Good Stuff!

The human species is controlled (defined) by 46-chromosomes. These 46 chromosomes are packaged in 23 pair, numbered 1-23. [Imagine that!] Numbers 1-22 are called "somatic". They control the cells. Number 23 gets all the fun, and is called the "sex chromosome". It is passed down during reproduction. The Y-chromosome is transmitted from father to son. The X-chromosome is transmitted from father and mother to daughter. [Gives the mitrochrondial DNA written as mtDNA.]

Each chromosome is a series of nucleotide bases which are arranged in units of three (3). These units 0f three (3) are called the codon. It is a series of codons that make proteins. A series of codons that work is called a "gene"!

The "gene" falls along a section of the much longer DNA molecule. [Containing multiple genes.] Its location is called a "loci". Each gene has two sides opposite. These sides are called "alleles". Allele numbers identify the address along the long strand of DNA molecules (genome). A loci number gives the street address of these alleles. [Its cytogenetic location!]

DYS nomenclature is: D = DNA, Y = Y-chromosome, S = (unique) segment. This identifies the unique location along the Y-chromosome where a change (mutation) has occurred. A single nucleotide change is called a SNP (snip). A number of changes that have occurred very near to one another, is called STR (short tandem repeat.)

Haplogroups are determined by the methods called SNP analysis.

Haplotypes are determined by STR analysis.

Wow...good stuff!

Roots

Roots are the foundation of the plant. In Welsh, the word "plant" means children. As you know, in genealogy, the roots of the children are their ancestors. Ancestors (roots)...children (plant)...interesting use of words.

Since the JONES surname is Welsh, our roots go back to the tribal groups that occupied the Islands from its early days. (Albion and Hiberna) [Claudius Ptolemy tagged these islands around 150 AD! Of course Albion is the big island, and Hiberna is the little.] Thus our Y-chromosome would take these roots.

The following tables list the Celtic tribal groups that have been named among those who occupied the islands. They are arranged by somewhat of a geographic location, with those known above Antonine Wall (Firth of Forth), North of Hadrian's Wall (Solway Firth), and south of Hadrian's Wall. [Roughly Scotland today.] The tribal groups in Wales and the Marches are next, with the single tribe from what is now Cornwall. Those tribes in the central, southern, and eastern area of the big island are listed next.

The nine tribal groups from Ireland are:

Dalriata
Nagnatae
Erdani
Cauci
Auteini
Gangani
Vellabori
Brigantes
Iverni.

This gives a total of 35 tribes. What a group it is! The roots of our Y-DNA. Somewhere there is the Y-chromosomes for the JONES surname! Any guesses?

Various sources have been used to compile this list, the major ones are:

Celtic Britain, by Lloyd Laing, p.11, Charles Scribner's Sons, NY, 1979

A History of Britain, by Simon Schama, p.59, p.83, talk miramax books, NY, 2000

The Oxford Illustrated History of Roman Britain,p.4, p.29, p.94, p.143, p.147, by Peter Salway, Oxford University Press, 1993.

Roman Britain, Outpost of The Empire, by H.H. Scullard, p.24, Jarrold and Sons, Ltd., Norwich, 1979.

The Celts, Uncovering the Mythic and Historic Origins of Western Culture, by Jean Markale,p. 11, Inner Traditions International, Rochester, Vermont, 1993.

Please note that not all spellings were the same, and not all sources listed the same number of tribes.

House of Trevor (Tudor Trevor)

The lineage of the House of Trevor is given in great detail in Nicholas, "Annals and Antiquities of The Counties and County Families of Wales". This text, first published in London, 1872, gives the history, the chief physical features, and many of the lineages of the families of the counties of Wales. The author, Thomas Nicholas, states in his preface:

"Descriptions and accounts have been given from personal inspection; facts, dates, names, have been obtained from the documents or direct testimony of the Families recorded." [Vol. I, p. v]

Of course, the House of Trevor, has many branches :

The surname Mostyn is given Vol. I, on pp. 451-452, (Co. Flintshire, Mostyn).

The surname Pennant is given Vol.I, pp.453 (Co. Flintshire, Basingwerk and Holywell).

The surname Trevor (of Trevalyn) Vol.I, p.457.

The surname Lloyd (of Pengwern) Vol.I, p. 450.

The surname Eyton (of Rhuabon) Vol. I, p. 446.

The surname Young (of Hanmer) Vol.I, p.440.

The surname Trevor (of Brynkinallt, Co. Denbigh) VoI. I, pp. 415-416.

The surname Griffith (of Wrexham) Vol.I, p.408.

The surname Jones (of Llwyn-Onn) Vol.I, pp. 354-356.

Wow, surnames that share a common Y-DNA.

Nicholas was reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1991.

The geographic locations of the families listed above center around Wat's Dyke. See:

http://welshgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/10/wats-dyke.html

On the Other Side of the Fence

The last post discussed some of the factors that introduced the JONES surname to the world. Multiple families, multiple roots, and multiple Y-DNA! For those of us from Wales (R1b1a2), it will take a somewhat different approach to climb to the other side of the fence. Just what family groups existed before all this English annexation?

The following post outlines a series of Welsh family groups that have produced a JONES surname branch. This research is the result of many, many years looking for my own JONES family connections. They will be listed as "House of ....", representing the roots of the Welsh family that produced the origin of the JONES surname today. If one can connected back to a Welsh family line, then this would be the origin of your Y-DNA! Starting with my own family line:

House of Trevor (Tudor Trevor) before 900 AD

House of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn before 1000 AD

House of Goch before 1460 AD

House of Herbert

House of Llowarch ap Bran

House of Griffith ap Nicholas

House of Shrewsbury

House of Jestyn ap Gwrgrant

House of Ievan ap Ievan

House of Cadifn vawr

House of Cowryn Cadvan

House of Trench (Ireland)

House of Treownes

...just a start to the other side of the fence!

Seeking Your Y-DNA

There has been a discussion that both Y-DNA and surnames are handed down from father to son. This of course is true if the surname is transmitted to the male heirs at the same time the Y-DNA. However, this had not always been the case. The figure to the right shows such a period in Welsh and English history were a surname was transmitted due to changes in the "law of the land". Here, prior to 1536, very few carried the surname JONES. In a fairly brief period, there appears a large number who took this surname. This "cohort" effect, produced a large number of JONES families who did not share the same Y-DNA. In fact, it was more likely that other surnames shared the same Y-DNA due to the fact that the Welsh naming system did not use an English surname. Since the change in Welsh law became English law, the English system of naming [first name, surname] was required of all Welsh who were to participate in this new system. [Act of Union, 1536]

The diagram to the right shows how the Welsh Y-DNA was transmitted to male heirs. [All males had equal inheritance under Welsh law.] Four male children of Thomas, 1) Richard ap Thomas, 2) Edward ap Thomas, 3) John ap Thomas, and 4) David ap Thomas would receive the same Y-DNA from Thomas.


Their children, 1) Peter ap Richard ap Thomas, 2) David ap Edward ap Thomas, 3) Thomas ap John ap Thomas, and 4) John ap David ap Thomas, would also share the same Y-DNA. During, and after the Act of Union, their children would be given [if they did not choose] a name under the English system. Thus, 1) Peter ap Richard ap Thomas, could become Peter Richards, 2) David ap Edward ap Thomas, could become David Edward(s), 3) Thomas ap John ap Thomas, could become Thomas Jones, and 4) John ap David ap Thomas, could become John David. Four different surnames, but all share the same Y-DNA. Multiple names, becoming multiple surnames, all under a new legal system.

When your family tree reaches this time period, you will need to take these factors into consideration. You will need to shift your tree climbing to a Welsh system of names when you seek your Y-DNA.

Research taken from: The Jones Genealogist, Vol.VI, No.4, Nov/Dec, 1994.

Any Other Jones Haplogroups?

The last several posts have discussed the haplogroups that have shared the surname JONES. These have been R1, I, E, G, J, and Q. Are there others with the surname Jones that carry one of the other haplogroups? Please identify yourself. Place a comment on this post and give your family haplogroup. Any other JONES families out there?

The Jones Surname : Fire Works Intended

The haplogroups that make up the JONES surname are shown to the right. [Based upon 275 individuals submitting their DNA to analysis.] A "big picture" to shown the relationship between the various haplogroups identified is shown. It is intended to represent proportionately the groups found by DNA Y-chromosome analysis. [SNPs = snips]

R1b represents 76%. Haplogroup I represents 10%. The remaining groups are all less than 5%.

Previous posts discuss these haplogroups. The surname JONES, fire works intended!