Y-DNA evidence indicates that Joh. Georg Harter's ancestors came from Scotland, so this Harter family is not in any way related to the Black Forest Harter family around Oberdigsheim. This should put to final rest the often reported assumption that Georg was a son of Andraes Harter and Anna Catharina Zahner.

It is likely that his ancestor was a Scottish Mercenary during the 30 years war who decided to stay in Germany, but he could have arrived earlier. Scottish Mercenaries had served in a variety of wars from the 1400s and they were often hired as royal bodyguards. There is one family tradition that Georg came from a moneyed family, which could be evidence of the bodyguard origin. For those who remember or have heard of the Indian Gurkas of World War II, Scottish men apparently fulfilled this role during the 1400s to 1600s. They were fearless and feared fighters.