information and records.

Confirm any information obtained through family traditions. Typically, you will use primary sources such as census records, birth certificates, and other official documents to validate these stories.

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Genealogy Records to Help You

Records and Sources

Once you've gathered as much information as possible from living family members, it's time to gather the evidence. With the basic info in hand, expand your research by looking for records such as census records, marriage licenses, and death certificates to verify and add to the information you already have. These records may also provide information that helps you get back to the 'next' generation.

Records on the Internet

FamilySearch.org

An excellent place to start researching on the Internet is the FamilySearch web site. This site is maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is a direct link into the Family History Library — the largest genealogical library in the world — in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Research has also been made easier with all the church records of Scotland having been placed on CD-ROM.

Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com is one of the most popular genealogy websites. It is not affiliated with any specific library, but it does have partnerships with several libraries and archives around the world. These partnerships allow Ancestry.com to digitize and make available online a wide range of historical records that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to access. Some of the archives and libraries that Ancestry.com has partnered with include the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the U.S. Census Bureau, the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, the British Library, and many others.

Online Records

Both sites, and many others, offer a variety of features and tools for researching genealogy. These include access to census records, vital records, immigration records, military records, and more. These records are sourced from archives and libraries around the world and are searchable by name, date, location, and other criteria.

As much as we love the conviences and ease of use that the internet provides, we do want to remind you to be careful using data from web sites. It's a good place for starting a map, but it is often inaccurate if you're looking an index. The first rule is always to check all data - go to the original source if possible.

Census Records

U.S. Census

Census records are a valuable resource for genealogy research as they can provide a wealth of information about your ancestors, including their names, ages, birthplaces, occupation, and family relationships. The United States census began in 1790 and is conducted every 10 years. The information recorded in the census has varied over time, with more detailed information being recorded in more recent censuses. For example, from 1790–1840, only the head of household was listed. Currently, the 1950 census is the most recent census that is publicly available due to the 72-year rule. For more information, check out the US Census Bureau website.

Scotland Census

The first national census in Scotland was taken in 1801. Since then, censuses have been taken every 10 years, with the exception of 1941. The most recent census available for Scotland is the 1911 census. The census records for Scotland are held by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) and are available for viewing at the NRS reading rooms in Edinburgh and at local archives throughout Scotland. Some census records have been digitized and are available online through resources such as Scotland's People. Scotland's People is a website run by the NRS and allows access to a wide range of genealogy records including census records, birth, marriage, and death records, wills, and military records.

Physical Visits

Visiting either the National Archives or the Family History Library gives you the opportunity to view some of the original, physical documents. Seeing the real document provides a sense of authenticity and connection to one's ancestors that can't be replicated online. Another bonus to visiting is the knowledgeable staff who can help with research or provide guidance on how to navigate the collections. If you ever have the chance, we certainly recommend visiting!

Family History Library (FHL)

The FHL is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is the largest genealogy library in the world. It is operated by the Family History Department of the LDS Church, and is open to the public free of charge. The FHL has an extensive collection of genealogy records, including census records, vital records, immigration records, military records, and more. The collection includes records from all over the world, but with a focus on the United States and Europe. The FHL also has a large collection of microfilmed and digitized records, including records that are not available online or in other libraries.

In addition to the FHL, the LDS Church also operates more than 4,900 Family History Centers around the world. These sites provide access to the FHL's microfilm and digital collections, as well as assistance from trained staff and volunteers. They are open to the public free of charge, though not all of them are open full-time.

The National Archives (NARA)

The United States has several locations where the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) maintains facilities and archives. The main facility is the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., which houses the original copies of important documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

In addition to the main facility in Washington, D.C., the NARA operates several regional facilities across the country, including:

  • National Archives at Atlanta (Georgia)
  • National Archives at Boston (Massachusetts)
  • National Archives at Chicago (Illinois)
  • National Archives at Denver (Colorado)
  • National Archives at Fort Worth (Texas)
  • National Archives at Kansas City (Missouri)
  • National Archives at New York City (New York)
  • National Archives at Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
  • National Archives at Riverside (California)
  • National Archives at San Francisco (California)
  • National Archives at Seattle (Washington)

These regional facilities hold records from federal agencies and courts in the regions. They serve, and provide research and reference services to the public. Some also have exhibitions, educational programs, and other public events.

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DNA Results and Your Privacy

1 Comment /

Hello Everyone! Alissa, Clan Macneil USA Genealogist, here.

In light of the recent news that DNA led to the capture of the Golden State Killer, many have asked if that means their DNA results have been used or compromised. I'm posting to shed light on DNA results.

If you don't already know, if you test with companies such as Ancestry.com, 23andMe, or FamilyTreeDNA, your DNA is subject to privacy rights. These companies' terms of service dictate that they will not be used or sold unless a Court of Law issues a direct warrant to use a very specific DNA result.

This is NOT what happened in the case of the Golden State Killer (GSK).

Instead, police uploaded the GSK's DNA sequence to GEDmatch in the hopes of a match to someone else. GEDmatch is a voluntary service where an individual CHOOSES to upload his or her own DNA results to allow for more matches than any one company can provide. GEDmatch is designed to allow anyone from anywhere testing with any company to share and compare results. It's considered a free and public service. The terms of service to use GEDmatch warns that because it's free and public that anyone might use what's there for other-than-genealogical purposes.

If you feel that this is something you cannot support, GEDmatch recommends you remove your DNA file from their site. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reply here or email me, Alissa, at clanmacneilusagenealogy@gmail.com.

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