All posts by Sandra Siepert

Our Unique Eaves yDNA Project

In comparing our Eaves yDNA project with other surname projects that emigrated from the United Kingdom, we find a very unique difference. This lies in the ‘haplotypes’ that are most common in the UK – and how our project differs.

We are able to view the other name project charts (shown with just kit numbers, but without given names for security reasons). In doing so, we find that around 70% of those UK lineages are in the R1b1 haplogroup. That particular haplogroup is so much larger than the other haplogroups, that there can be many unrelated family lines within the group – separated by the large number of genetic distances in their results. Not so in our Eaves DNA project! All our Eaves males who have taken the yDNA test and fall in the I2b1, E1b1b1, or I1 haplogroups are all related to others who are in the same group.

Within the last few years, we’ve had two family lines found within that R1b1 haplogroup, (originating from the same region of the world). However, those two families are not related to each other. (A haplotype is a related family unit within a haplogroup, determined by the matching yDNA result numbers).

Our Iowa Eaves family matched the results to an Eves in Ireland. The Oswald Eve Quaker line have found a match within their own lineage. Ancestors of the Iowa family entered America from Canada, and the Oswald Eve family entered through a South Carolina port. All our other Eaves lines appear to have entered through Virginia.

These new R1b1 matches will change the way we use colored name tags at our EFNA reunions, since now we have Eaves family lines that fall within the R1b1 haplotypes. Before, the only Eaves yDNA project members whose results fell into the R1b1 haplotypes were those whose paternal lineage was adopted into another Eaves line. Most often (but not always) we have found this result when a widow with children marries an Eaves and her children take the surname of their new step-father.

From now on, at our reunions, only the R1b1 family lines will use the rose colored tags. All other attendees will wear the colored tag of the family they were adopted into, but placing colored dot stickers on their tag to show they came from an adopted-in paternal lineage.

Another reason for members to wear the name-tag color of their adoptive family is that in researching for their paternal lineage, it would more likely be found in the records of their adoptive family.

LoisEaves@live.com (Lois Eaves) – Eaves project DNA administrator
jf5635@hotmail.com (John O. Eaves) – Eaves project DNA co-administrator

Understanding the yDNA chart

There are over 3 billion markers in a human genome. The markers used to determine paternal lineage found in the yDNA sex chromosome, are those letters or numbers across the top of the chart which are the “names” of those particular markers.

In the diagram of the double helix, the rungs of the ladder hold the key to the number of those markers. The composition of that ladder is a sugar phosphate that supports the rungs, but the rungs are composed of 4 protein amino acids shown by letters A – T and C – G, that work together in base pairs.

Each rung is divided into segments from 0 to 40. The number of those segments is the
number of times those base pairs are repeated on that rung. The horizontal rows of numbers on our chart are the results of each EAVES male that has taken the yDNA test. When those numbers match, it shows a genetic relationship. If they vary by 1 point, that point is referred to as a “genetic distance” (GD). The following is the rule-of-thumb for acceptable number of GDs for related persons:

12 marker level – 1 GD
25 marker level – 2 GDs
37 marker level – 4 GDs
67 marker level – 7 GDs

Markers shown in red are unstable and not unusual to show more than 1 GD. They can also increase or decrease within generations. The black markers are stable and rarely show more than 1 GD. The automatic computer generated GD counter used by FamilyTreeDNA treat both black and red markers the same. So if there is an unusual variance of more than 2 GDs, it can show that there is no relation. This happened once in our I2b1 group when one result had 5 GDs on a red marker, in the section between the 25 and 37 marker levels, where there are so many red markers. The person increased his markers to the 67 marker level, and it again showed that he was related to others in that lineage. Another anomaly is when a marker (or ladder rung) is blank and show (0) zero segments. We have such a case in our E1b1b1 group.

The “haplotypes” shown on the chart are E1b1b1, I1, I2b1 and R1b1. These are designators showing where in the world that lineage originated, linking anthropology to genealogy.  Recently, on the FTDNA charts, they show the mutation “name” instead of the “haplotype” origin. To avoid confusion, we show both in our www.eavesfamily.org chart.

Mutations are not the same as “genetic distances.” A genetic distance is the number of
repeats of the same amino acid segment on a ladder rung. A “mutation” is a change in the order of those amino acids in a segment. The “mutation” is what sets haplotypes apart.

ALL RESULTS NEED TO BE FOLLOWED UP BY TRADITIONAL RESEARCH.  Genetic
testing will NOT determine one’s direct ancestors. It will determine which lineage one is related to, which has been of great value to our EAVES association.

LoisEaves@live.com (Lois Eaves) – Eaves project DNA administrator
jf5635@hotmail.com (John O. Eaves) – Eaves project DNA co-administrator

What to expect at our family reunions

People start arriving Friday night and spend time seeing who else is there and getting your name tag and learning your way around the hotel and where to find everything. The name tags are colored depending on your Eaves lineage as follows:

Graves – true blue
Semitics – sunny yellow
Patrick/Buckner – spring green
R1b1 Haplogroup lines – wild rose
Unknown – white
Adoptees – Color of adoptive EAVES line – with colored dots added.

Saturday morning is what you don’t want to miss. Immediately after breakfast is the general meeting usually around 9am. There’s a short business meeting (letting everybody know what’s going on), then each person introduces himself/herself and their Eaves connection. This is followed by a special recognition of all veterans.  After that, there is a photo op of the entire group followed by each group (depending on color of name tag) and one of the veterans. After this everyone breaks for lunch; after lunch we have the option of whatever we want to do. Most come back to the hotel (if they left to eat somewhere else) and talk to all their genetic relatives, share records, pictures, etc. Usually there is a large genealogy display of some kind. The member that is hosting the reunion this year has made large graphs showing the Eaves lineage of all who have had their DNA test done. This always brings a lot of interest.

Also there is a “silent auction” table where we buy the donations that members bring (like homemade canned goodies). The proceeds go to our growing Eaves Scholarship Fund.  Always fun to look at the stuff on the table. Food items & handmade items usually are the first to go, then art work, hand knits etc. Larger items (like quilts) are purchased through raffle tickets.

For Saturday evening a reservation is made for the group at some large restaurant (you will be asked to sign up if you intend to go). After dinner we return to the hotel meeting room to continue our visiting and sharing. Sometimes there is an added activity to enjoy. The “silent auction” closes a 10pm when everyone picks-up and pays-up.  There is always something to do.  These reunions have been going on since 1980, so there are always old timers that just want to be there to “feel the spirit” and share family histories.

I suggest that you join the EFNA (which you can do at the reunion for a nominal annual fee or a larger life-time fee). Members receive quarterly newsletters and a EFNA directory with the names and addresses of all other members to continue your reunion throughout the year.

Enjoy!

LoisEaves@live.com (Lois Eaves) – Eaves project DNA administrator
jf5635@hotmail.com (John O. Eaves) – Eaves project DNA co-administrator

History of the Eaves yDNA Project

Since 2005 the Eaves Family National Association has incorporated a yDNA project to trace our correct EAVES lineages. Prior to that time, it was assumed that all Eaves in the USA came from one root family. An EFNA reunion was held each year to share genealogies to determine exactly how they were related. This great family organization has been in operation since 1980, with members intensively searching their roots to find their kinship to one another. Traditional records were not showing that all members were related to the many descendants of Graves Eaves, a prominent plantation owner. So, it was decided at the 2005 reunion general meeting that we would start a yDNA project with the FamilyTreeDNA company using the yDNA test. Any male whose surname was EAVES could take a simple saliva-swab test, and it would reveal if they were genetically related to other EFNA members. The results have been outstanding!

yDNA tests the male chromosome for only paternal lineage (from son to father, to father, to father, etc.). That is why it is so effective in surname tracing. FamilyTreeDNA was given the vast database of National Geographic from their world-wide search studying human migrations. It was found that the same basic genetic markers could be extended with extra markers that would trace current family lineages. There was a connection between the anthropology of migration tracing and bringing it to the genealogy of current family lines. The symbols (haplotypes) you see on the chart, separating the various Eaves lines, are those used to designate the migration origin of that lineage. Our Eaves families are separated as follows:

E1b1b1 – a Semitic lineage that began in the Middle East and migrated along the northern coastal countries of the Mediterranean Sea, ultimately from UK to America.
I1 – A migration that came from the northernmost part of Europe. Many Vikings are included in this group from northern Norway, Sweden and Finland.
I2b1 – A migration that came mostly from the northern part of Central Europe along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea and southern Scandinavia.
R1b1 – A large migration that came through Central Europe, and the largest group in both UK and America.

There can be unrelated families within each haplogroup, this is shown by the number of mismatched genetic markers (alleles), a common occurrence in the R1b1 group since it is so large. These mismatched markers are called “genetic distances” (GDs). A simple yDNA chart in our EFNA website www.eavesfamily.org shows where all our present yDNA participants live.

The first group to find that they were not related to the Graves Eaves family, was our E1b1b1 Semitic group. We have found Eaves men tested in this group from large family lineages throughout the USA. We know by the amount of matching genetic marker numbers (alleles) on the chart, that our families have a common ancestor within 400 years. Presently, we are searching for their common ancestor in northern Colonial Virginia in early 1700s. Since this group found a very large lineage in eastern Kentucky, we tested a couple of Eaves men in western Kentucky believing that they were also in this group. To our surprise, they were closely related to our vast Graves Eaves lineage. Currently, we have not found their exact kinship to other Graves Eaves descendants, but believe that, if there are any traditional records available to reveal their common ancestor, it would be in Brunswick county in southern Colonial Virginia, also early 1700s.

A most exciting revelation uncovered by our yDNA project was our I1 group about 7 years ago.  Since they were always shown living in close proximity to members of the Graves Eaves descendants, it was assumed they were part of that family, in spite of family lore saying that they were employees of a family that had the same surname.  Also, one astute researcher noticed that they were never included in any land inheritances.  When several yDNA tests of that lineage proved that they were not related to Graves Eaves, they finally had proof that they were from a separate line.  Presently, they are also trying to find a root family in Colonial Virginia.   (Current researchers for this group are Roni Blankenship roniblank@comcast.net and Judie Miller jpmiller66@hotmail.com )

In the R1b1 group, we had our first match overseas when an Eaves, whose ancestors entered from Canada to New York in the early 1800’s, gradually migrated westward to Iowa. The Eaves took the test and had no matches for several years, in fact we had given up that there would ever be any. When a match did come, it from an Eves that lives in Northern Ireland! He is trying to find the ancestral relative that emigrated to Canada. He thinks perhaps they came with a Quaker immigration.

We have Eaves in that vast R1b1 group that are still waiting for matches. Our EAVES project is unusual in that most of our members are NOT in this group, even though this comprises the largest population group in the USA and the UK. More than half of UK are in this group.

Our project has even uncovered unknown adoptions where members of our Eaves group find their paternal lineage in another name project. Members of other name projects have found their genetic lineage in our Eaves project. These are called NPEs (non-paternity events).

Autosomal DNA tests the amount of autosomal DNA shared by relatives. This test will cross gender lines for those who cannot find a male EAVES in their lineage to take the yDNA test. It is only reliable going back 5 generations. However, it can give you information on ALL your lines. When you are searching all your ancestral lineages, it becomes frustrating when your matches do not have knowledge of their ancestral surnames.

All genetic matches must be followed up with traditional research to find how one is related.

Our EAVES project had its first great success finding a match with an autosomal test. Our oldest member of the EFNA (95+) had never been able to find her true Eaves lineage. Her son gifted her with an Ancestry.com autosomal test. Luckily, a relative that she had no knowledge of, took the test in another state at nearly the same time. With his test, he had also included his family tree. So when the results were received, not only did she find her lineage, but exactly how she was related to this young man (first cousin twice removed).

Contact information is given with all tests, so one can enjoy communication with newly found relatives.

Presently, there are several companies that have entered the DNA testing market. Competition is good, but very confusing for the consumer. FamilyTreeDNA is the only company that has the capability to transfer autosomal DNA results from another testing company to their own database (for a charge, of course). Most of our EFNA members who have had their autosomal DNA tested, have tested with Ancestry.com.

LoisEaves@live.com (Lois Eaves) – Eaves project DNA administrator
jf5635@hotmail.com (John O. Eaves) – Eaves project DNA co-administrator

Updated: July 2016