In Part 1 of this article, we took a look at Dad’s ethnicity data from Ancestry, 23andme, and MyHeritage. In this article, we are going to pair that data with the ancestry journeys/genetic groups, surname information, records, and beliefs about the families to determine or guesstimate where each family may have originated.
Things to Remember
It is important to remember the following when reading this article:
- DNA may indicate where the family was several centuries ago. It is not necessarily where the family lived prior to their move to America. Thus, there can be deltas between where a family is “from” and where the family was at the time unique DNA evolved.
- Not all regions in a person’s ancestry may be represented as DNA does not inherit evenly. Likewise, regions can be over/under represented for the same reasons.
- Ethnicity is an evolving technology. It appears to be improving. However, a future update may show changes to this data.
- The more distant the person is from Dad, the more likely there are errors in their history and even possibly their name. Thus, the information should be considered a work in progress and is subject to change. Entries in my tree range from verified to likely to things that need quite a bit more research. I included the latter group to provide a more complete historical perspective, but care should be taken to research any of the data from that group. Details regarding verification of specific individuals/families is available upon request.
Surnames
I am going to start with the family that is the most straight forward as all known names in the family line are from England. It also gives some significant insight into the DNA from the various regions that include portions of England.
Jury
Great-Grandmother Matilda Jury’s parents were both born in Canada. Neither family had been in Canada for a long-period when Matilda, her father, and siblings immigrated to the United States. (Her mother died as a young woman.)
The Jury family had moved to Canada from England. William Jury, Matilda’s grandfather, had brought his wife and family. However, he had also died (typhoid) before the family immigrated to the United States. However, her grandmother Eleanor “Ellen” (Willett) Jury had journeyed to the United States with the family.
Matilda’s great grandparents William Jury and Nancy Elsen also came to Canada. They were previously from Devon, England.
Willett
The Willett family had moved to Canada from Sussex, England. In England, the names Holden, Killick, Decarney, Bourne, and Puttick show up in the Willett family. All of these families were located in Sussex, England.
White
Matilda’s mother’s family (White) had also moved to Canada from England. They arrived between 1830 and 1834. They were from Sussex, England. Other family names in the White family line in England include Humphrey, Wicker, Boxall(?), and Smith. This is, again, part of the England/England/SE England & NW Europe region.
DNA Contribution
Understanding the Chart
The following chart shows information for the Jury family and related families that immigrated to the Americas. Other families are known in England. However, they are not shown on the chart as they are for the purposes of this exercise assumed to be from England.
The chart shows three pieces of information for each family:
- The date/approximate date that the family immigrated. This is the date in the box.
- The country that the family is believed to have immigrated from, if known. This is shown by the color of the box. See the legend to interpret the colors. If no color is shown (e.g. white), the “old country” is unknown.
- The date that the specific family name folding into our family line. In most cases, this is when a woman gave birth to the next generation of our ancestors. This is the date which is generally at the end of the family’s timeline. There are a few exceptions when the family came to the Americas, but the next generation ancestor was born in “the old country.”
Immigration data may show up multiple times if the family moved between countries prior to coming to America.
Timeline
Given Dad’s closest relative in this family line is his grandmother, the Jury and associated families contribute approximately 25% of his DNA. In other words, half of his maternal DNA comes from this family. As the text and chart show, this branch of Dad’s family comes exclusively from England through Canada. All generations researched that are prior to the United States were in England. However, that does not mean that other types of DNA could not be found in this family line as the family has not been researched back far enough to exclude other DNA. However, for the purposes of this analysis, we will assume that this portion of Dad’s DNA comes from England.
The Jury family and related other families came from areas that are part of the England/England/SE England & NW Europe regions. Thus, a contribution of 25% to these regions with most known and other expected locations being in the SE area of England. Note: Regions shown are in the order 23andme/MyHeritage/Ancestry.
Not all the family names in this family line are listed. The only ones included are those that immigrated to the Americas. The date shown in the box indicates what is known about the date in which the family immigrated.
Journeys
MyHeritage has a genetic group that covers basically all of Scotland, Ireland, and England. Since I don’t have a lot of information on MyHeritage, they have not associated the Jury family with this genetic group. However, all of Dad’s four major families would in reality be tied to this genetic group.
Allied families of the Jury family are associated with Ancestry.com’s Eastern South East England ancestral journey. Ancestry connects our family to West Sussex, West Surrey & Eastern East Surrey & Kent. They also connect us to Greater London to Brighton. Neither of these are a surprise as Sussex and Brighton are both found in family records.
In the time leading up to the Jury and allied families moving to Canada, economic issues were pervasive in this area. It is not known if this is the reason the families moved. However, it may have contributed.
McCracken
Based on DNA research, we descend from James McCracken and his wife Rachel Kelly. James is believed by researchers to have been born in Newtonards, Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, his father Thomas is believed to have been born in Ayrshire, Scotland. His mother is said to have been Susana White. Her birth location is not yet known.
The family is said to have immigrated about the time that the Revolutionary War ended.
This is supported by the origin of the name McCracken and by DNA matches to Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Kelly
James McCracken married Rachel Kelly. The Kelly family immigrated to America between 1764 and 1773. They are believed to have previously lived in Down County, North Ireland.
Kelly is an anglicized form of Ó Ceallaigh. The name is very common in Ireland, but is also found in Scotland.
Smiley
Rachel Kelly’s mother was Ann Smiley. She immigrated with her husband Nathaniel Kelly from Down County, North Ireland.
The name Smiley (various spellings) is found in Scotland and England.
Peppard
Based on DNA research, we descend from one of the sons of Jonathan Peppard and Elizabeth Gilmore. Autosomal DNA led to the Peppard family and Y-DNA testing led to a Peppard being Lemuel McCracken’s paternal line, which meant McCracken was his mother’s name.
The name Peppard is of English and Irish origin. The Peppard family is said (not proven) to be from Dublin, Ireland. They immigrated sometime between 1705 and 1725.
Whitaker
Jonathan Peppard’s mother was Phebe Whitaker, who was American born. Her grandfather Jonathan Whitaker is said to have been born in England and may have been sent to America about 1723 (more research needed to understand that story). His location in England is unknown.
The name Whitaker is tied to northern England, including Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Miller
Phebe Whitaker’s mother was Mary Miller. I have yet to identify her ancestry.
The name Miller originated primarily in England and Scotland, but is also prominent in Irish, German, and other European languages as an English form of names in those languages.
Jarvis
Jonathan Whitaker, the immigrant, was married to Elizabeth Jarvis. Her father was also born in America. Thus, her Jarvis ancestors immigrated to Massachusetts prior to 1669. Given they lived near Salem, Massachusetts, I assume they were English.
This is consistent with the origin of the name Jarvis as it is primarily English, having been derived from Old French.
Porter
The earliest known Jarvis was Stephen, Elizabeth (Jarvis) Whitaker’s grandfather. Stephen was married to Mary Porter, who was born in Massachusetts about 1635. Thus, her parents were early to America.
Again, it is assumed that her parents were English. This is consistent with the origin of the name Porter as it is primarily English, having been derived from Old French.
Gilmore
Elizabeth Gilmore was born in America about 1769. There are indications that her father may also have been born in America. Other data that needs further research shows that the family originated in Ireland.
The name Gilmore is primarily of Scottish and Irish Gaelic origin.
Matteer
Great-great Grandmother Louisiana (Matteer/Matter/Mateer/Mater/ etc.) McCracken’s Matteer ancestors came to America between 1722 and 1753. They were from the Alsace region along the border of France and Germany.
The name Matter (and other forms of it) primarily originate in Germany and Switzerland. However, it can also be English and Dutch. Oddly, today it is most common in Egypt.
Karmindy
(Confirmation in progress)
Louisiana’s paternal grandmother appears to be Anna Christina (Karmindy) Matter. The spelling Karmindy appears in her marriage record, but is believed to have come from the name Karmenie or a similar name. Karmenie is a German form of a French word.
Her father is said to be from Edenkoben, Germany. It is believed that he immigrated to America between his birth in 1737 and 1758.
Wendling
(Confirmation in Progress)
Lousiana’s great-grandmother on her father’s side appears to be Anna Maria Wendling. She was born in the Alsace region along the border of France and Germany. She immigrated to America before 1753.
The name Wendling is primarily German, but is also found in English.
Ro(d)gers
Louisiana’s mother was Mary Ro(d)gers. Nothing is known of her history. The name Rogers and Rodgers are interchangeable and basically the same name.
The names are of English origin.
DNA Contribution
Timeline
The McCracken DNA contributions are a bit unknown given Lemuel’s specific parents are not known. He is the grandson of Jonathan Peppard and Elizabeth Gilmore. However, on the McCracken side, he could be the grandson or great-grandson of James McCracken and Rachel Kelly. Although I lean toward the latter, for the purposes of this analysis, to simplify the analysis, it is assumed he is their grandson.
Another odd thing is that although generally the paternal line goes forward and has a later date that it folds into our main ancestral line, with McCracken and Peppard, it is the paternal line that folds in as Lemuel used his mother’s surname
Regions
Since Dad’s ancestry is being broken down based on his grandparents, the McCracken families provide approximately 25% of Dad’s DNA.
The graph shows where families are known or believed to have lived prior to coming to America (green bars). However, it is not known where all the families lived prior to their arrival in America. The percentage of unknown ancestral places that are associated with the McCracken family are shown in the column “Unknown.” This is represented as a percentage of Dad’s total DNA, not a percentage of his McCracken DNA.
Additionally, it shows a “Best Guess” as to where the families lived, which includes the known locations and guesses for each of the unknown locations. The guesses are based on their surname, with whom they are associated, the timing of their arrival, and other factors.
Certain family names are big contributors to this portion of his DNA simply because their ancestry is unknown. Often people think of a person’s parents’ names or maybe grandparents’ names as who they are. However, the more that is learned about a person’s ancestry, the more one realizes that those families are simply a tiny fraction of who they are.
A significant portion of the Unknown is based on the fact that Dad’s great-great grandmother’s ancestry is unknown. Based on the name, I included it in England as a best guess. However, it is possible that if more is learned about her that it could be a mix of several regions.
Journeys
The Delaware Valley, Chesapeake, & Midwest Settlers ancestral journey is associated with the movement of both Lemuel McCracken and Louisiana Matteer. They are associated with the portion shown. However, this journey also includes an area on the coast that includes New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
Those areas are not known to be associated with Lemuel and Louisiana. However, members of other family lines are associated with this ancestral journey, including both areas.
The St. Louis, Missouri & Western U.S. Settlers Ancestral Journey overlaps a bit in the Midwest covering parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. As such, both Lemuel and Louisiana also connect to this journey. The journey also includes most of Washington and Oregon. Family members did make the journey westward from Kansas, but no direct ancestors are known to have lived in that portion of the St. Louis, Missouri & Western U.S. Settlers journey.
My Heritage assigned Dad to four genetic groups that overlap with three of them greatly overlapping. It isn’t quite clear why the two with the most overlap both exist.
In any case, the McCracken family might be associated with all but the Southern USA genetic group. The two similar groups appear to be similar to Ancestry’s Delaware Valley, Chesapeake, & Midwest Settlers ancestral journey except that they cover a larger area.
The journeys/genetic groups can be useful when looking for unknown ancestors as many of the people followed the same journey. Thus, looking for them in the path of the journey can be fruitful.
Peelle
Lawrence Peele, the earliest Peele ancestor, arrived in the Colonies in 1621. We know that he sailed from England. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he was English. However, it seems likely that he was an Englishman.
The name Peel (likely the original spelling) was common in northern England in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. There is also a Peel Castle, which was built by the Norse, and a town of Peel on Isle of Mann. It’s unknown if Lawrence lived in one of these places or somewhere else prior to his journey to America.
Since, Lawrence came to America at an early date, many different surnames funnel into this family line. His wife and those of his son Robert from which we descend are unknown. Mrs. Sarah Jarrett is the wife of Robert Peele II. He married her after her husband Thomas Jarrett died. Unfortunately, her maiden name is unknown.
Edwards
Judith Edwards was the wife of Robert Peele III. Nothing is known of her history.
Edwards is of English and Welsh origin.
Edgerton
We doubly descend from Robert Peele IV with one line descending from each of his two wives. His first wife was Elizabeth Edgerton, who was born in North Carolina. Her parents have not been confirmed.
The name Edgerton/Egerton is of English origin.
Dunigan
Passco Peele, son of Robert Peele IV and Elizabeth Edgerton, married Tabitha Dunigan. Her parents are unknown and some of the family have a story that she was the illegitimate daughter of President John Adams. I have found no supporting evidence that she is anyone other than a Dunigan/Dunagan/Dunigun. Read more about this family story
The name Dunigan is of Irish origin and is derived from Ó Donnagáin/ Duinneacháin.
Dickenson
Robert Peele IV’s second wife was Charity Dickenson. Charity was born in North Carolina and appears to have descended from a family that came to America prior to 1663.
According to a gravestone, they came from Ireland. However, others believe they came from Yorkshire, England. Neither location has been proven. However, the name is of English origin.
The names Carter and Dudley are possibly associated with the Dickenson family before they came to America. Carter and Dudley are of English origin. Carter also has connections to Ireland and Scotland.
Powell
The name Powell is doubly connected to the Dickenson family with the most recent one being Rebecka Powell, who was born in Virginia in 1690. No earlier ancestors in this family line are known.
The name Powell is very common in Wales and in the counties of England that border Wales.
Wynne
Rebecca Wynne was married to one of the several John Dickinsons. Nothing is known of her ancestry.
The name Wynne is of Welsh origin.
Cox
Judith Peele, daughter of Robert Peele IV and Charity Dickenson, married Josiah Cox. It is believed that they came from England, possibly from in or near London.
Prior to the Cox family’s arrival in America sometime between 1695 and 1712, the names Staplow/Staploe and Matthews are associated with the Cox family.
Cox and Staplow/Staploe are of English origin while Matthews is of English and Welsh origin.
Busby/Buzby
After arriving in America, Thomas Cox is believed to have married Sarah Busby/Buzby. The Busby/Buzby family immigrated to America from England prior to 1695.
In England, the names French and Atkins are associated with the family. Busby/Buzby is of English and Scottish origin. Meanwhile the names French and Atkins are English.
The family is said to have been from Milton, which is just north of Cambridge.
Fellow
Thomas and Sarah (Busby/Buxby) Cox’s son Thomas married Phebe Fellow. The Fellow family is said to have immigrated to America from Buckingham, England. They arrived between 1696 and 1731.
In England, the names Littleboy and Boyle are thought to be associated with the Fellow family. The name Fellow is English in origin.
Johnson
Peelle and Cox families came together, which brought the two Peelle families together in Sally Cox, who married Passco Peelle. Their son Passco married Martha Johnson (this couple is buried at Hiattville Cemetery).
The Johnson family immigrated to America prior to 1765 when William Johnson was born in North Carolina. Their country of origin is unknown.
Johnson is common in England and Scotland.
Adams
In 1793, William Johnson married Sarah Adams. The Adams family has been confirmed back to George Adams, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1708. It is thought that his father is Benjamin, but their is no clarity beyond George’s birth.
Although unknown as to where the family originated, they are believed to have been from England. The name Adams is of English and Scottish origin.
Dixon
George Adams married Katherine Dixon, who was born in America. More research is needed, but it appears that her father may also have been born in America around 1685.
The origin of this family is unknown. The name Dixon is of English and Scottish origin.
Martin
George Adams’ son William Adams married Susannah Martin. The Martin family came to America from Wiltshire, England between 1676 and 1686.
In England, the Martin family is believed to be associated with the Elwood and Upham families.
The name Martin has been in England since 1066. However, spread to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and across various areas of Europe.
Mendenhall
William Martin, the immigrant in the Martin family, brought his wife Margery Mendenhall to America with him. They likely made the journey because they were Quakers. Margery’s father and his wife (not proven if she is Margery’s mother) also made the trip to America.
Names associated with this family prior to immigration are: Stroude, Bates, Barley, Smythes, and Fowler.
The name Mendenhall is associated with Wiltshire and Suffolk counties in England.
Battin
Susannah Martin’s mother was Margaret Battin. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1689. Her father, however, is believed to have been born in Berkshire, England.
Names associated with the Battin family before they immigrated are: Boyland, Clark, Kerrich, Cook, and Carter. The name Battin is linked to Southwest England, particularly Devon and Cornwall.
Smith
William and Sarah (Adams) Johnson’s son William Johnson married Rachel Smith. The Smith family appears to have arrived in America prior to 1677. Their country of origin in unknown. However, the name Smith originated in England.
Parke
James Thompson Smith married Rachel Parke. Little is known of the Parke family other than Rachel was supposedly born in New Jersey around 1714.
The name Parke originated in the English language.
Briles
James Thompson and Rachel (Parke) Smith’s son Thompson Smith is believed to have married Rachel Briles/Broyles/Broils. Her family had arrived in American prior to her birth in 1749.
The name Briles/Broyles/Broils is an American version of the German name Breyhel. More research is needed on this family, but it appears that her father was from Wurtenburg, Germany and arrived in Virginia in 1717.
Davis
Thompson and Rachel Smith’s son Eleazer married Ruth Davis. The Davis family appears to have been in America prior to 1678.
Davis is of English and Welsh origin, but is also a modification of names from other languages.
Dishman
Ruth Davis’ mother was Ruth Dishman. She was born in Virginia in 1739. Nothing is known of her parents.
Dishman is found in North German and English with French influence.
DNA Contribution
Timeline
The Peelle Timeline is the longest timeline of any of the four major family lines, spanning over 300 years. Although many countries of origin are unknown, most are expected to be in the United Kingdom. Several state that they were in America by the 1680s or 1690s. Several of these may have traveled during the William Penn migration of Quakers to Pennsylvania in the 1680s.
R
egions
egionsFor the Peelle family, the chart shows a “Best Guess” as to their ancestry and also an “Alternate Guess.” The reason for two different views is that several of the family names had ties to different countries. The biggest difference between the two is that in the Alternate Guess, much of the DNA associated with England is moved to Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.
It is important to remember that by using names and records, the data focuses on where the family came from when they moved to America. They could have made multiple moves in earlier generations or someone may have traveled to these areas or from these areas to another country. In those cases, those other areas would not be captured by my method, but might be captured by the companies that analyze DNA if DNA from that area is unique.
Journeys
The Peelle family could be associated with all four of the USA-based genetic groups identified by MyHeritage. With regard to the Southern USA genetic group, they would only be associated with the far eastern portion as they moved from Virginia to North Carolina. Some of the family also moved into South Carolina, but Dad’s direct ancestors did not move that far south.
Interestingly, Ancestry does not show a journey or journeys for the Peelle and related families in Virginia and North Carolina. At one time, I believe they did have a journey for this area.
However, once the Peelle family is in Indiana, they are associated with the Delaware Valley, Chesapeake & Midwest Settlers ancestral journey. It just misses nearly 200 years while they worked their way from Virginia to the Carolinas. Since their history is well documented for that era, the known history can assist in research. Thus, the journey information is not as important.
Ellis
The Ellis family was in America prior to 1782 when Roger “Toddy” Ellis was born. Nothing is known of his parents or the Ellis family’s country of origin.
The name Ellis is of English and Welsh origin. Some members of the family used the spelling “Elless.” This is a rare spelling and likely of the same origin. It may have been used to distinguish the family from others with this common name.
Another wrinkle in understanding this family is that the family Bible included the spelling Alles for the original owner, but has other spellings for people listed i the Bible. The name Alles might have been based on the pronunciation and understanding of spelling at the time. However, it might also have come from German influence.
Lewis
Roger Ellis married Susannah Lewis. The Lewis family was in Pennsylvania prior to 1713 when Abraham Lewis was born.
The name Lewis primarily originates in England and Wales. However, it can show up in Irish, Scottish and even Jewish families.
Davis
Abraham Lewis married Rebekah Marshall Davis. This Davis family immigrated to America from Wales between 1666 and 1691.
Jones
Once in America, Rebekah’s grandfather Lewis Davis married Florence Jones who was born in America about 1670. Nothing is known of her family history.
The name Jones originated in Wales. However, it also became very common in England.
Need(s)
Lewis and his wife’s son John Davis married Rebecca Need. The Need family immigrated to America sometime between 1617 and 1647.
The name Need(s) originated in southern and eastern England.
Hindle
Joseph Need married Rebecca Hindle. The Hindle family is believed to have come to America prior to Rebecca’s birth around 1660.
The name Hindle is associated with Lancashire and West Yorkshire in England.
Beck
Back to the Lewis family. Joseph Lewis married Esther Rebecca Beck. (There is some confusion over her name. It was possibly Rebecca or Esther or the combination of the two.) The Beck family is said to have been from Norfolk, England. They immigrated to America likely between 1673 and 1684.
The name Beck shows up in English, German, Scandinavian, and Jewish contexts.
Doughty
The earliest in our Beck line in America was William Roger Beck. He and his wife Mary Ann Doughty immigrated after they married. Mary Ann was also from Norfolk, England. Nothing more is known of her family.
Doughty is associated with England and Ireland.
Buckman
William Roger and Mary Ann (Doughty) Beck’s son Edward Beck married Sarah Buckman. The Buckman family was from Sussex, England. They immigrated to American between 1680 and 1688, likely with other Quakers. Reconstructed records indicate that he came with William Penn on the Welcome in 1682. I am a bit hesitant to jump to that conclusion despite possible reconstructed records because I have see this claim by so many families.
The name Buckman is English.
Additional note: I am doubly related to the Buckman family descending from William Buckman on Dad’s side and William’s sister Ruth on Mom’s side.
Bagham
The patriarch of the Buckman family had died prior to the family embarking on their journey to America. His widow Joan Bagham began the journey with at least a portion of her children. She is said to have died crossing the Atlantic.
The name Bagham is Welsh.
Rowland
William Buckmand and his wife Sarah Rowland Buckman immigrated together, having married in Sussex, England.
The name Rowland is associated with England and Ireland.
Preston
Edward and Sarah Ann (Buckman) Beck’s son Edward Beck, Jr. married Ann Preston. The Preston family immigrated to America between 1672 and 1684 from Northumberland, England. Names associated with this family in England include: Lawson, Watson,, Lund, Wallace, and Newsom.
The name Preston was associated with locations in England with that name, particularly Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire, along with some in Scotland (Midlothian) and Ireland (Ulster).
Taylor
William Preston was married to Ann Taylor who immigrated to America from England with him. Nothing more is known of her ancestry.
Taylor is English, Irish, and Scottish.
Large
William and Ann (Taylor) Preston’s son Armor married Esther Large. Esther was born in America about 1686. It is not known when the Large family immigrated or where they resided prior to immigration.
The name Large is found in England and to a lesser extent in Ireland.
Sturm/Storms
We are back to the Ellis family. David Ellis married Lucy Ann Storms. The name storms derived from the name Sturm with the same meaning. Thus, the names Sturm, Storm, Storms, and Stormes are often the same family. The Sturm family immigrated to American from Germany between 1727 and 1730. Names associated with the family prior to immigration include: Saur, Gah, Closs, Strihl, and Muller.
Found throughout Germany, but most common in Bavaria, Germany. Also found in Alsace, France and among Jewish families.
Fickes
Johann Peter Sturm/Storms married Maria Barbara Fickes. The Fickes family arrived in America prior to 1740. Names associated with this family include: Weydebach
Fickes is an American version of the German name Feigenbaum.
Baier
Jost Fickes married Johanna Regina Baier. The Baier family arrived in America between 1717 and 1740 from Bayern, Germany.
Baier refers to someone from Baveria, Germany. It is found in Germany and Austria.
Hall
Conrad Cornelius Storms married Nancy Huston Hall. The Hall family was in Virginia at least by 1647. They are believed to have been from England.
In the earliest records, the name Hall was in Lincolnshire, England. It became common in England and migrated to Scotland.
Claxton
Thomas Hall married Margaret/Margery Claxton/Clackton. The Claxton family was in Virgina at least by 1655.
The name Claxton with various spellings originated in England.
Rowe
Nathaniel Hall married Ann Rowe. His mother may also have been a Rowe, but that hasn’t been confirmed. The Rowe family was in Virginia at least by 1740. Other names possibly associated with this family are: Banister and Carlton.
Rowe is a common name in England.
East
Conrad and Nancy (Hall) Storms son Conrad married Eleanor East. The East family immigrated to America sometime between 1614 and 1669. The family is believed to be from England.
The name East is most closely associated with southern and eastern England.
Thomas
Thomas East married Dorothy Thomas. The Thomas family is believed to have been in Virginia by 1640.
The name Thomas is common across many areas of Europe. However, it is most common in Wales and England.
Woodson
Edward East married Elizabeth Woodson. The Woodson family is believed to have been in Virginia by 1634.
Woodson is an English name.
Winston
John Woodson, who immigrated to the United States, married Sarah Winston. The name Dabney is associated with the Winston family in England. They are believed to be from Dorset, England.
Winston is an English name.
Farris
John and Sarah (Winston) Woodson’s son Robert married Elizabeth Farris. The date of their arrival and country of origin are unknown. However, they are believed to have been in Virginia by 1638. The name Hambleton is associated with the Farris family. It is unknown if that connection was in America or Europe.
Farris is associated with Scotland and Ireland.
Tarleton
John Woodson, son of Robert Woodson and Elizabeth Farris, married Judith Tarleton. The Tarleton family was in America by 1637. Prior to being in America, the Fleming family was associated with the Tarleton family.
Tarleton is an English name.
Bates
Steven Tarleton married Susana Bates. The Bates family came to Virginia, likely from Kent, England, sometime prior to 1635. The Martin family was associated with the Bates family in England.
This is consistent with the name Bates being a common English name.
Winston
John Bates married Elizabeth Winston. They arrived in Virginia sometime prior to 1634. Prior to their arrival, the family associated with the Dabney family. They are believed to have been from England. Note: This is a second relationship to the same general Winston family.
Dean
Joseph East, son of Edward East and Elizabeth Woodson, married Elizabeth Dean. Nothing is known of the Dean family except that they were in Virginia by the time Elizabeth was born around 1712.
Dean is an English name.
English
James East, grandson of Edward East and Elizabeth Woodson, married Lucy English. The English family may have come to America between 1695 and 1706.
English is, of course, an English name.
Richardson
Lucy English’s mother was Anne Richardson. Nothing is known of her family except that they were in Virginia at the time Anne was born, which was around 1735.
The name Richardson is most strongly associated with northern England.
Nicholson
Joseph Lewis Ellis married Cynthia Ann Nicholson. The Nicholson family was in America prior to 1789 when her father George William Nicholson was born.
The name Nicholson is tied to Scotland and northern England.
Bassett
George W. Nicholson married Sarah Ann Bassett. The Bassett family came to America between 1755 and 1776 when William Bassett Sr. took up arms to fight for America’s independence. He was from Surry, England.
This is consistent as the name Bassett is of English origin.
McQuiddy
William Bassett Sr. married Margaret McQuiddy. The McQuiddy family was from Antrim, Ireland and may have had previous ties to Scotland. They immigrated to America between 1730 and 1755.
The name McQuiddy originated in Scotland and is associated with several other similar names.
Arnold
David McQuiddy and his son David McQuiddy Jr. immigrated with the senior David McQuiddy’s wife Nancy Arnold. She was from Antrim, Ireland. It is not known if any others of the Arnold family also immigrated.
Although they immigrated from Ireland, the name Arnold is of English origin.
Todd
David McQuiddy Jr. married Mary Todd. The Todd family immigrated from Ulster, Ireland sometime between 1698 and 1722.
The name Todd is common in Scotland and England. It is particularly associated with northern England.
Lowe
Mary Todd’s mother was Jean Lowe. The Lowe family had immigrated to America prior to 1687 when Jean was born. Nothing more is known about the Lowe family.
The name Lowe is tied to the Midlands and northern England. It also has Scottish ties.
DNA Contribution
Timeline
The Ellis family has the most entries in their timeline because many of the families have been in America since before the Revolutionary War. The Ellis allied families also include at least a few Quaker families, which came at the time that William Penn sold land in Pennsylvania to those who (at least mostly) were seeking religious freedom.
The Ellis family itself is simply shown as coming before Roger Ellis was born. The date could be much earlier. At this point, it is not known. However, the name Ellis has been in America since David Ellis came to Jamestown around 1608/1609. Since Ellis is a common name, it is possible that the early Ellis is no relation at all.
Regions
The most significant thing to note from the regions that are associated with the Ellis family is how much is unknown based on record details. Over half of the Ellis family lines are unknown. This seems to be a great opportunity for research, which might assist in finding Roger Ellis’ ancestors.
The difference between the “Best Guess” and “Alternate Guess” is England vs. Scotland and Wales. The reason for this is that many names were found in various regions with some being from outside the United Kingdom.
There was one name that was also found in Scandinavia. It is possible that it is tied to Dad’s Norwegian DNA. However, since it was also found in the U.K., those countries were considered more likely as far as the country of origin for the family.
Journeys
The Ellis family and their allied families may tie to all four of the USA-based MyHeritage genetic groups. It appears they have some additional related genetic groups that are more specific. It is unclear if some of those will come into play or replace the broad-sweeping genetic groups at some point.
On Ancestry, the Ellis family is tied to the Delaware Valley, Chesapeake & Midwest Settlers ancestral journey with a few distant families being associated with the Eastern South East England ancestral journey. The latter may be useful in finding the homeland of some of the families that fall into the “unknown” category since people often associated with people from where they previously lived. By being associated with a journey, it defines an area within which they might be found that might cross county lines or might help narrow down which person with a specific name is the one that is a part of our family history.
Summary
Ethnicity Estimates
The following chart shows the ethnicity estimates made by each company that processed Dad’s DNA along with the “Best Guess” and “Alternate Guess” that were created based on where families lived or may have lived prior to their move to America. The latter guesses don’t go back in time beyond when they left Europe. However, it does give some perspective that in many cases is expected to align with the ethnic regions provided by DNA.
23andMe
23andMe has the most diverse regions. However, their estimates put Dad over 95% British and Irish (includes Scotland). They seemed to have picked up very little of his German and French compared to MyHeritage. As the ethnicity data evolves, it will be interesting to see if other companies add regions that include Spain and Italy or if those fall out of the 23andMe estimate.
MyHeritage
MyHeritage assigns much less DNA to the United Kingdom with a total just over 80%. They have a substantially lower estimate for England with more DNA being assigned to Scotland and Wales. Outside the U.K., they attribute much more DNA to Germanic regions.
Ancestry
For the U.K. regions, Ancestry aligns the best with the “Best Guess.” I assume that their estimates are based on DNA only. However, it makes one wonder if family tree information is also coming into play. In contrast, Ancestry does not pick up his German as a separate regions. It must be lumped into the SE England & NW Europe region.
Best/Alternate Guess
Based on records and other data, only approximately 60% of the home countries of the families that moved to America were known. Therefore, making a “Best Guess” and an “Alternate Guess” were important to get a more complete view of Dad’s ancestry.
It is no surprise that not all the regions show up in the Best Guess or the Alternate Guess. This is because it is based on where the families lived before moving to the Americas. It appears that most of them moved from the United Kingdom, France, or Germany. Likely, these regions folded into the family several generations back. However, it is possible that a family will be found to have moved to America from Denmark or Norway. It is unlikely, however, that any family moved directly from Spain to America as the names and concentration of ancestors seems to be very U.K. and German focused with a little French along the German border.
It is very possible that Dad’s Norwegian DNA came from the time the Norse roamed England. That might indicate that Lawrence Peele was from Isle of Mann. However, the Norse were not limited to that area and the Norwegian DNA may have come through other family lines as several of the names were influenced by the Norse.
It will be interesting over time to see how the regions change and become more refined. It will also be interesting to see if future research turns up people from some of the regions (e.g. Denmark) that haven’t shown up in previous research.
By Parent
When reviewing the paternal and maternal regions provided by ancestry, some surprises show up. The biggest being that they attribute more SE England & NW Europe to Dad’s paternal side than to his mother’s side. Yet, his maternal grandmother was 100% English (per research to date) and those families were located in Southern England. It is unclear where the Jury family would fall as they were Southern England, but more to the southwest.
They tie 13% of Dad’s DNA to North East England and Dad has a few families that have been tied to that area, but only one of those families are on his maternal side. That means that either the Jury, Peelle, or their allied families had some significant ties to northeast England. It is possible that the Peelle family is the tie as the name Peel is common in northern England.
Both his paternal and maternal families are tied to the East Midlands. It is unclear what families may be tied to this area. It is possible it is an area tied to migration over time.
English Families
This takes a look at where various families are known to have lived in England. The map can be useful in looking for additional generations or additional records regarding known ancestors. This only shows families that immigrated to America. A more detailed view of each family would be required if all the names associated with an immigrant family are to be shown.
Afterward
This was a great exercise because it got me to re-look at the tops of Dad’s tree. I ended up adding new people to my tree and finding additional records for others.
I identified two additional Revolutionary War ancestors in the McCracken line: Nathaniel Kelly and Jonathan Whitaker. It also appears that George Matter and Abraham Lewis may have served during the Revolutionary War. However, more research is needed to confirm their participation.
I also identified at least two stories that I can research and write in the future that weren’t on my radar before this article.
I also determined that there is a lot more research to be done.
#52ancestors52weeks
He had a knack for finding grave stones. He knew who would likely be buried where even at cemeteries that were not familiar to him. For example, years earlier he had been with his brother Don at Mt. Hope at Galesburg. They were looking for Grandpa Apt’s burial location. They started talking about how his family thought he was going to die as a teenager and had bought a cemetery plot. Dad told Don, “We are in the wrong part of the cemetery.” He knew they needed to be close to the entrance instead of further back near the Ellis family.