The Crow surname project on FTDNA has been around for about 20 years. With 600+ members, that puts the project into the top 100 of the 50,000 surname projects on FTDNA. There are 20 unique Crow lines identified that are unrelated in the surname era. The largest identified group is the Gold colored group. There are 106 testers. Of whom 10 have tested all the way to to the BigY700. This test reads STR and SNP markers along the y-chromosome. 60 men have tested at 37 STR markers and above , while the rest sit at 12 and 25 STR markers. All the BigY testers tested positive for the SNP, I-F22033. This SNP was formed approximately around the year 426AD/CE. The only testers in FTDNA that have this SNP are Gold Colored Crows. Of the 106 testers, only 3 have a surname other than Crow. These 3 men had an NPE (non paternal event) occur somewhere in their lines and are all likely related to the others within the last 250-500 years. We can decipher genetic distance between testers by using the TIP calculator on FTDNA and comparing genetic distance , or counting the number of mutations on the chromosome. This approach is somewhat flawed as some markers mutate faster than others, and we are left with only guessing at approximate time frames between the testers
I-F22033 was formed along time ago in our ancestor. It was important to refine our haplogroup to bring our terminal SNP in modern times. This approach would create a new branch of the human tree and help better determine genetic distance between testers in a genealogical time frame. . Both myself and longtime Administer of the Crow project, Phil, each had a close male relative take a BigY700 test. The objective of this, was to 1) Establish a paternal SNP profile, 2) Create a family SNP timeline, 3)Develop a family clade in genealogical times, 4) Determine a time to most recent common ancestor, 5) identify branching points within a family group, 6) Connect branches where no paper trail exists .
This advanced testing created two new haplogroups that branched off from I-F22033. I-FT225611 and I-BY4106428. Both of these new branches were formed just a few hundred years ago in our ancestors. One tester, who has a brick wall at the year 1811, was grouped into my branch, I-FT225611. This told me that my new haplogroup was likely formed with my ancestor, John Crow Sr. b1760, and that this tester likely shared John as a common ancestor. When future John Crow descendants upgrade or test they will be put under this haplogroup or a branch that was formed after this haplogroup was created.
The importance of this advanced testing was significant. As new BigY700 testers come into the project, they could be grouped under these haplogroups, which could lead to testers finding out which Crow they descend from in the 1700s. It is also really important for existing testers to upgrade their kits to the BigY700 to see which haplogroup they place in. They could even create a new branch that could lead to even a better understanding.This will be of especial importance as more distant European cousins are matched to us, I will be able to map the genetic distance, and ascertain when our Crow name came into existence and find our paternal roots in Europe
Terminal haplogroup I-FT225611 placed in modern times
Thoughts on paternal roots in Europe
The commonly accepted thought on the Crow roots in the old country are that they are of Scotch-Irish origin or even of English background. This could very well be true, as most of the settlers around the area of Spartanburg, SC came from these ethnic groups. But the Y-DNA and autosomal DNA evidence may suggest otherwise. The haplogroups the Crows have been assigned too, suggest Northern France, Belgium or Germany roots in the modern era. We cannot be certain as many of these groups in Europe often invaded surrounding areas, and London was not too far off for a raiding Norman party 1000 years ago. Considering the German and French were pouring into North America in the 1600's, Particularly what is now the American south, it was important to investigate this angle. We know our ancestors had settled in Spartanburgh, SC in the mid 1700s. If our ancestor was French or German, it is likely our family were unaware of their European roots at this time and had already assimilated into the culture by then. It is possible that they had already been here for 150 years at this point. If this is true, the name Crow would likely be a variation of some German or French name. What is interesting , is that there are several other unrelated Crows living in and around Spartanburg at this time. Could it be that our Crow ancestor took the name Crow to simply fit in with their Scotch-Irish or English neighbors?
Autosomal DNA Evidence
Through the use of DNA on My Heritage, I was able to find a common DNA match to my 3rd cousin who shares the Crow line. This match was of French origin and all her family branches are French as far back as I could see. This DNA match created what is known as triangulation group. Or that we all share a common ancestor at some point in time. The French cousin's DNA overlapped on the same area of the chromosome as my Crow cousin. I know this match was not on my maternal side of the chromosome because I had already identified the match on the exact spot. So it would seem there is something to this match and needs more investigating. The jury is still out on this evidence but it is another circumstantial piece added here. Below you can see the chromosome 7 match between myself and the two others. The arrow points to the French cousin, above that is my 3rd cousin. this overlap suggests a common ancestor. My 3rd cousin has no known French lines, so I believe this match is a result of the Crow line
Early French and German settlers in SC
The French settlement in South Carolina was known as the Orange Quarter. You can read about them here http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/huguenots/
The Germans in South Carolina can be read here http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/germans/
Present and Future Testing
There are many groups in the Crow project that already have their roots identified. England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Wales. In the past year the project has tested 8 Crow men with clear European lines. None of these men were placed in the Gold group. It is beginning to look as though the Gold group may find their roots elsewhere
This advanced testing created two new haplogroups that branched off from I-F22033. I-FT225611 and I-BY4106428. Both of these new branches were formed just a few hundred years ago in our ancestors. One tester, who has a brick wall at the year 1811, was grouped into my branch, I-FT225611. This told me that my new haplogroup was likely formed with my ancestor, John Crow Sr. b1760, and that this tester likely shared John as a common ancestor. When future John Crow descendants upgrade or test they will be put under this haplogroup or a branch that was formed after this haplogroup was created.
Thoughts on paternal roots in Europe
The commonly accepted thought on the Crow roots in the old country are that they are of Scotch-Irish origin or even of English background. This could very well be true, as most of the settlers around the area of Spartanburg, SC came from these ethnic groups. But the Y-DNA and autosomal DNA evidence may suggest otherwise. The haplogroups the Crows have been assigned too, suggest Northern France, Belgium or Germany roots in the modern era. We cannot be certain as many of these groups in Europe often invaded surrounding areas, and London was not too far off for a raiding Norman party 1000 years ago. Considering the German and French were pouring into North America in the 1600's, Particularly what is now the American south, it was important to investigate this angle. We know our ancestors had settled in Spartanburgh, SC in the mid 1700s. If our ancestor was French or German, it is likely our family were unaware of their European roots at this time and had already assimilated into the culture by then. It is possible that they had already been here for 150 years at this point. If this is true, the name Crow would likely be a variation of some German or French name. What is interesting , is that there are several other unrelated Crows living in and around Spartanburg at this time. Could it be that our Crow ancestor took the name Crow to simply fit in with their Scotch-Irish or English neighbors?
Autosomal DNA Evidence
Through the use of DNA on My Heritage, I was able to find a common DNA match to my 3rd cousin who shares the Crow line. This match was of French origin and all her family branches are French as far back as I could see. This DNA match created what is known as triangulation group. Or that we all share a common ancestor at some point in time. The French cousin's DNA overlapped on the same area of the chromosome as my Crow cousin. I know this match was not on my maternal side of the chromosome because I had already identified the match on the exact spot. So it would seem there is something to this match and needs more investigating. The jury is still out on this evidence but it is another circumstantial piece added here. Below you can see the chromosome 7 match between myself and the two others. The arrow points to the French cousin, above that is my 3rd cousin. this overlap suggests a common ancestor. My 3rd cousin has no known French lines, so I believe this match is a result of the Crow line
Early French and German settlers in SC
The French settlement in South Carolina was known as the Orange Quarter. You can read about them here http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/huguenots/
The Germans in South Carolina can be read here http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/germans/
Present and Future Testing
There are many groups in the Crow project that already have their roots identified. England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Wales. In the past year the project has tested 8 Crow men with clear European lines. None of these men were placed in the Gold group. It is beginning to look as though the Gold group may find their roots elsewhere
Hello Michael! I am one of the "late 2020" participants in the push to get more BigY results, and hope that contributed to the development of the Gold Crow meta-analysis.
ReplyDeleteI think that I know one reason it is taking so long to firm up our data. On my mother's side, I am 100% German, and any tool I use, including Ancestry, runs into many walls. First, there is a huge distrust of genetic information due to extremely hightened privacy concerns in the public at large. Second, it takes a century for records (birth, migration, marriage, etc.) to become public. Third, large tranches of records were destroyed or lost in WWII, particular from the eastern territories.
Those patterns also exist, with somewhat other strength, in our other likely source countries such as France and the UK. Is there some platform by which we could entice more participation on the other side of the pond? Do we know enough to target outreach geographically?
My family has always remarked that the Crows were fiercely dedicated to royal English names - William and Charles repeating again and again. We thought that confirmed English ancestry - but I now wonder if that was part of assimilation by a European family that wanted to show how "English" they had become. That also indicates, I think, establishment at least 1, perhaps 2, generations prior to 1776. Best, Bill
One more possibility I thought of - what if we were Huguenots who emigrated first to England, then to the United States? That would explain the gravitation toward an English surname Crow and the adaption of royal Christian/first names, and permit a later arrival, even post-independence. Just thinking out loud! Thanks! Bill
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