Scottish Genetic Origins

What if everything you thought you knew about Scottish DNA ancestry is incomplete? New scientific discoveries are reshaping the genetic origin of Scottish people, revealing a far more complex and surprising story than history books ever suggested.

In this video, we explore the latest breakthroughs in Scotland population genetics, uncovering how ancient migrations, forgotten tribes, and hidden ancestry shaped the DNA of modern Scots. From the legacy of early hunter-gatherers to the influence of Iron Age kingdoms and Norse settlers, this journey through ancient Scottish DNA history reveals how layers of identity were built over thousands of years.

You’ll discover how cutting-edge genetic studies are rewriting long-held assumptions, challenging myths, and offering a clearer picture of who the Scottish people truly are. This is not just history—it’s a deep look into identity, survival, and the hidden threads that connect past to present.

If you’ve ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of Scottish ancestry revealed, this story will change the way you see Scotland forever.


Sources & References
• PNAS (2019) — Gilbert et al.: Scotland’s DNA shows 6 ancient genetic clusters linked to Dark Age kingdoms
• PLOS Genetics (2023) — Pictish genomes reveal Iron Age continuity; closest to western Scots, Welsh & Irish
• PNAS (2015) — Cassidy et al.: Bell Beaker migration brought steppe ancestry to Britain
• Jim Wilson — Mapping Scotland’s genetic landscape & ancient kingdoms
• Linus Girdland-Flink — Pictish DNA & Iron Age Scottish ancestry
• Heredity (2005) — Viking-era Scandinavian settlement in Orkney & Shetland
• Harvard Reich Lab / PoBI — British Isles genetics, Bell Beaker & Viking ancestry


https://youtu.be/RvmBaIT24uc

Not sure if I posted this calculator before but for anyone who is interested give it a go:

Code:

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Irish_Ulster,0.131102,0.133204,0.063138,0.051918,0.038161,0.019483,0.004465,0.005404,0.00392,0.002661,-0.004313,0.006249,-0.01258,-0.013237,0.024226,0.006388,-0.013589,0.001647,0.002873,0.002776,0.004396,0.002308,0.001096,0.013444,0.001146
Irish_Leinster,0.132149,0.134558,0.062036,0.048934,0.039623,0.018058,0.004465,0.004904,0.004934,0.0041,0.004465,0.005245,-0.01167,-0.01328,0.023412,0.00537,-0.012322,0.002122,0.002954,0.001938,0.004617,0.001855,0.001725,0.01217,-0.000359
Irish_Connacht,0.132924,0.133937,0.064563,0.052781,0.038334,0.019919,0.003342,0.004846,0.003113,0.001659,-0.005251,0.006839,-0.014299,-0.014764,0.026131,0.008316,-0.014197,0.000493,0.001713,0.002737,0.004742,0.001552,0.001575,0.013898,0.001197
Irish_Munster,0.131153,0.134522,0.06323,0.051052,0.039433,0.018861,0.00392,0.004944,0.003984,0.002874,-0.004245,0.006456,-0.012471,-0.01416,0.02422,0.006902,-0.012724,0.00164,0.00223,0.00234,0.005477,0.001625,0.001569,0.013324,0.000787
Scottish_South,0.129949,0.134105,0.062024,0.048995,0.038673,0.018659,0.003789,0.004514,0.005273,0.004313,-0.004079,0.005847,-0.011681,-0.013063,0.022934,0.005995,-0.011986,0.002047,0.003051,0.002551,0.004222,0.001925,0.001925,0.012351,0.000421
Scottish_North,0.129331,0.133237,0.063168,0.051422,0.037576,0.020164,0.003361,0.004777,0.00409,0.001713,-0.005083,0.006192,-0.013513,-0.013639,0.024864,0.007624,-0.012621,0.00171,0.002526,0.003464,0.004866,0.002102,0.001158,0.014387,0.001437
Orcadian,0.131009,0.132831,0.062149,0.051551,0.037915,0.019913,0.004348,0.0048,-0.004044,-0.001476,-0.005213,0.006474,-0.013409,-0.012891,0.024728,0.008406,-0.01223,0.002458,0.002715,0.003827,0.005391,0.002448,0.001454,0.014291,0.00218
Welsh,0.131571,0.134952,0.061471,0.046189,0.039432,0.016911,0.004126,0.004813,0.005318,0.005123,-0.004098,0.005342,-0.010885,-0.01221,0.022026,0.005473,-0.011604,0.002013,0.002814,0.002001,0.004381,0.002357,0.001554,0.01185,0.000305
English_North,0.131009,0.134558,0.060151,0.046512,0.038776,0.016957,0.003713,0.004846,0.005277,0.004629,-0.004157,0.005245,-0.010793,-0.011836,0.021579,0.005423,-0.011317,0.002103,0.002992,0.002101,0.003893,0.002127,0.001873,0.011327,-0.000109
English_South,0.129759,0.135404,0.058328,0.042571,0.038469,0.015433,0.003368,0.004292,0.005692,0.005704,-0.003978,0.005085,-0.009772,-0.010734,0.019567,0.004574,-0.010474,0.001858,0.002715,0.001476,0.003469,0.001834,0.001183,0.010041,-0.00016
English_Cornwall,0.131579,0.136284,0.059434,0.043513,0.039434,0.015562,0.003619,0.004384,0.005634,0.005686,-0.003784,0.00538,-0.010213,-0.011382,0.021051,0.005516,-0.011278,0.001837,0.002765,0.001713,0.003931,0.002164,0.00122,0.01111,0.000144
Dutch,0.128741,0.13532,0.059296,0.04299,0.038673,0.015408,0.004042,0.004454,0.005563,0.00523,-0.004044,0.004691,-0.009366,-0.010363,0.018784,0.004243,-0.009231,0.00171,0.002778,0.001926,0.003456,0.001867,0.001553,0.009628,0.000192
Norwegian,0.124636,0.126433,0.065279,0.054329,0.039238,0.020694,0.006204,0.007638,0.005952,0.00226,-0.005489,0.005545,-0.010703,-0.010721,0.021077,0.008061,-0.008983,0.002673,0.004123,0.005165,0.005715,0.002881,0.001738,0.012893,0.00109
Danish,0.128522,0.132526,0.061803,0.048741,0.039568,0.018337,0.005434,0.006092,0.005394,0.003503,-0.004374,0.00512,-0.010361,-0.010857,0.020584,0.006152,-0.009583,0.002075,0.00348,0.003666,0.004944,0.002462,0.001861,0.011681,0.000652

---

Distance to: CDG_scaled
0.01647855 Scottish_South
0.01662100 Irish_Ulster
0.01678562 English_North
0.01696912 Welsh
0.01710377 Danish
0.01750497 Irish_Munster
0.01779127 Scottish_North
0.01825462 Irish_Leinster
0.01863641 Irish_Connacht
0.01868942 English_Cornwall
0.01974939 English_South
0.01977715 Dutch
0.02109488 Orcadian
0.02161535 Norwegian

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6079% / 0.01607923
49.6 Irish_Ulster
39.4 English_North
5.6 Irish_Leinster
5.4 Danish

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6079% / 0.01607923 | ADC: 0.25x RC
49.6 Irish_Ulster
39.4 English_North
5.6 Irish_Leinster
5.4 Danish

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6089% / 0.01608882 | ADC: 0.5x RC
53.4 Irish_Ulster
46.6 English_North

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6089% / 0.01608882 | ADC: 1x RC
53.4 Irish_Ulster
46.6 English_North

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6339% / 0.01633879 | ADC: 2x RC
58.8 Scottish_South
41.2 Irish_Ulster

Results after omitting Danish, Dutch and English_North:

Distance to: CDG_scaled
0.01647855 Scottish_South
0.01662100 Irish_Ulster
0.01696912 Welsh
0.01750497 Irish_Munster
0.01779127 Scottish_North
0.01825462 Irish_Leinster
0.01863641 Irish_Connacht
0.01868942 English_Cornwall
0.01974939 English_South
0.02109488 Orcadian
0.02161535 Norwegian


Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6206% / 0.01620589
55.2 Irish_Ulster
37.0 Welsh
7.6 Irish_Leinster
0.2 English_South


Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6206% / 0.01620589 | ADC: 0.25x RC
55.0 Irish_Ulster
37.4 Welsh
7.6 Irish_Leinster


Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6206% / 0.01620589 | ADC: 0.5x RC
55.0 Irish_Ulster
37.4 Welsh
7.6 Irish_Leinster


Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6339% / 0.01633879 | ADC: 1x RC
58.8 Scottish_South
41.2 Irish_Ulster

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 1.6339% / 0.01633879 | ADC: 2x RC
58.8 Scottish_South
41.2 Irish_Ulster

Small ancient Celtic calculator:

Code:

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Insular_Celt:England_Iron_Age,0.131124,0.146439,0.057398,0.037985,0.040931,0.012271,0.001363,0.004938,0.015626,0.017713,-0.003053,0.005575,-0.012547,-0.011863,0.019829,0.001962,-0.013403,0.003978,0.003117,0.002276,0.001847,0.00282,0.000148,0.007423,0.000742
Insular_Celt:Scotland_LIA,0.130612,0.14649,0.059208,0.041021,0.039469,0.017919,0.001939,0.005134,0.013294,0.01508,0.001543,0.007531,-0.013751,-0.008945,0.022903,-0.000166,-0.013983,0.003104,0.00374,0.001719,0.004461,0.002937,-0.000154,0.008585,0.001916
Continental_Celt:France_Iron_Age,0.126344,0.14319,0.044123,0.014858,0.041238,0.005857,0.00235,0.003461,0.015544,0.022233,-0.003085,0.006594,-0.011596,-0.005367,0.007329,0.003978,-0.002608,0.002407,0.00352,-0.000875,0.001872,0.002473,-0.001479,-0.000482,0.000239
Ancient_Irish:Bronze_Age_Rathlin,0.130896,0.146236,0.056945,0.043605,0.038469,0.017849,-0.00047,0.002538,0.016362,0.018588,-0.00406,-0.001199,-0.015312,-0.013487,0.025379,0.005038,-0.017211,0.001774,0.005028,0.0005,0.001872,-0.001607,0.001602,0.010122,0.000838

---

Distance to: CDG_scaled
0.02739659 Insular_Celt:Scotland_LIA
0.03105934 Ancient_Irish:Bronze_Age_Rathlin
0.03120558 Insular_Celt:England_Iron_Age
0.05681698 Continental_Celt:France_Iron_Age


Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 2.7359% / 0.02735904
91.2 Insular_Celt:Scotland_LIA
8.8 Ancient_Irish:Bronze_Age_Rathlin


Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 2.7359% / 0.02735904 | ADC: 0.25x RC
91.2 Insular_Celt:Scotland_LIA
8.8 Ancient_Irish:Bronze_Age_Rathlin

Target: CDG_scaled
Distance: 2.7397% / 0.02739659 | ADC: 0.5x RC
100.0 Insular_Celt:Scotland_LIA