This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: N_Percival Surnames: Dunbar, Gilpin, Alpine Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.dunbar/1176.1.1.4.1.1.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Mary, I kept ignoring the subject line because I was busy, but today with a little time on my hands thought I'd see what all the messages with Dunbar project update were all about. Not wanting to jump in in the middle thought I'd start at the beginning, with you Mary. Now as a Dunbar descendant, not impressed with being a member of a Clan, but with 15 years experience in doing genealogy 12 -18 hours a day 24/7 365, then adding in a genetic genealogists for 7 years running 4 small surname projects. I have to add in my comments. your "One messanger even suggested that he simply assumed the name rather than being a true descendant of the Dunbar Clan. If he did that, where does that place everyone who claims to have descended from him. He, if Dunbar is not his name, is a fraud." disturbed me greatly. Why would he be a fraud... did he claim he descended from who ever? Or did someone researching him in the 2oth century say he was descended from.... When people started using surnames many people as I'm sure you know, all used the same names. And we 20/21st century genealogy researchers try to say anyone with the same surname was related. Until along came Genetic genealogy. There are many different reasons a male might have the genetics of some one other then the Y line of the predominate surname's genetics. 1. More then one origin of the surname 2. some members of clans took on the surname of the person who was the clan leader. 3. children were taken in when families died off 4 many different reasons could be the cause that your y-male tested differently then who you or others thought he should match. Does that make him a fraud.. by all means no. He and his lineage are still Dunbar just not the same genetic lineage. A different genetic lineage using the surname DUNBAR. Its funny my Gilpins a surname project I work with have 5 different genetic lineages, I have found 4 different origins for this surname One Alpine, One Irish and two from Normandy. That does not make them frauds. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.