Martin DNA Research

Martin DNA Research

We have begun to employ DNA research in order to possibly identify other matching Martin males and to learn about where the early Martin German ancestors came from. The initial testing was done at FTDNA http://www.familytreedna.com and the public result posted at http://www.ysearch.org (See ID PETCD for Ed's Martin halpotype result). Also see Martin surname project at http://www.small-stuff.com/MARTIN/DNA/results.htm .

The initial results show a very unusual set of 37 markers which does not match other surnames except for the Stout surname project http://www.familytreedna.com/public/stout/ . Further digging and emailing shows that some of the Stouts early were in Germany just 12 miles from Herrstein in the same time period as our Martins and that they immigrated to Philadelphia like our Martins did. Two of the Stouts which I match to at 23/25 markers had a SNP test which shows them to be in the C3 haplogroup.

Haplogroups are the human ethnic early origin groups that began early in time and migrated in early time thruought the world. The DNA sites contain maps of present known haplogroups and where they came from. Also the genetic genealogy DNA folks are developing tests that will in time break down the groups into subclades or smaller defined groups. R1b is a group in Western Europe that has many people in it and it is presently being defined into smaller areas in Western Europe with additional sampling and testing. The genetic genealogy DNA arena started about year 2000 so it is a new and constantly expanding field with more and more data being found each day.

There are now several DNA genealogy labs developing and offering tests to individuals to help them learn more about their early ancient origins and in locating new relatives via matching to their DNA.

There is a rootsweb DNA email list which I joined to learn from the company presidents and scientists more on DNA and to pose questions to them on my results. They regularly assist people on analysis of results. My initial estimate for haplogroup is C3 like the Stout line. A SNP test is ordered for me to confirm for sure that result or another result. We have also plugegd in my values at several calculator predictors. One of them at YHRD looking at 20000 samples says that Mainz, Germany has a close match to my values.

Haplogroup C3 does not have as much data posted as some other groups at this time but the group is defined as coming early from Central Asia and some Native Americans also have the C3 haplogroup. When I plug in my 37 markers at Sorenson's database the resulting predictor says the early group is Mongolia. In reading about the early Mongolians and checking with the online gurus I found that the Mongolians of the 1200's created a large Empire and invaded Germany, Asia and other countries. One of their leaders was Genghis Kahn. They were horsemen, nomadic and herdsman. When they invaded and conquered an area they usually went back to Central Asia and left a local prince in charge. But some stayed behind, married and took on the higher civilixzation of their subjects.

The DNA gurus also say thet the very early Mongolian Huns were the ones that came into Germany as far as Mainz and used the Danube river as a highway and other connecting rivers. The Great Wall of China was constructed to deter the Mongolian warriors very early, but still they were able to breach the Great Wall. Atilla the Hun was one of the famous Hun warriors. Some of the DNA gurus think that these Asian early Mongoloid groups left behind in the early Germanic tribes their C3 Asian DNA.

I am the only Martin male I think in this line to be tested so we need another one or two to be tested to confirm our DNA profile. If you know of a living Martin male in our line that would agree to be tested using a simple cheek swab kit mailed to his home which is then mailed to the test facility, please let me know at emartin250@aol.com. I am willing to finance a 12 marker test for the first Martin male to agree to the test and have the results posted at ysearch for comparison. Note that in all cases a persons identity that has been tested is witheld and he is given an ID and can elect to allow the public matching at yearch. Also the persons DNA sample is kept in a secure vault for 25 years to allow for ordering of additional tests that are developed in the future.

To learn more about this go to http://www.familytreedna.com and http://www.isogg.org to read about DNA testing and how they handle it.

Here is a link to the very early St Martin Bishop of Tours (France) about 350A.D. Maybe this is where our original Martin surname came from (speculation).

http://www.users.csbsju.edu/~eknuth/npnf2-11/sulpitiu/lifeofst.txt

( added 10/5/2005)