The primary purpose of the DNA project is to provide an alternative means, other than history and genealogy, by which persons of Shetland Islands ancestry can learn more about their personal ancestry, and the heritage of the Islands as a whole.
Due to problems such as the patronymic naming practice as well as fragmentary documentary sources, many Shetland descendants cannot trace their family lines much beyond the early 1800s. Fortunately, when the paper trail runs into dead ends, DNA evidence can potentially provide answers to genealogical questions.
Each male inherits his Y chromosome from his biological father and so on back through the mists of time. Therefore the Y - DNA signature of a male will be the same (or nearly so) as that carried by his ancestor in the male line at the time the Vikings landed in Shetland. If two males, say an Anderson and a Peterson have an identical (or nearly so) pattern of scores on a 25 marker DNA test (e.g., a 23 of 25 marker match), then they have a common ancestor. That individual may have lived in 1800 or 800 - however, this finding would provide both parties the opportunity to share notes and see if they can learn of their connection. In essence the DNA results will be used to supplement, not replace, the traditional genealogical research. The DNA results can be used in conjunction with the vast genealogical data available for the Shetland Islands on the website of Tony Gott (see link next page).
It will also be possible in many cases, thanks to considerable published research papers and world wide on-line databases, to learn whether one's Y - DNA came from a Norse Viking source, or was derived from an Anglo - Saxon or Celtic ancestor. Definitive answers on this question will vary from surname to surname and family to family. In the case of the author's uncle, his Y - DNA carries the distinctive Norse Viking "signature" (pattern of scores) characteristic of Western Norway.
*** Please note that the project administrator has no commercial or academic publication interests here - it is strictly a "labour of love" and a tribute to his grandfather, Gilbert Williamson.
First, it is key that an individual participant's male ancestor with the same surname was born in the Shetland Islands prior to 1900. Second, since we are only testing the Y chromosome, it is essential to have a male in the family tested. If you are a male with the surname Anderson and your great grandfather Anderson came from the Shetland Islands, then you would be an ideal candidate to test. If you are a female and your maternal great grandfather Mowat came from the Islands, then you will have to find a male with the surname Mowat from among, for example, your second cousins with the surname Mowat to provide the DNA sample.
Those who decide to participate should contact the project administrator (e-mail below), providing a brief overview of their link to the Islands. The Administrator will then send an official invitation e-mailed from the DNA testing company chosen to do the lab work for this project. After you fill in the requested information and e-mail it back to them, they in turn will send the test kit (a mouth swab, and consent form).
The firm chosen to do this work is Family Tree DNA (website listed on the next page). The Administrator has been in frequent contact with various executives in this company (affiliated with the University of Arizona) over the years, and they offer the most comprehensive testing and most attentive customer service. They offer 12, 25, and 37 marker tests (the latter at a lower cost that what a well known UK firm charges for 10 markers), and at discounted rates for this Project. The price for the 12 marker test is $99 and for the 25 marker test is $169 USD. The latter is recommended as it permits a better chance at finding non - random matches, however the 12 markers could be "upgraded" to 25 or 37 later if needed.
The results are sent to the participant and the Administrator via an e-mail giving a link to the participants webpage on the Family Tree DNA site. Results are typically available about 4 to 5 weeks after the test kit arrives at the lab. At that point the Administrator will contact the participant to assist in interpreting the results in light of the goals of the project. The Administrator will offer a tentative hypothesis as the the origin of the family (where they may have resided in 700 AD). As new evidence becomes available, revisions, if required, will be provided.
