I am trying to trace the origins of my paternal Macdonald line. The first of my forebears mentioned in written records is a John Macdonald, known in Gaelic as 'Iain Dearg.' He moved to the West Lewis village of Shawbost in the last decade of the 18th Century; I know nothing about the movements of the family before this period.

Y DNA testing appears to have thrown up a tentative link with the Lewis parish of Uig and Skye.
I have a number of matches with Macdonalds, a Campbell and a Martin with roots in Skye and Lewis.

I would like to have more information, as the paper trail appears to have reached a dead end. I would be grateful to hear from any people connected to the Shawbost 'Deargs,' and any Macdonalds and Martins with ancestry from Skye, who do not appear to be descended directly from the chiefly (Somerled) line.

Many Thanks

Donnie Macdonald