About the Boyd family
The early origins of the noble family of Boyd are uncertain and claims had been made that they were descended from Simon, brother of Walter FitzAlan. However, it's likely that this Simon was a halfbrother of Walter.
DNA test results confirm that the Boyds are not from the same male line as the Stewarts. It's also doubtful whether this Simon had any connection with Scotland, so the early origins of the family remain unknown. Genetically they are part of the R1b grouping.
The earliest documented Boyd appears to be Robert, a witness to a contract in 1205 relating to Irvine in Ayrshire.
Our research conclusions are currently provisional, due to a lack of documented male line descendants who have taken a Y-DNA test. However, it's highly likely that SNP FT102166 indicates a descent from Robert Boyd (d ca 1333), a prominent supporter of Robert the Bruce.
Since the earlier SNP FGC12774 is carried predominantly by men named Boyd, it was almost certainly formed after the date at which the surname Boyd was firmly established, probably in the late 12th century. The next two SNPs to be formed, FT69836 and then FT102166, become increasingly likely to have been formed in Robert Boyd (d ca 1333) or one of his descendants.
Although the descendants of William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, carry the SNP FT102166, and are also descended from Gilbert Hay, named in the Declaration of Arbroath, the Y-DNA of any male line descendants of Gilbert would be distinct from the Y-DNA inherited by the Boyds.
Interestingly, there is also another family named Boyd with a very different genetic origin, in haplogroup A, which has a more recent origin in Africa no earlier than Roman times.