It's time for an another update on the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project. Genetic genealogy can be a powerful tool and provide help in building our genealogies. My purpose is to use the DNA results as a tool to help sort out the many different MacLaren lines in the Clan files. This includes all the surnames of the Clan, including Lawrence, Laurence, etc.. The results can also be useful to Lawrences in pointing the way toward possible connections and perhaps help indicate where you need to search for paper evidence. The database of results is slowly growing, but I would like many more MacLarens/McLarens (or any of the other surnames of the Clan including spelling variants) to join the project. The more we have in the database, the more likely it is that we will get matches between members. I am especially interested in getting members from the documented MacLaren lines that are in my files; however, I am also interested in any MacLaren who wants to join. This, of course, includes all the spelling variants of MacLaren. I am also interested in all the other surnames of the Clan -- Lawrence, Patterson, McRorie, Lawson, Law, etc. There are now 119 people in the project: 101 with results back, ten with partial results back, four who have submitted their kits and are waiting on their results, and four who are either waiting for their kits or haven't returned them yet. There have been a number of successes. One member in Scotland matches a member in California 33 out of 37 markers. Another member in New Zealand matches a member in Canada 35/37. The biggest success has been with a group of Lawsons (descended from William Lawson, captured by the English in 1746). A Losson tested and matches them 36/37, so he is related. A number of the Lawsons are working with some Lossons to establish how and where. Surnames in the project include MacLaren (11 spelling variants), McFeaters (2 spelling variants), Lawrence (2 spelling variants), Law, (2 spelling variants) Low (2 spelling variants), Lawrie, Lowry (4 spelling variants), Lawson (2 spelling variants), MacIntyre, Wright, Cleary, Clary, Patterson (3 spelling variants), Patrick, Petrie, and McRorie. We have members from the United States, Canada, Scotland, England, Australia, and New Zealand. I encourage anyone who bears one of the surnames above, or any of the other surnames of Clan MacLaren, to join (if you haven't had a relative closer then second cousin already test). For those who are concerned about how the DNA sample is acquired, it is just a cheek swab -- very painless. If you have already tested in the Lawrence Surname DNA Project, I invite you to also join the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project. You can do this by going to your personal page at FTDNA. At the top of the page is a blue square join button. Click on this button. This will take you to a new page that shows the project you can join. One of them will be MacLaren. Click on MacLaren and you will go to another new page that describes the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project. At the bottom of this page is another blue square join button. Click on this button and you have joined the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project. There is no additional cost to join a second project. If you are interested, or have questions, contact me at bobmclaren@earthlink.net Bob McLaren Chairman, Genealogy Committee, Clan MacLaren Society of North America Administrator, Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project Robert McLaren bobmclaren@earthlink.net Why Wait? Move to EarthLink.