Jack,
I had a similar experience with my McKenzie line. I match no one who has
that surname, but have a very close match with Cantrells, Phillips, Brimms,
Giles, West and Hutchins. This was thru Y DNA testing with FTDNA.
I did autosomal testing with 23andMe and recently transferred those results
to FTDNA's FamilyFinder program. I found 2 new genome wide matches. One
person has the Almquist surname and the other has the Howle surname. My
maiden name is Stith and for 20 years because I consider myself African
American, I never expected to connect to the European Stith family. Well
last week I made a connection thru the Almquist and Howle surnames to the
family of Drury Stith and Elizabeth Buckner. The great thing is that I have
always that there was some connection to this Stith/Jones family line, but
never thought it was genetic.
Linda
-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Fallin
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 8:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Digest (#2012-26); Recent Genealogy DNA Experience
Dear List,
Having, literally, just come through my first round of yDNA testing for my
Virginia Fallin family (first immigrant in Northumberland County prior to
1671), perhaps I can share what I've found so far. First, unfortunately, it
does remain true that testing a male with the surname being examined is the
genealogical gold-standard. Only yDNA (the "Y" indicates the test is on the
Y chromosome, found only in males) will track a straight line through all of
test subject's direct line (same surname) ancestors. That is why so many
discussions of "DNA" are really about yDNA testing.
Someone mentioned "mt" mitochondrial DNA testing. While it's a technically
amazing fact that mitochondrial DNA (our energy producing mitochondria are
the remnants of a bacteria that at some point entered into a symbiotic
relationship with all animals) will take one back through every mother. But
that can be a nightmare for genealogy, unless you are looking at only one or
two steps, because every wife moving backward has a different surname. In
just a few generations you are completely outside a reasonable genealogical
analysis. On the other hand, if you have a unique question that only can be
solved by this sort of sideways analysis -- go for it.
In my case, through a series of lucky events and tireless work by a late
friend and collaborator, I have quite a good paper trail. Others with my
same name have not been so fortunate. For some one with a brick wall, the
yDNA analysis, if they can make a match, allows them to "borrow" another's
paper trail and provide proof that they are on the right track. By the same
token, failure to make a match can save a researcher years of fruitless
searching.
In my case the analysis yielded an unexpected dividend. I have always
assumed that the name was Irish and was a variation of a name more commonly
spelled "Fallon/ O'Fallon." I was so sure of it, that I spent a great deal
of time digging around with that family's history in the 1600s and earlier.
Well the yDNA analysis has shown that I am related to a phonetically
similar, but totally distinct Irish group, represented by the names
"Phelan/Whalen/Faoláin." There is no discernible relationship between the
two sets of Irish names and my ancestry has now moved to an entirely
different region in Ireland with a significantly different political
history. I know of no other way that I could have made this step and
(despite throwing out about 10% of my research!) the test has already more
than paid for itself. In the meantime, my hoped for "yardstick" use for the
analysis shows preliminary favorable signs (the only other Fallin yDNA test
online is a match), everything now depends on others ponying up the cost to
have the test done.
I used FTDNA. I think they have the largest pool of tested subscribers who
have given permission to have their tests matched with others. On the other
hand, I think all the test providers now use a system that allows them to
check across one another's results. My quick change in family origins was
greatly facilitated by the fact that there is a "Phelan/Whalen/Faoláin"
"project" at FTDNA. In my case that project has collected a great many
similar matches and was able to place me squarely in their group. The
co-leader of the project (in Australia) has been enormously helpful. I'm
not sure the extent to which the other test providers have evolved similar
projects.
On the down side, I find the FTDNA site to be extremely opaque and difficult
to explore. Perhaps that's true of the other sites as well, but I would
hope not.
Jack Fallin
Walnut Creek, CA
On Feb 27, 2012, at 9:00 PM, VA-ROOTS automatic digest system wrote:
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Genealogy (8)
>
> 3. DNA testing
>
>
> **************************************************************
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