Genetic project to tell story of Clan Menzies
Researchers are mapping out lineage
If your surname is Menzies, you could take part in an international project to discover your family tree and where clansmen and women are living today.
Genetic researchers are coming to Aberfeldy next month to collect stories, photos and DNA samples from Menzies descendants.
Aberfeldy is the perfect location for Scottish research, as it is home to Castle Menzies, and at the Aberfeldy Show on Saturday, August 10, there is the annual march of the Clan Menzies Gathering, plus strong men will try and carry the hefty Menzies Stone across the show arena.
The MINGUS Project (Menzies International Genealogy Under Study) has recently been initiated by an international Clan Menzies group.
Its database is growing daily and currently the project is looking for related males from different parts of the Tay Valley, and beyond. Sean Menzies
institute and identify key Y-DNA (male) line individuals for genetic testing, and identify and preserve Menzies documentary and anecdotal history for all time.”
The clan uses an online genetic database program called WikiTree.
It currently has several thousand profiles of individual Menzies and Clan Sept profiles from around the world.
Patricia added: “We are seeking to hear from anyone that has any family ancestral data to make contact with us so that we may incorporate this information into the Menzies genealogical story.
“Many of the ‘Menzies’ at the Clan gathering are from overseas, not the Strathtay, and other areas of Scotland.
“We are hoping that there are still direct line ‘Menzies’ descendants who will enquire - I am sure there are.
“Even the most seemingly insignificant detail may contain the key to uniting lost ancestral connections.
“For example, a seemingly insignificant detail can in fact be a key piece of information that unifies several disparate database individual profiles into a family tree.
“Our genealogists were recently told that someone’s two times grandfather was the brother of an individual profile that we had already had established within WikiTree.
“Upon adding that information, we
Randy Hare is keen to link up Menzies family members were able to knit together an ancestral line that had began in Dull, Perthshire, Scotland around 1740.
“The line emigrated to Connecticut in the 1890s where one individual established a plumbing business that continued for over 100 years.
“Another individual ultimately moved to Hollywood, California to establish a stellar career in motion pictures special effects.
“Yes, that individual was William Cameron ‘Charles’ Menzies.
“The information exists, it just needs unification.”
The second method of research involves looking at the Y-DNA, the ‘Y’ chromosome carried down the male line.
Sean Menzies, who will be visiting Aberfeldy seeking DNA samples, said: “DNA testing really helps us map out our lineage and complete our Clan Menzies history, thereby providing a lasting record of all who make our clan great.
“And best of all, by documenting Clan Menzies heritage, we leave a lasting legacy to future generations.”
American genealogy coordinator Randy Hare will be visiting Aberfeldy, from Thursday August 8 until Sunday, August 11.
Y-DNA collector Sean will be in Weem until August 12. They will be attending the Menzies Clan Gathering from August 8 and will be at the Aberfeldy Show on August 10, where the clan marches. Anyone who would like to meet them, should make contact via email.
Randy’s address is randyhare@cox.net and Sean’s is swmenzies66@gmail.com
The Menzies Y-DNA coordinator is Christopher Menzie, who can be reached at christopher.menzie@gmail.com
Other useful addresses are: The Clan Menzies WikiTree landing page is located at www.wikitree.com/wiki/ Category:Clan_Menzies
The Clan Menzies Y-DNA landing page is located at: https://clanmenzies.org/ historical-resources/
Clan Menzies www.ClanMenzies.org