McAusland and Buchannan YDNA

Although we have yet to find a male McAusland from our own line to take a BigY700 DNA test, others have already taken the plunge and the results are very interesting indeed.

It can be noted from the image above that there are two distinct groups of very distantly related McAuslands, and these have an MRCA (Most Recent Common Ancestor) who is estimated to have been born way back in 44,328 BCE.

The second group (with two distinct subgroups) consists of four members of haplogroup I-M170, with the first subgroup consisting of three testers with Irish ancestry, and the second with one tester with English ancestry. This McAusland line(s) clearly arose independently from the first. Perhaps the name McAusland was taken in honour of their clan chief, or perhaps there was an adoption or a NPE (Non-paternity event)?

The first and larger group of McAuslands are members of halpogroup R-A9015. They have an MRCA who is estimated to have been born much more recently, in 1527 CE.

This date is of interest as, while the family tree of the McAusland Barons is not entirely certain, this MRCA might correspond to Patrick McAusland, Baron of Callenach. In 1599, Patrick was mentioned in a “Deed of renunciation by Patrick McAwslane of Caldenache in favour of Sir Alexander Colquhoun of Luss of his claim to 2/3 of Stronmaleroch, Parish of Rosneath, Barony of Luss, in return for payment by Sir Alexander of 200 merks“. (Chiefs of Colquhoun and their country By William Fraser. Edinburgh: Printed by T. and A. Constable, 1869. 2 volumes.)

Patrick must have died sometime between 1599 and 1602, and was succeeded by John, presumably his son, as in December 1602, “Caldenoth, the property of John McCaslane of Caldenoth, is among the list of places despoiled in the so-called Glen Finlas Raid of December 1602. As well as various properties despoiled on Loch Lomondside, others so treated included places in Glen Luss, Glen na Caoruinn and Glen Mallan, most likely giving an indication of the route taken by the raiders as they made their escape northwards.” (Chiefs of Colquhoun and their country By William Fraser. Edinburgh: Printed by T. and A. Constable, 1869. 2 volumes.)

John McAusland, Baron McAusland is reputed to have died soon after the 1603 Battle of Glen Fruin where the Colquhouns and their allies, including the McAuslands, were routed by the MacGregors. The repercussions of this battle included the MacGregor name being proscribed, which led to many MacGregors, such as the famous Roy Roy, using other surnames such as Campbell, while research by Tyrone Bowes, PhD of Origenes suggests that our own Valentine ancestors from Angus may originally have been MacGregors from the Loch Lomond area.

It should be noted that the McAuslands are a sept of Clan Buchanan with the Clan Buchanan Society noting the following variants of the name: Cousland, MacAuselan, McAuselan, Macauslane, McAuslane, Macaslan, McAslan, Macauslan, McAuslan, MacCasland, McCasland, MacAslin, McAslin, MacAusland, McAusland, M’Auselan. They also note that:

“The early (Clan Buchanan) chiefs were known as MacAuselan, MacAslan etc. an allusion to their descent from Anselan Buey O’Kyan alleged to be an Irish prince. This has since been disproved through YDna so the origin may be unknown. 

“The MacAuselan first actually to be recorded was Malcolm, Steward to the Maldouen, Third Earl of Lennox during the reign of David II (1124-1153 A.D.)  Malcolm may have inhabited land in Glenduglas on Loch Lomond as well as in Luss, all on the western shore.  This Malcolm is believed to have been the Baron MacAuselan from whom the bearers of the patronym are descended. The seventh Laird of Buchanan, Gilbert, was the first to assume the surname of Buchanan.”

As can be seen from the Buchanan YDNA group, the McAuslands of group R-A9015 appear between two groups of Buchanans. These Buchanans and McAuslands all share an MRCA from haplogroup R-FGC32576 who is estimated to have been born in 1301 CE.

In this case, it seems possible that the MRCA of the Buchanans and McAuslands, estimated to have born in 1301, was Sir Maurice Buchanan, who according to tradition was the 10th chief of Clan Buchanan.

Possible links to the McAusland Barons and Napier Barons of Kilmahew

Although the precise place of our McAusland of Inverlauren line has yet to be confirmed in this rich tapestry, the framework is already in place, and we now need a suitable male McAusland to take a BigY700 test. Are there any volunteers out there?

Possible relationship to the new Chief of Clan Buchanan?

The current DNA research suggests a possibility that we might be the 19th cousins three times removed of Michael Buchanan (pictured below). In August 2018, he was confirmed as Chief of the Name and Arms of Buchanan by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, head of the Lyon Court in Scotland. He is the first Chief of the Clan in over 340 years.