Y-DNA Matches on 37 and 67 Markers

I was recently notified by Family Tree DNA that I have a Y-DNA 37-marker match with only 1 mutation. His surname is Ralston and it has been shared with me that this family descends from Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Since we match with only 1 mutation, there is a 99% likelihood that we share a common ancestor within the last 12-14 generations, if not earlier. The other person I share 37-markers with at 1 mutation is my 2nd cousin! The Ralston’s of Renfrewshire are noted in Burke’s Genealogical & Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, Volume 2:

“This very ancient family is descended from the MacDuffs, Thanes, or Earls of Fife (rendered illustrious by tradition as having slain MacBeth, and restored the rightful sovereign to the throne of Scotland); one of whom, having had a son named Ralph, who obtained a grant of land in Renfrewshire, he called them after himself, (as was common in those days), Ralphstoune, and this, softened in time to Ralston, became the family name.” This family are named in charters as early as 1272 and 1346.

Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland is located in Western Scotland, only 7 miles from Glasgow, and it’s police force is located in Strathclyde.

In the book "Saxons, Vikings, and Celts" from the best-selling author of The Seven Daughters of Eve, an illuminating guide to the genetic history of the British Isles, one of the world's leading geneticists, Bryan Sykes has helped thousands find their ancestry in the British Isles. Saxons, Vikings, and Celts, which resulted from a systematic ten-year DNA survey of more than 10,000 volunteers, traces the true genetic makeup of the British Isles and its descendants, taking readers from the Pontnewydd cave in North Wales to the resting place of "The Red Lady" of Paviland and the tomb of King Arthur. Our family Y-DNA results matched 100% with some of these 10,000 volunteers, specifically from those who were residing at the time in the areas of Argyll, Strathclyde, Tayside, Fife, the Hebrides (islands off the coast), and the Border region , although they provided less markers. Also, we have a letter dated about 100 years ago from distant cousins stating that the Gowin side of the family was from Glasgow Scotland.

The current Y-DNA 37-marker results along with the information taken by Bryan Sykes does help provide a bit more clarity on our family origin. It is still uncertain as to when the immigrant arrived within the colonies or who that may have been. Hopefully a breakthrough will occur soon to shed further light on who that may have been.