Y-DNA - Sorting the various branches of McLean's

We can use Y-DNA information to evaluate several branches of McLean's that were present in Iredell and Rowan Counties, North Carolina in the late 1700's and early 1800's.

Branches of these McLean's that we know something about are:

• John McLean, Silversmith b1755 d1829, lived on Buffalo Shoals Creek, Iredell-Alexander Co, NC
• John McLean Sr. b1755 d1817 , lived near the Yadkin River, Vashti, Iredell-Alexander Co, NC
• John McLean, Planter b1746 d1818, lived on Buffalo Shoals Creek, Iredell-Alexander Co, NC
• Daniel McLean, b1769 d1829 , lived on Elk Shoals Creek, Iredell-Alexander Co, NC
• John McLean Jr b1789 Coddle Creek, Rowan Co, lived NW of Mooresville, Iredell Co, NC d1865
• William McLean b~1794 d1863, lived on Coddle Creek, Rowan Co, NC

Y- DNA results are separated into Haplogroups - groups of people from a distinct branch of the human genetic tree.  FTDNA's (Family Tree DNA Co) lists 191 McLean's in their "Clan McLean" group.  These McLean's fall into one of ten Haplogroups:

• A             African           1      1%
• E1b          Semitic           5      3%
• I1             Nordic            12    6%
• I2a           Slavic              4      2%
• I2b           Nordic            10    5%
• J2             Semitic           12    6%
• R1a          E. European   10    5%
• R1b1        W. European  4      2%
• R1b1b2    Celtic             112   59%
• R1b1b2a   Niall              21    11%
•                          
• Total                               191  100%

If we group these into the main branches:

• A       1                                   1%   
• E        5                                   3%
• I         26                                14%
• J        12                                 5%
• R       147                               77%

So, the distribution of McLean Y-DNA is:

• 77%      R haplogroup
• 14%      I  haplogroup
• 9%        Other haplogroups

Here is what we found out by testing Y-DNA from descendants of some of these McLean's:

• John McLean, Silversmith - Descendant Gene McLean of Santa Barbara, CA - R1b1a2 Celtic
• John McLean Sr - Vashti - Descendant Marvin A McLean of Oroville, CA - R1b12 Celtic
• Daniel McLean of Elk Shoals Creek - Descendant Bob McLean of Maryland - I2b1a1 Nordic Isles-Scot
• John McLean Jr of Mooresville - Descendant Bob McLean of Sonoma - I2b1a1 Nordic Isles-Scot
• William McLean of Coddle Creek, Rowan Co - Stephen Wade McLean of SC - R1b1b2 Celtic
• John McLean, Planter - no descendant found.

So the Silversmith, John McLean Sr of Vashit and William McLean of Coddle Creek, Rowan Co lines are from the dominant haplogroup R, and the Daniel and John McLean Jr lines are from the secondary haplogroup I.