DNA Results

Who am I? In truth, I am a combination of all the generations of persons whose histories are compiled herein. Unique to every male descendant is the Y-chromosome which is effectively a copy of his father's DNA. As a result, surname research can be confirmed through DNA testing. And, I am the donor for the Walden Lewis DNA test listed on the Lewis Surname DNA Project.

What does DNA analysis tells us? DNA is the definitive answer for personal genealogical research. But, it also tells the history of the migration of entire peoples. National Geographic's Genographic Project is an effort to map the migrations of ethnic groups. Through the appearance of individual markers, our ancestor's path out of Africa, into central Asia, and across Europe to what is now Wales has been proven:

Evolution of Haplogroup R1b1b2
Note: Nomenclature for Haplogroups are updated as of 2008
Marker Haplogroup When Where
M168 B 79,000-45,000 BCE Migration north out of Africa
M89 F 45,000 BCE Arabian Peninsula
M9 K 40,000 BCE Migration east to Iran
M45 P 40,000-35,000 BCE Migration north to Kazakhstan
M207 R 35,000 BCE Migration north out of central Asia
M173 R1 35,000-30,000 BCE Migration west to central Europe
M343 R1b 20,000-15,000 BCE Cro-Magnon Man: Migration west to the Iberian Peninsula
P25 R1b1 c. 10,000 BCE Across the land bridge to Britain
P297 R1b1b ? ?
M269 R1b1b2 ? ?

Other Lewis Haplogroups
M35 E3b 20,000 BCE Middle East to southeastern Europe
mtDNA I 30,000 BCE Middle East to Viking Europe

We know we are R1b1b2 from the presence of certain markers. Additionally, we know we are not members of further subclades of R1b1b2 from the absence of other markers. As new tests are added, further subclades may be added:

Markers for Subclade R1b1b2
Note: Nomenclature for Sublcades are updated as of 2008
Haplogroup Marker Present Marker Absent
R M207+  
R1 M173+  
R1b M343+  
R1b1 P25+  
R1b1b M297+ (Unconfirmed)
R1b1b2 (Root) M269+  
R1b1b2a   M37-
R1b1b2b   M65-
R1b1b2c   M153-
R1b1b2d   SYR2627-
R1b1b2e   M222-
R1b1b2f   P66-
R1b1b2g   U106-
R1b1b2h   U152-

Most importantly, DNA analysis can confirm or deny familial relationships. Prior to completing the DNA test, I had no knowledge of my two Lewis cousins in Virginia. Although no direct connection has yet been found, sharing our family histories is leading each of us to answering questions about our shared ancestry.

Additionally, many researchers believed that our Lewis Family was somehow related to the Councilor John Lewis family (Group 5). Because of DNA, there is scientific proof that our Lewis Family does not branch from those Monmouthshire Lewises but is a family unique unto ourselves (Group 7):

 

Locus

 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37  
Gp

DYS #

 3
9
3		 3
9
0		 1
9		 3
9
1		 3
8
5
a		 3
8
5
b		 4
2
6		 3
8
8		 4
3
9		 3
8
9
-
1		 3
9
2		 3
8
9
-
2		 4
5
8		 4
5
9
a		 4
5
9
b		 4
5
5		 4
5
4		 4
4
7		 4
3
7		 4
4
8		 4
4
9		 4
6
4
a		 4
6
4
b		 4
6
4
c		 4
6
4
d		 4
6
0		 G
A
T
A

H
4		 Y
C
A

I
I
a		 Y
C
A

I
I
b		 4
5
6		 6
0
7		 5
7
6		 5
7
0		 C
D
Y
a		 C
D
Y
b		 4
4
2		 4
3
8		 H
A
P
L
0
 

Modal

 13 24 14 11 11 14 12 12 12 13 13 29 17 09 10 11 11 25 15 19 29 15 15 17 17                         R1b
1 Planter John Lewis
Albemarle Co VA		 13 25 14 11 11 14 12 12 12 13 13 29 18 09 10 11 11 25 15 18 30 15 15 17 17                         R1b
3 David Lewis
Hanover Co VA		 13 24 14 11 11 15 12 12 11 14 15 30 18 09 10 11 11 25 15 19 30 15 15 16 16 10 10 19 19 16 15 16 18 36 39 12 12 R1b
5 Councilor John Lewis
New Kent Co VA		 13 24 14 11 11 15 12 12 13 13 13 29 16 09 10 11 11 23 15 20 29 15 15 15 17 11 10 19 24 16 14 20 17 35 36 11 12 R1b
7 Walden Lewis
Spotsylvania Co VA		 12 25 14 11 11 14 12 12 13 13 13 29 17 10 10 11 11 24 15 19 31 15 15 16 16 11 11 20 22 15 15 18 17 35 36 12 12 R1b1c
James Lewis
Louisa Co VA		 12 25 14 11 11 14 12 12 13 13 13 29 17 10 10 11 11 24 15 19 31 15 15 16 16 11 11 20 22 15 15 18 16 35 35 12 12 R1b1c
John Lewis
Caroline Co VA		 12 25 14 11 11 14 12 12 13 13 13 29 17 10 10 11 11 24 15 19 31 15 15 16 16 11 11 20 22 15 15 18 17 35 36 13 12 R1b1c
  Gen Andrew Lewis
Donegal, Ireland		 13 24 14 10 11 15 12 12 11 14 13 30 18 09 10 11 11 25 15 19 29 15 15 15 17 11 12 19 23 15 15 17 16 37 38 12 12 R1b

Analysis of Group 7:

1. Somewhere about 10 generations ago, there was a Most Recent Common Ancestor [MRCA] for the Lewis Family of Group 7. The descendants of the MRCA split into two subgroups. The ancestors of James Lewis of Louisa Co VA split on either marker 570 or CDYb, and sometime later the other marker changed also. The ancestors of John Lewis of Caroline Co VA and Walden Lewis of Spotsylvania Co VA continued along a common genetic line.

2. Somewhere about 6 generations ago, the ancestor of John Lewis of Caroline Co VA split on marker 442. And, the ancestor of Walden Lewis continued along the original genetic line.

3. Prior to the Walden Lewis 37 marker test, the difference between James Lewis and John Lewis (34/37) would have been calculated as 13 generations. The new test results allow us to reduce this distance down to 10 generations.

Note: Estimates of generations are based on the .004 FTDNA estimated mutation rate for markers 26 through 37 and a 50% or greater chance of mutation. [MCRA Calculator]

 

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
Home Index About Me