Are you descended from Somerled, King of the Isles?

Research in Professor Sykes laboratory at Oxford University, in association with Oxford Ancestors, has identified the Y-chromosome of the great Celtic hero, Somerled, King of the Hebrides, King of the Isles. Somerled, or Somhairle mac Gillebride to give him his Gaelic name, lived in the first part of the 12th century AD. Through his daring military campaigns, he unified Gaelic resistance to the Norse occupation of the Hebrides and the West Coast of Scotland, eventually driving them back to their stronghold in Orkney.

Two of the best known Highland clans, Clan Donald (including the MacAlastair branch) and Clan Dougall, claim descent from Somerled in their traditional genealogies and the validity of these claims has now been confirmed by genetic research. In brief, this research found that up to a third of men with the surnames MacDonald, MacDougall and MacAlastair, and variations thereof, share a very specific Y-chromosome signature and that this genetic signature matched those from all five of the living Clan Chiefs, who joined in the research programme. They were Lord Macdonald, Sir Ian Macdonald of Sleat, Ranald Macdonald of Clanranald, Ranald MacDonell of Glengarry and William McAlester of Loup. The only conclusion to this remarkable piece of research is that very large numbers of men with these three surnames truly are the descendants of Somerled and have inherited their Y-chromosome from him through direct father-son links. It also means that these men are direct relatives of the five Clan Chiefs through the male line. Are you one of them?

Now you can discover whether you too are a direct descendant of the great Celtic hero. Take the Somerled test and we will analyse your Y-chromosome DNA signature, then compare it to the research results.

What will I receive? You will receive a report on the genetic comparison and, if the results show you have inherited your Y-chromosome from Somerled, an additional certificate confirming your line of descent. Your report will be accompanied by a short biography of Somerled how the genetic research in Oxford discovered the link to his modern day descendants. How much does it cost? The Somerled, King of the Isles?™ service costs £25.00, including postage and packing. You will require a Y-Clan™ analysis at a cost of £180.00, including postage and packing.

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