Edward Robson, of Richmond, Virginia, spotted a story on our website about a genetic study into the clan.

The Centre for Life in Newcastle took DNA samples of 100 North East Robson men in November for a new exhibit, 'The Robson Encyclopaedia'.

The work is examining genetic inheritance and looking at whether Robsons of today can be linked back to the original Border Reiver clan of Tynedale.

And now, Mr Robson, whose family have lived in America since the 1920s, is eagerly awaiting the study's results which could link his father, and him, to the ancient Robson clan.

The findings are expected to be exhibited in the next month.

"As a Robson descendent, I am very interested in the results of the Centre for Life project and am looking very forward to being able to determine whether my father's DNA will match the results that will be announced," said Mr Robson.

He has also set up his own DNA research group — the Robson Surname y-DNA Project.

The group will attempt to link individual Robsons to the famous Tynedale clan, as the Centre for Life study will not give personal results.

"It occurred to me that none of the Robson men tested by the centre will be given their personal results," he said.

"So, I have put into motion a DNA project that will give them their personal results so that the Centre for Life results will be more personal and meaningful.

"Due to confidentiality restrictions, the staff at the centre will not be sharing individual results with the men who provided the DNA for their project."

Lance Robson, 90, of Hartburn, a former RAF pilot, heads the current Robson group and can trace his family history back 700 years.

He believes the Robsons remain the largest Border Reiver family in the area.

"What Lance Robson and his children realised is that when the Robson Encyclopaedia exhibit opens, they will not know whether or how closely he matches the Robson modal haplotype," said Mr Robson.

"The only way that he will know that at present is to have his y-chromosome DNA tested by an independent testing service.

"They, as a family, decided to have Lance tested so that he will know, when the exhibit opens, how closely he matches."

Edward Robson is the grandson of Leslie Stainsby Robson, born in 1892 in East Boldon, Durham, near South Shields.

Leslie was sent to a boarding school in Nova Scotia, Canada, after the death of his mother in 1907 and his father in 1901.

He relocated his family to a suburb of Boston in the mid 1920s.

During World War Two, Edward's father joined the US Navy and was trained in diesel mechanics in Richmond, Virginia, where he met Edward's mother.

For more information on the Robson Surname y-DNA Project, based in America, visit www.familytreedna.com/public/Robson