The Armstrong Clan Society Scholarship Application is now available for download in Microsoft Word and .pdf formats:

Microsoft Word: ACS Scholarship Application MS Word

Adobe PDF: ACS Scholarship Application

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Armstrong Clan Society will be held at  the  Stone  Mountain  Highland Games the weekend of Oct 15 and 16, 2016.   For more info see www.smhg.org and future issues of The Armstrong Chronicles.

Scientists now say the Scottish Borderland Armstrong family stems from further north – and from one man. Armstrong males are being asked to take a DNA test to confirm exciting new research. 

   PRESS RELEASE, OCTOBER 28^TH 2015

500 years ago the Armstrongs were the most dangerous family on the Scottish Borderland. And now, it seems, these riders and raiders came not from Southern Scotland, but from further north. Geneticists say new evidence shows that this powerful reiving clan originated in places like Angus, Moray, or Fife – and that all Borderland Armstrongs may stem from one man.

   Dr Jim Wilson, ‘Scotland’s DNA’ Chief Scientist, has discovered that the haplogroup the Armstrongs descend from originated not on the English/Scottish divide, but in ancient Pictland. Their distinctive Y chromosome rises to above 1% of all men in places like Perthshire, Fife and Tayside – and it arose perhaps 3,000 years ago.

   His scientific research also points to the fact that the Armstrongs descend from one man: around a thousand years ago, this person moved to the English/Scottish border – and became the progenitor of a great reiving family. How is it possible to be sure? Geneticists can recognize what are known as ‘expansion clusters’, groups of men who carry closely-related DNA markers that point to a common male ancestor. Dr Wilson has recognized just such a cluster in Armstrong men originating in the Borderlands.

   We know that kings, princes and other powerful men mated with different women in the past. The original Armstrongs must have been able to access several females and were able to spread their DNA widely and have many sons, who, in turn, could repeat the process. An example of this was in 15^th century Ireland. Lord Turlough O’Donnell fathered 14 sons and had 59 male grandchildren. If the same level of enthusiasm and fertility were sustained, Lord Turlough would have had 248 great grandsons and 1,040 great, great grandsons. In four generations, the man could have bred an army.

   This is thought to be the pattern of genetic inheritance that happened with the first Armstrong who came from ancient Pictland to settle in the Borders: the begetter of a great name, and also of men who shaped Scottish history. Highland clans were feared because they formed a family army and fought for each other. Borderland Armstrongs were similar. Their Heidsman could put 4,000 men in the saddle and wherever they rode, to fight, or raid, they were also feared.

   Broadcaster and writer, Alastair Moffat, who is working on the DNA project with Professor Wilson says, ‘the question is – who was this Highland man who sired a Borderland army? Can Armstrong genealogists help? How many Armstrongs are descended from him? We need many more Armstrong men to come forward to have their DNA tested. This is a story only DNA can tell…

For further information, contact Alistair Moffat at alistair.moffat@scotlandsdna.com  For Armstrong details, contact Fiona Armstrong at fionarms@gmail.com

   Editor WJA: See Scotlandsdna.com for pricing and technical information on data reports provided. Also see ACS Past President Milton Armstrong’s 2006 DNA article on the this website for basic DNA information   www.armstrong.org/DNA.htm   

The Armstrong Clan Society has been organized to:

 1) Seek friendship and unity among Armstrongs and associated families.

2)  Provide for the preservation of Armstrong artifacts unique to the family and to maintain a library.

 3) Serve as a genealogical and historical recorder of the membership,

 4) Provide  news, Armstrong history and genealogy via The Armstrong Chronicles,

 5) Establish geographic membership representation.

Membership

All Armstrongs, Croziers, Fairbairns, Groziers and Nixons, regardless of spelling, and their descendants, are eligible for full membership in The Society. All others interested in furthering the goals of The Society may become associate members. In the United States and Canada, dues are $25 per year, including two adults and all minor children. In all other countries dues are $35 per year, payable in US funds.

You can click here to download a membership application.