House of Alexander

There are many variations, the result of mutations, known to exist in the hapogroup R1b (Y-DNA), two of which appear to be showing up among descendants of the Scotch-Irish Alexander family of Ulster, Ireland.

However, current designations of these two can be confusing.  For instance, in earlier literature the M269 marker, rather than M343, was used to define the R1b haplogroup. Then, from 2003 to 2005, what is now R1b1b2 was designated as R1b3.  From 2005 to 2008 it was R1b1c.  In other words, today’s designation is R1b1b2.

Therefore, the year your DNA testing was done would determine what name was given to your particular DNA.  I do know of two Alexander testers who are closely related according to their paper trails, but one tested R1b1c and the other tested R1b1b2.  In actuality, they are now one and the same, and could very well have inherited their Y-DNA from an Irish Campbell.

The above information shows how methods of identification do change over time as new markers are discovered and researched.

I hope this information will be helpful, as we move ahead in determining “who’s most closely related to whom” among our Alexander descendants.

Cousin Sarah