Another benefit of genetic testing is that a Y-DNA profile from any living male, worldwide, can now be compared to
our established Jameson Y-DNA family profile and if anyone matches our profile we all can be said to be of a common ancestor, regardless of name, place or otherwise known ancestry. Furthermore, if one of these people can otherwise identify and prove an ancestry (any ancestry), past a common ancestor, then we all can assume that ancestry. Conversely, if a Jameson male has Y-DNA profile does not match our known Jameson family profile, he cannot claim to be part of
this family, at least genetically, regardless of any paper trail.
OUR ANCIENT HISTORICAL PROFILE - The SNP Results - Our Haplogroup
All male humans alive today can be classified into a specific Y-DNA Haplogroup in the Y-DNA Haplotree based on SNP markers found in their Y-DNA. By examining SNPs from indigenous individuals from around the world, scientists can estimate the time and location each SNP first occurred. Once the time and location of occurrence of the SNP is known, it becomes a "time and date stamp" which can be used to trace ancestry.
Human Y-DNA Haplogroups are named using the letters of the alphabet, A to T. Each Y-DNA Haplogroup can be further subclassified into finer branches called subclades. Subclades are named using numbers and lower case letters. For example, I2b1a is a subclade of Haplogroup I (that's "I" as in the capital letter "I."). Haplogroups are also further divided by even smaller groups of people who share a common change (mutation) at a certain marker. This is usually expressed as a number proceeded by a "M" therefor the identifier "M123" means a mutation at marker "123" A minor mutation, or a mutated group with a limited resulting population, is rarely created as a new Haplogroup. Therefore, each Haplogroup usually contains many distinct families with similar, although not exact, YDNA profiles.
We know from YDNA testing that our particular Jameson family falls into a general grouping known as Haplogroup "I1" with a mutation identified at "M253" often referred to as I1-M253. Our Halpogroup I1 was itself an offshoot, or subclade of Halpogroup "I" with a mutation "M170." Before that we believe our Haplogroup was "F" mutation "M89" which itself was derived from Haplogroup "CT" mutation identified at "M168." It is from here researchers think "Eurasian Adam" may have been our oldest common, ancestor, who was thought to be alive some 31,000 to 79,000 years ago in Africa.
Haplogroup I1, and in particular I1-M253 (and therefore our particular Jameson family) is somewhat of a lesser player worldwide, as far as size goes, considerably smaller than other groups such as the R1 Haplogroup. It is however a major player in Europe, particularly northern Europe, where it is fairly widespread. Nevertheless, our group, I1, like all others, has it's beginnings on the African continent, maybe 50,000 years ago, or longer.
Some claim that our group within the group (I1-M253) would first be found in the Iberian Refugia (Spain), some 15 to 20,000 years ago, during the last ice age. Migration patterns, after the ice finally began its slow retreat, show a northern movement through France into the British Isles as well as a loop more east and northward through what is now Germany and Denmark into all of Scandinavia. Interestingly this migration loop continued from Scandinavia westward back into the British Isles, principally from the north downwards through Scotland.
Noted Haplogroup I1 specialist, Professor Ken Nordtvedt, believes the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) lived from 4,000 to 6,000 years ago somewhere in the far northern part of Europe, perhaps Denmark. Therefore our particular M253 (mutated) ancestors were not as old as originally thought. Subsequent migration and settlement data however doesn't seem to be in dispute.
I1-M253 et al, has it's greatest frequency and density in Scandinavia, Iceland, and northern Europe. In Britain, this nomenclature is sometimes referred to as an identifier for "invaders," In our case that means Anglo-Saxon.
It is impossible to know how our exact ancestors arrived in the British Isles, whether northward through France, or from the great eastward loop through Scandinavia. Nor do we know when they may have first arrived. It is however safe to say they were certainly in Scotland before the time of surnames, perhaps about the fifth century. Long enough ago to now be considered as an integral and structural part of that ethnicity.
FEMALE DNA STUDY?
Genealogy using DNA to research a female line can be done by testing mtDNA. Like Y-DNA, mtDNA is inherited from a parent, but in this case it is only passed on from mother to child. Although males do inherit mtDNA from their mothers, they do not then pass it on to their children. This unique feature of mtDNA allows it to be used for tracing matrilineage, the study of the maternal side of a family. In addition and like Y-DNA, mtDNA testing can also be used to determine a person's mtDNA (maternal) Haplogroup and Haplotype for ancient history and migrations research.
Because of traditions in our society, where the wife takes her husband’s last name, a surname genealogy trace of the female line of the family tree is more difficult and confusing.
Maternal family research works best on a individual basis if you want to know your entire ancestry (as in "the history of John/Jane Doe?), but it does not lend itself well to the study of a single family surname lineage (as in "the Genealogy of the Doe Family"). mtDNA usage is better suited to someone currently living who wants to start with himself/herself and discover their linage going backwards, new to old. Those interested in this should then look into mtDNA testing and research.
For our purposes maternal side research through DNA study does not work. If a living person today looks at mtDNA results, for the purpose of ancestral discovery, his or her findings would quickly go off in a divergent tangent, away from our Jameson family focus. Our purpose here is to study the Jameson family, old to new.
In the last few years testing for the Y Chromosome DNA has become more widely available and affordable and as such a unique and important tool for the genealogist. There are now several very reputable labs who do this specifically for genealogy as well as groups who have organized for unique family projects.
We have tested using the Family Tree DNA - Genealogy by Genetics, Ltd. company. The (first 37 marker) results are listed above. A good analysis and understanding of these results, as well as Y-DNA test comparisons and other information, can be found online at YSearch a web based site provided for this purpose by Genealogy by Genetics, inc.
We are part of several DNA Projects including: The Jameson Family DNA Project, the Clan Stewart DNA Project, the Ulster (Ireland) Heritage DNA Project, the Scotland DNA Project, and the Haplogroup I1 Project. Although no direct matches have been made so far, comparative information and general directions have been helpful.
Every direct male descendant (must have the Jameson surname) is encouraged to help find your ancestors with this DNA program. Please read this page of answers about DNA testing and then contact us about how to coordinate your results.
Is there a Jameson-Thompson family connection?
Y-DNA and Our Jameson Family
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Genetic research is widely used to identify and analyze practically all living and once living things. It is probably best known as a forensic tool used to positively connect certain evidence from a crime scene to a particular person. With genealogy, DNA from just the Y Chromosome can effectively be used to connect a male descendant (only men have the Y chromosome and that chromosome is only passed down intact [inherited] from father to son, etc.) with any number of other male persons, of any age, across any location and any time. It is a serious and complicated science, which can be easily used and completely trusted by the genealogist.