- The Ralston Surname Project includes all spelling variations (Ralston, Rolston, Roulston, Raulston, Rolleston, etc.) When we use “Ralston” in quotation marks, we are referring to all variations of spelling.
Our research has revealed multiple distinct, unrelated lineages with connections to Scotland, Ireland, and England. These lines* are broken into numbered groups initially loosely based on size, with additional groups numbered as added.
While many different “Ralston” groups are of the general Haplogroup I-M269, any common ancestors between these groups would have been many thousands of years ago.
KNOWN LINES
Based on yDNA testing, the following lines of “Ralstons” have been identified. None of these line are related to another, so did not have origins from the same “Ralston” ancestor.
Phylogenetic trees** (based on SAPP trees from www.jdvsite.com © J. DAVID VANCE) have been added for groups with enough members to produce meaningfull SAPP trees. These trees are the algorithm's "best guess" as to how each member connects to the group's common ancestor (MRCA).
Projected dates are presented as "circa" and actually represent a range of time. These dates may have been adjusted from the dates shown on the produced SAPP tree to reflect logical placement on the tree in accordance with haplogroup and known genealogical dates.
- Ralstons of Scottish Origin
This line of Ralstons (Group 2 - Paisley) originated in the western lowlands of Scotland around Renfrewshire and is associated with the historic lands of Ralston located just east of Paisley, Renfrewshire. Some of this family is also associated with Beith, nearby in Ayrshire. There is a major branch that developed after settlement in Kintyre, Argyllshire in the mid 17th century. Other branches developed in Ayrshire and Galloway in the 18th century.
Modern yDNA matching suggests that all current Scottish-origin (Group 2) members of the project may have arisen from ancestor John Ralston of that ilk (c1450-1506), as the most recent common ancestor (MRCA).
It is impossible, at this point, to prove or disprove the contention that this John Ralston had an intact male lineage back to the earlier Ralstons of the Paisley region. There is a gap in the record corresponding to the Black Death (mid 1300's), when Brits and Scots were more fixated on surviving rather than tracking genealogies, writing books, and recording family trees.
Descendants of this group are Haplogroup R-M269, Subclade R-BY1542, believed to have a common ancestor born approximately 1500 CE. The Kintyre branch separated almost 400 years ago and further branched to subclade R-FTA58491.
Group 2 Phylogenetic Tree (Paisley R-M269>>R-BY15421)
- Ralstons, Roulstons, etc., of Irish and Ulster Origin
This line (Group 1 - Ulster) with the surnames Ralston, Roulston, Rolston, Raulston, Roulstone, or Rolleston can trace their ancestry to Ireland, particularly Ulster. Group 1a and 1b (Subclade I-BY194140) are believed to have a common ancestor born approximately 1550 CE. (Group 1b are more closely related to each other than to Group 1a. They are all believed to be Subclade I-FT404326, associated with William Roleston 1708-1767, of Virginia.)
A few others in the group (Group 1c), not named “Ralston”, match this group, but are of a Haplogroup (I-BY61820) earlier than I-BY194140. It is thus assumed that I-BY194140 was the first “Ralston” of this group.
Many of this group, particularly those in Ireland and Northern Ireland, have the surname “Roulston”. FTDNA does sponsor a separate Roulston Surname Project, but we recommend joining the Ralston Project, as it is currently more actively managed and inclusive of Roulstons. One can always join both projects but may gain more insights by participating in ours.
This group is currently the largest subgroup in the Ralston Surname Project.
Group 1 Phylogenetic Tree (Ulster I-M223>>BY194140)
- Rollestons of English Origin
This line (Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston) includes descendants of Christopher Rolleston (1669–1736) Nottinghamshire, England. Watnall Hall in Nottinghamshire, England, built around 1690, was home to some of this family for many years. Several also held the office of High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Descendants of this group are Haplogroup R-M269, Subclade R- FTC42414. The two in this group are descendants of Rev John Rolleston (1705–1770) Derbyshire, England.
Of note, the few Rollestons we’ve found in Ireland are unrelated to the Scottish Ralstons or English Rollestons, but instead align with the I-M223 Irish Group 1. Since there isn’t yet a separate Rolleston Surname Project, and because the name overlaps so much with Ralston and its variants, we actively recruit Rollestons into our project.
- Ralston/Rolston of County Armagh, Ireland, Origin
This line (Group 3 - Armagh) originates primarily from the Drumcree Parish, Eglish Parish, and Keady Parish families, which also show a DNA relationship to the Noble family of Ulster. See Ken Rolston’s paper at: https://ralstonproject.com/Armagh_report
Descendants of this group are Haplogroup R-M269, Subclade R- FT365926, believed to have a common ancestor born approximately 1600 CE.
Group 3 Phylogenetic Tree (Armagh R-M269>>R-FT365926)
- Ralton, Railton, Raltoun of Scotland Origin
Many of this line (Group 4 - Scotland Ralton) today use the surname Ralston, Rolston, etc., but may have originated in Scotland from the name Ralton or Railton, etc. The Ralton name is also used in England, but it is unknown if the two lines are related.
Descendants of this group are Haplogroup R-M269, Subclade R- FTA49702, believed to have a common ancestor born approximately 1350 CE.
Group 4 Phylogenetic Tree (Scotland Ralton R-M269>>R-FTA49702)
- Roulstones of the West Country, England, Origin
This line (Group 6 - West Country Roulstone) originates in and around Devonshire and is not related to the English Rolleston line. There is currently only one member of this group who descends from John Roulstone born c1798 in Marwood, Devon, England.
- Rolstons of County Sligo, Ireland, Origin
This line (Group 7 - Sligo) is from the vicinity of Connacht Province of County Sligo, Ireland.
The two descendants of this group are Haplogroup R-M269, Subclade R- FTC19785, believed to have a common ancestor born approximately 1700 CE.
- Unmatched Ralstons
Not matching others with your surname might happen for various reasons. Many times, it is because of a non-paternity event (NPE). An NPE is a situation where the person who is presumed to be a child's father is not the biological father. This can be caused by a number of factors, including adoption (or foundlings), infidelity, and medical mistakes.
However, an NPE should not be presumed. Not matching others of your surname might happen for other reasons:
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- Surname change. A person or whole families might change their name for social acceptance, an inheritance, a man taking his wife’s name, etc.
- A son taking his mother’s name,
- Your particular line has had unusually high mutation rate, (sometimes testing at a higher level will show matches, depending on where the mutations occurred), or
- Simply because no one else of your line has been yDNA tested.
* A group is established when there is genetic evidence that a member is part of a separate paternal "Ralston" line of several generations, as opposed to a possible NPE or other reason that a member has no "Ralston" matches.
** Names of members who have not elected to allow Group Administrators to publish their pseudonymized DNA results and ancestor information in the public results pages are shown as "Private".