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Hi everyone, Would anyone know if there were Wilsons, Porters or Fergies (or similar) in the McLea clan home regions? My best guess right now is that the Livingstones and McClays in the so-called "MacWho" DNA family (http://users.skynet.be/lancaster/MacWho_results.htm) are related to the McPheties mentioned in Perthshire by Thomas McLea in the 18th century (http://www.macleay.cncfamily.com/account_of_mclea.htm). The McClays come from Donegal. For my background thinking see: http://users.skynet.be/lancaster/Livingstone.htm The DNA seems to suggest that the Wilson surname was in this family longer than the Fergie(Fergus) surname. I'd even say that the DNA suggests that the Fergie surname probably stems from a Fergus McLea family, like the McPhetie one did apparently did from a Petie MacLea (which surname apparently died out replaced by Livage/Livingstone). The DNA also perhaps hints that the Porters were a bit more closely related to a McLean family than to the MacLeas. I know I have discussed elements of this before, but I thought I'd this question in a new way. I'd appreciate any advice. Best Regards Andrew

More speculatively, I'd GUESS: There was a Wilson family, or a family with a surname like MacWilliam that might later become Wilson. One branch took the surname MacLea, and one took the surname MacLean, while others eventually stayed with the name Wilson. Because the MacLeas and MacLeans live near each other, surely these Wilsons, or at least some of them, must also have lived there? Some of the MacLeas of this family took up the name Fergie or Furry, presumably after one of them who was named Fergus. Some of the MacLeans of this family took up the name Porter, presumably because they worked as Ferrymen (Porthair) in a Gaelic speaking area, or because they worked in the official functionary position of Porter in an English or French speaking castle. Or could we be misled? Might the Fergies and Furrys really also descend from a ferryman instead of a Fergus? This post is for the looser speculation! Regards Andrew

According to Black, "Some McLeas in Perthshire in the seventeenth century called themselves McPhetie, from an ancestor named either Peter or Patrick who went to Appin (of Dull, not Argyll) and was servant to the laird of Weem." Looking at my own DNA, some of my closest matches are with Wilson and Ferguson.

Interesting coincidence, or were William and Fergus just very common names? By the way, in case I never mentioned it on this forum I think the MacPheties changed name: I found an Angus probate record: Livingstone, Patrick, alias M'Fetie, in Tullochcoul 07 Jan 1729 The word Tulloch is common in Scottish place names, but in Angus, most seem to be around Kirriemuir, which is next to Glamis and Kinnettles. This might refer to Tulloch Hill. Regards Andrew