Allan Graham Family
the descendants of Allan Graham and Sarah Holler
Allan Graham Y-DNA Investigation
To all members of the Allan Graham Family:
The use of the science of genetics as a tool in genealogical research has grown tremendously over the last several years. The test utilizing Y-DNA is based on the fact that every man has a Y chromosome that is received from his father. That Y-DNA never changes, generation after generation, except for mutations that occur very infrequently. This means that our cousin Jim Graham (James Perry Graham), who provided the DNA sample for the Allan Graham Y-DNA Investigation, has identical Y-DNA to his father John Holler Graham, and his grandfather Allan Graham. It also means that his 67 marker values also match his ancestors in the direct male line 10, 20, 50, or even more generations earlier. Since those earlier ancestors produced descendants not just in the line which came down to Allan Graham, but in many other lines, there are thousands of “cousins” out there who would share the marker values and therefore could be proven to have a “Most Recent Common Ancestor” (MRCA) with Allan Graham and all of his male line descendants.
We have included here a link to the Graham Surname DNA Project Y-DNA Classic Chart which shows the reporting of the sample and the resultant value numbers under #212351 with Matthew Graham listed as the paternal ancestor.
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Graham/
default.aspx?section=yresults
We have also included a link here to a FTDNA pdf file entitled “Understanding Your Results” for those who would be interested in learning more about this subject.
https://www.familytreedna.com/pdf-docs/tr_Y67M.pdf
One of the main reasons to investigate a person’s DNA is to be able to determine genetically connected relatives who may know more than we do about distant ancestors in our Graham male line. For example, if we could find someone with a very close match to the marker values which have been reported for the DNA sample of Jim Graham then we would know that that person shares an ancestor in the male line at some point back in time, and that person could possibly have a more complete genealogical paper trail which could help us to determine ancestors farther back in the Allan Graham male line, earlier than Matthew Graham. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, to this time there has been no match to the DNA sample submitted which is scientifically significant. Since there are more individuals added all the time from all over the world to the database there is a possibility that a close match could still occur sometime in the future which could help us determine earlier ancestors in our Graham line. Since we will receive emails from the Family Tree DNA company concerning any matches which may occur, we will continue to review any matches that may be reported and alert all of the members of the Allan Graham Family if a significant match is reported.
Another major reason to have the analysis of a Y-DNA sample completed is to determine which haplogroup is involved. The haplogroup is the classification indicating the location and point in time when the specific family line was established in prehistoric times. Specifically it is a grouping which shares a common ancestor with the same Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) mutation. The determination of the haplogroup of our male Graham line turned out to be R1b1a2. This is the haplogroup which up to 90% of western European males would fall under. This grouping originated from 4,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Unfortunately this is not good news as far as our Graham family is concerned. We were hoping that the haplogroup for the sample submitted would turn out to be J1c3d. J1c3d is the haplogroup for the line of the ancient Graham family of Scotland which first appeared in Scottish records in the 13th century. That family had middle eastern origins and tied in to a truly ancient genealogy. It is clear that our line does not connect to that original Graham family of Scotland based on the haplogroup. It appears that one of our early male line ancestors just selected the Graham name to use when surnames became required in England and Scotland sometime in the 1400s.
We will continue to follow this and advise if there are any developments.
Emmy Lou and Bob Nelson
December 15, 2011
Family Tree
Genealogical Information
Allan Graham Y-DNA Investigation
History of the Graham Reunion
Photos of Past Reunions
Memories of the 1950s (video)
Contact us at info@grahamreunion.org
