Mr Alasdair Macdonald

Lead Tutor

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Personal statement

Alasdair is a Teaching Fellow and Lead Tutor in the department of Genealogical Studies within the Centre for Lifelong Learning. He has been involved in family history research for over 30 years and has a particular interest in the Scottish Highlands. He completed his MSc on Scottish baronies. He was previously employed for many years within the defense and aerospace industry. His research interests focus on the use of DNA in genealogical research. He is currently researching the origin and linkage of male lineages in the British Isles using Y-chromosomal DNA. He also specializes in Scottish land records and palaeography. Alasdair is one of the administrator of the Scottish DNA Project.

Expertise

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Qualifications

Alasdair is a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Publications

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Publications

What can Y-DNA analysis reveal about the Scottish Hay noble lineage?: Stead Philip, Haddrill Penelope R, Macdonald Alasdair F; Genealogy Vol 9 (2025); https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy9040132
DNA : A Guide for Family Historians: Holton Graham S, Cleary John, Leonard Michelle, McDonald Iain, Macdonald Alasdair F; Tracing Your Ancestors Tracing Your Ancestors (2025)
Who are the Glenorchy Campbells?: Macdonald Alasdair F, Holton Graham S; West Highland Notes and Queries Vol 5, pp. 2-6 (2023)
Declaration of Arbroath Family History Project: Holton Graham, Macdonald Alasdair F; (2020)
DNA and the Declaration of Arbroath: Holton Graham, Macdonald Alasdair; (2020)
The Declaration of Arbroath : new research on stories of the signatories: Holton Graham, Macdonald Alasdair F; 2020 (2020)

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Teaching

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Teaching

Genetic genealogy
Lineage research
Medieval and early modern genealogy
Scottish Clans and Families
Other genealogical topics for the English speaking world would be considered

Research

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Professional Activities

Advancing Genetic Genealogy: Speaker; 7/6/2024
"Humble and devout sons" – the men of the Declaration of Arbroath and their families: the role of documentary and genetic genealogy research in medieval genealogy: Speaker; 2/9/2022
Exploring your Scottish genealogy using Y-DNA: Speaker; 26/10/2019

More professional activities

Projects

Declaration of Arbroath Family History Project: Holton, Graham (Principal Investigator) Macdonald, Alasdair F (Principal Investigator); Research into the individuals associated with the Declaration of Arbroath and their families and genetic genealogy research to discover previously unknown descents from these individuals through DNA testing.; 12-Jan-2018
Battle of Bannockburn Family History Project: Macdonald, Alasdair F (Principal Investigator) Holton, Graham (Principal Investigator); The Project commenced in 2013 with the initial aim of throwing light on the participants in the Battle from a genealogical point of view. The two strands of the Project consisted of firstly research into the lives of participants, their genealogies and their coats of arms, and secondly a genetic genealogy strand. The first strand involved student work and concluded in 2015. The genetic genealogy strand, carried out by staff members, has continued, and aims to discover previously unknown medieval descents for living individuals through DNA testing. The focus has been particularly on the Stewarts, with some work on the Macdonalds, Berkeleys and Greys.; 02-Jan-2013

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Contact

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