and (Kit#) 3 3 1 3 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
9 9 9 9 8 8 2 8 3 8 9 8 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 4 4 6 6 6 6
3 0 1 5 5 6 8 9 9 2 9 8 9 9 5 4 7 7 8 9 4 4 4 4
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Haplogroup; Proposed Origin: Surname - Y-DNA; Meaning and Early Occurrences of Name - Shetland (Beattie), Orkney (Lamb), Scotland (Black); Traditions; Earliest Known Paternal Ancestor; DNA Matches; Comments
(16517)
R1b; Scottish Mainland - Celtic / Pictish; "A very common name in Scotland, of more than one origin". There is no way to tell at present which of the many origins fit the present participant. One of the goals here will be to check all recorded Mainland Brown DNA signatures looking for a match. The name is also known in Orkney from at least 1321, according to Lamb, but as yet it cannot be determined if the Browns of Shetland arrived there directly from the Mainland or via Orkney. Although the next comment points in a likely direction. The earliest reference to a BROWN specifically mentioned as living in Shetland is noted by Beattie where in 1582 a "James BROUN, apparently living in Unst, was summoned as a witness"; Being a minister, it is likely that the BROWN ancestor came directly from the Mainland; Gilbert BROWN born 10 September 1770 in Northmavine, son of James BROWN born 1748; In the YSTR database of 20,000 haplotypes there are 20 matches, scattered across Europe from Spain to Ireland to Southern Europe to Northern Europe. There are 7 exact 12 / 12 matches in the FTDNA customer database - none with the surname BROWN. In addition, the participant matches 24/25 with two Dorseys, and a STOUT (19072) from the present study. The haplotype / signature is relatively rare so the near match with STOUT needed to be assessed. A search of databases focusing on the surname BROWN has not resulted in locating a match. STOUT (18997) upgraded to 37 markers and the "match" evapourated (26/37); Janet Williamson of Northmavine was born in 1808, and in 1891 provided family recollections to Laurence Williamson of Gardie, Mid Yell. Janet repoted, "They said there was a minister that came with 3 sons it was to Volister they came long . long centuries (indecipherable). That was the origin of the Browns." Being a minister, it is likely that the BROWN ancestor came directly from the Mainland. It is expected that there will only be one Y-DNA signature for the BROWNs of Shetland, but only when we have two or more other samples will we be in a position to make any definitive statements.
(21886)
R1b; Scottish Mainland - (France); The surname Bruce is Norman, from Brix near Cherborug in Normandy. Bobert de Brus apparently came over to England with William the Conqueror in 1066, and his son, also Robert, was the first of the name in Scotland. One of the most prominent familes of Scotland (along with their kin the Stewarts) and were one time Kings of Scotland. Annandale, Stirling, and Clackmannan were family strongholds. It appears that the first of the family to settle in Shetland was Laurence Bruce, born 1547 Cultmalinde, Perth, Scotland, arrived in Shetland in 1571, and died August 1617, Muness Castle, Unst but buried inside the church at Sandwick. Laurence was the son of Sir Robert Bruce and Euphame Elphinstone (who is also the mother of the Stewarts of Shetland via James V of Scotland); None reported; John BRUCE, born before 1757, Northouse, Burrafirth, Unst, son of Andrew BRUCE and Catherine SINCLAIR; In theYHRD database there is only one match at 9 markers in all Europe (from Rostock, Germany), making this a very rare signature. There are no matches in the FTDNA customer database. In the Haplogroup database, the few matches are scattered from Italy to Austria - as a matter of fact these are the only non - Shetland one mutation step matches. However what is exceedingly significant is that the participant matches 11/12 one of the members of the Bruce surname study. The individual has an unbroken lineage back to one Thebotaw who died circa 721 who was the ancestor of the famous Robert de Brus. It appears likely that the ancestor in common of the two men is the above Sir Robert Bruce who died in 1483; The evidence is clear that the Bruce family of Shetland carries the DNA signature of the ancient Norman Royal de Brus lineage.
