davidkfaux.org/CentralAsiaRootsofScandinavia-Y-DNAEvidence.pdf
The present study emerged out of a single observation. Genetic Y chromosome DNA
testing revealed that the author’s uncleWilliamson (and thus his maternal grandfather),
whose roots in themale line lie in the Shetland Islands, had an unusual pattern of matches
to the 12 “scores” (markers). The largest number of close matches to this rare
haplogroup R1a1 (more on this genetic grouping later) Norse signature from Shetland
were not seen in large and diverse European samples in which R1a1 predominates (e.g.,
Poland), but among the tribal SiberianAltai of Central Asia (33 closematches out of the
sample of 46 who had a Haplogroup R1a1 DNA signature). While this could simply be
an anomaly, the data emerging out of the Shetland Islands Y-DNA Surname Project
began to paint a picture of an Asian
presence within the Norse population. All other R1a1 participants with aboriginal
surnames (e.g., Robertson, Mathewson) also had the same match profile as the above
Williamson. Over time, and as the sample size increased, other rare haplogroups, seen
but rarely anywhere in Europe emerged. These included Q (seen almost exclusively in
Asia and North America), and K (found in Asia and the Middle East) came to light.
These three particular DNA signature patterns were also seen in recently published
samples of Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands (the latter two being founded, as was
Shetland, as Norse colonies).