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Dear Forum, We had some discussion of this on the DNA project list, so I thought I'd post what we have so folks can give input! Andrew said that the Australian (not the Scottish) Niall Livingstone and another project participant, Bill McLean, appear to be of one family based on DNA. He believed based on knowledge from an earlier message on this forum that that family is possibly the Achnacree branch which were the principle "cadets" of the Lismore clan. And they have the Colla/Dalriata/Scots R1b type. I asked: The Lismore Livingstones have a well-documented name change (McLea --> Livingstone) in their family.

The Taymouth register refers in 1557 to a John M'Dunslaif of Achnacre

I am Niall L of Australia's sister. My family came from Reudle in Mull, but some comments written on a handwritten family tree say that they arrived in Mull in the 1770s. However, it doesn't say where they came from before that except at the top of the tree, the heading is "The Livingstones of Appin". From reading my great uncle's letters, I queried whether they might have been from Achnacree because of the apparent connection to Catherine of Achnacree. On the other hand, my great grandfather married a woman from Balachullish so I also wonder whether they originally came from there. There were always rumours in the family that we are related to: the Donald who saved the banner, Dr David, and both sides of the Appin Murder. But they are just family legend and when I ask my father, he says we are all related anyway. So I am clutching at straws and I hope that I am not leading anyone astray.

Donald (Banner) was an Acnacree Livingstone.

Hi Jane Just to reassure you that I appreciate that we are not certain that your family of the Achnacree branch. However the latest DNA results now make it clear that your family is indeed much closer to the Lismore family than we all thought. Unfortunately, it also means we have to ignore 4 markers (DYS459b, 2 out of 4 DYS464 markers, and one of the CDY markers), so to improve the strength of our conclusions more markers shall probably be called upon. I hope I can convince one of the Lismore group to also test a few more markers. Regards Andrew

I don't know if this information helps, but I do know that my paternal relative was at Culloden and his name was Duncan. Obviously, what I don't know is where he was from. Andrew, could you please clear up for me a question about the DNA. Does it matter at all who they married? For example, it is only from my grandfather's time that they started marrying outside of the highlands. In fact, it was mostly the McLeans they married into. From what I understand about the DNA testing, the mother's line is irrelevant. Is that true? Also, just to clarify. We are from Scotland, not Australia, although we live here now but only since the 1980s.

Hi Jane These are easy ones. 1. The DNA that gets tested in these particular tests is only passed along through paternal lines. 2. Yes, I say "from Australia" in order to distinguish your Niall from Niall Livingstone who still lives in Scotland (Young Bachuil). My Livingstones are also Australians from Scotland. Best Regards Andrew