Somerled likely has hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of descendants today.
Here’s why:
- He lived in the 12th century (d. 1164) — nearly 900 years ago. That’s roughly 30 generations back.
- He had multiple sons, including important figures like Dubhghall, Raghnall, and Aonghas, who became progenitors of powerful clans (e.g., Clan Donald, Clan MacDougall).
- His descendants ruled or influenced vast parts of western Scotland and the Isles for centuries.
- Clan Donald alone became one of the largest and most powerful Scottish clans, and many members emigrated to Ireland, North America, Australia, and elsewhere.
Even Y-DNA studies suggest that a significant proportion of men from western Scotland and parts of Ulster may descend from a common male ancestor — possibly Somerled — with a distinctive Norse-Gaelic haplotype (thought to be in haplogroup R1a).
So while there’s no precise number, it’s safe to say that millions worldwide may carry his bloodline, especially those with MacDonald, MacDougall, MacAlister, and related ancestry.