Alexander Donald (d. 1806, Abbeville SC) & yDNA
To date, I’m not aware of any public results on yDNA definitely from the line of Alexander and Dearest Clanton Donald. There may soon be one sample, but several are needed to rule out unknown Non-Paternal Events (adoptions, etc.). High-resolution yDNA testing is needed: At least 67 STR (Short Tandem Repeats) markers testing. This will allow for fine-tuning of estimates of number of generations to Most Recent Common Ancestor between any two related men. Lineage groupings by haplogroups & by patriarchs would be possible with enough samples.
It would be interesting to see if there are close genetic ties between the above Donald line & the line of the Alexander Donald (1745-1806) who was a close friend of Thomas Jefferson. See: http://issuu.com/jamesiandonald/docs/alexanderdonalddraft10?mode=window&pageNumber=6http://issuu.com/jamesiandonald/docs/alexanderdonalddraft10?mode=window&pageNumber=6The occurrence of the name Giels in both lines is interesting.
Donald-surname yDNA samples on file with the Clan Donald USA DNA Project currently fall into haplogroups R1b and I1a, but I see none at the moment in Haplogroup R1a (interpreted as Norse, presumably from Somerled). http://dna-project.clan-donald-usa.org/DNAresults.htmhttp://dna-project.clan-donald-usa.org/DNAresults.htm
It would be good if new yDNA results would be posted to www.ysearch.org along with whatever is known about the furthest-back male-line ancestor.