www.clanlivingstone.info

Dear All, I received this email from the DNA project today: “An exact match has been found between you and another person(s) in the Family Tree DNA database. ….If you and your match share a "prior" item of knowledge, such as a common surname, then a recent (within 14.5 generations) common ancestor is fairly likely.” This is VERY EXCITING.  He is Bob Livingstone, brother of Allan who is Lismore Researcher No2 on this site http://pages.sbcglobal.net/rlivingston1 ... search.htm.  As you will see there was a probable connection, which is now pretty certain. Regards, Niall

I am doing more research into the connection of the lowland and highland Livingstone's and just came upon this old post. From all the other posts that talk about the MacLea's taking the Livingston name, or having a mutual bond and/or using the name when traveling into the lowlands wouldn't it only be a small stretch to say that Highland and Lowland marriages most likely would have occured some time in the 1600's through 1800's to strengthen that connection between the two clans? And so I would be suprised if the DNA project didn't find some matches that connect the highland/lowland livingstones. David

Hi David, The only tangible connection I know of between the aristocratic, original Livingston family of the Lowlands and the Highland Maconleas lately known as Highland Livingstones was possibly established in the 1640's when Sir Jame Livingstone received a grant from Charles the First and established himself in the old Bishops palace on the ISLe of Lismore thereby coming in contact with the Baron of Bachuil of the Clan Maconlea. To my way of thinking some sort of bond or alliance was formed by these two who both Royalists at the time. It would appear that we were granted the right by Sir JAmes in those dangerous times to use the name Livingston when travelling though the border country and through the lowlands, so as to prevent being mistaken for an enemy clansman or a cattle theif. Whatever the terms of their clan alliance at the time, I do believe that it possibly took place at time in the 1640's. Interesting to me is the fact that we did not officially adopt the name Livingstone until about the 1760's and by then the original Livingstone family had long since lost their power and status in Scotland after backing the Jacobite cause in the early 1700's, many years before Bonnie Prince Charlie's revolt. So why did Baron Maconlea in the 1760's and 1770's encourage his local clansman to change their name to a once powerfull lowland clan named Livingstone. I have struggled to find the answer and I am still struggling. As for whether or not the Lowland Livingtons and the Highland Maconleas now referred to as Livingstones were in very ancient times the same family I do not know. There are some who are convinced they were, but I am not one of them. At this point in time I still subscribe to the old historic understanding that the aristocratic lowland Livingstones such as those who were at Linlithgo are originally of non gaelic origin perhaps hungarian or german. The clan Maconlea on the other hand is gaelic in origin and considered to be one of the oldest of the "Macs" in western Argyll according to 18th century accounts. regards Donald (Livingstone) Clink