DNA research

• Charts of Ancestral Connections and families in study
• Y-DNA Test Results
• mtDNA Test Results
• Links to other helpful sites

Traditional research

• Ancestral Research Program
• Alphabetical Ancestor Listing
• Name origins and variations, and Genealogies of surname variations
• Families grouped by geographical area

Related links

• Family Tree DNA website
• Sign up for the DNA test

Introduction

In addition to the information on this page, the other pages on this site relating to this DNA study are:

• The test results and conclusions. The most important feature of this page is the master table of Y-DNA test results, including links to charts.
• The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test results, although presently few in number, may develop into an important addition to the overall study.
• Chart presentations of definite and possible ancestral connections, based on test results to date. This page also shows which families are participating in the DNA study, and has links to the genealogies of all listed families.
• Haplogroup chart, showing the general relationship between the various Graves, Greaves, etc. families. More recent relationships are shown on the Charts page.
• Connections with other surnames. This includes a summary of some of the DNA test results on other surnames that match the results for some of the Graves/Greaves samples. It will also eventually include some discussion of haplogroups, possible pre-surname ancestry, and geographical origins
• Success Stories of individuals and families whose ancestry and connections has been determined as a result of this study
• DNA Testing Sponsorship Fund. This discusses the need to sponsor Graves/Greaves descendants whose DNA test results are very important for other family members, and provides a summary of the status of the fund

The Graves Family Association has gathered information and compiled genealogies on hundreds of major families and segments of families with the Graves, Greaves, Grave, Grieve (and other spelling variations) surname. It is believed that most or all of the segments of families are descended from one of the major families. It is further believed that all the families originating in the British Isles are descended from only a few original men in a small area of England, that the Graves families of Germany are probably not related to those of England, and that the Graves families of France and elsewhere may be related to those of England.

Although more documentary evidence remains to be found, traditional genealogical research will never find all the connections between the various Graves family groups. In addition, there are undoubtedly links that have been made that are not correct. In the U.S., for instance, it is sometimes not possible to be sure whether a family group is of English or German origin. The availability of Y chromosome analysis now provides a new way to determine direct male to male lineage, and this is the basis of this project.

There are two types of DNA tests now available for genealogical testing: the Y-chromosome (Y-DNA) test and the mitochondrial (mtDNA) test. A direct female line can be traced by testing mitochondrial DNA. However, since we are presently interested in tracing surnames, which are usually passed from father to son, the testing of the Y-chromosome DNA is what we are most interested in. The portion of the Y-chromosome that is tested for genealogical purposes is passed through the direct male line (from father to son) unchanged (other than having an occasional mutation).

Background of Genetic Genealogy

Human sperm and egg cells contain 23 chromosomes. The 23rd chromosome is the one that determines the sex of the child. Males have both an X and a Y 23rd chromosome, but females have two X's and no Y's. The human egg becomes a female embryo if the male sperm carries an X-chromosome and a male embryo when the sperm has a Y-chromosome. Thus the Y-chromosome is passed down from generation to generation only through the male line.

There have been a number of recent reports in the media about Y-chromosome studies to trace surname ancestry through the male line and determine relationships. These include the question of whether Thomas Jefferson fathered any children by slave Sally Hemmings, and the relationship of Jewish men supposedly descended from Aaron (kohanim). The results of these and other studies have been very helpful in determining relationships that can not be proven by any other method. The same procedures can now by applied to the Graves Surname Project.

The Plan

The Graves Surname DNA Project was started in July 2001. The plan is to use DNA testing to find the connections and ancestries of the many families involved. This will be accomplished by performing Y chromosome DNA tests on a sampling of men with the Graves surname (including all variant spellings). Each participant will receive a report of his own results from the testing laboratory, and a summary (without identification of specific individuals) will be posted on this website.

Men from all of the various name spellings are encouraged to participate. Each male participant will provide a mouth swab sample to be analyzed by the testing laboratory (Family Tree DNA). This sampling technique is painless and only involves the use of a swab to collect a small amount of cells from the inside of a person's cheek. The participant administers the test in the privacy of his own home.

The test kit and instructions will be sent by Family Tree DNA to each participant. All participants will then return samples, payment (if not prepaid), and a release form (to allow the DNA results of each person to be matched against other results in the FTDNA database, possibly resulting in more matches in the future).

Advances Since Start of Study

The testing laboratory (Family Tree DNA) initially provided a 12-marker test that was generally able to show whether participants were descended from a common ancestor several hundred years ago. They then introduced a 25-marker test that improved the identification of a common ancestor. A 37-marker test was introduced later that can distinguish better between different lines of descent from the common ancestor. Participants can upgrade to this test from either the 12-marker test or the 25-marker test. It is generally recommended that the 37-marker test be performed, since almost everyone ends up with that anyway. For participants who have already submitted their DNA samples and had the 12- or 25-marker test, the additional markers can be requested as an upgrade without a new sample being submitted. More recently, a 67-marker test was introduced. This greatly improves the ability to identify the specific line of descent from the ancestor, and is especially recommended when there is little or no difference within a group of 37-marker results.

Cost

The testing laboratory we are using, Family Tree DNA, currently charges $99 per test for the basic 12-marker Y-DNA testing, $148 for the 25-marker test, $189 for the 37-marker test, and $269 for the 67-marker test. These are special group rates, and costs for individuals who are not part of a group are higher. We don't want to discourage any male-line Graves descendant from participating because of cost. Let us know of your interest in participating even if you cannot afford the cost of the test, and contributions from others may be available to cover some or all of the cost of your test. Contact Ken Graves for answers to any questions.

One way to lower the cost of this test is for a number of people from the same part of the family (both men and women) to pool their money and pay for one representative male to participate on behalf of all of them. For example, if the test costs about $160 and 4 people share the cost, that is only $40 per person. Other options include encouraging people to contribute to the overall Graves Family Association DNA project (it continues to be in debt and in need of financial support), organizing a fund raiser for testing your part of the family, etc.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an important part of this study. Only the person providing a DNA sample will know what his results are (unless they decide they would like to share that information). The part of the Y chromosome that will be analyzed is what has been called "junk" DNA that does not contain genes that serve any know function for inherited characteristics. All samples are assigned an identifying number. This ID number will be the only identifying information anyone else sees, so no one other than the coordinator and the testing laboratory will know who participates in the study or which result is from which person. The portion of the DNA tested gives a distinctive "signature" for a lineage rather than for an individual, so there is no risk of this data being of any use to anyone for personal identity.

To Participate

If you are a man with the Graves, Greaves (or alternate spelling ) surname and would like to participate in this project, sign up for the test on the Family Tree DNA website.

Future Plans

This study is ongoing. We are continuing to accept participants, and are especially looking for members of family groups not already included.

In the more distant future, testing will become even more sophisticated and we expect to be able to learn even more about the connections between the various Graves/Greaves/Grave families, perhaps including testing of both male and female descendants.

Results

The test results are reported on the test results page. The families that are represented, and others that we would like to see included, are listed on the Charts page, which also has links to the charts and genealogies of the various families.

Links to Other Sites for More Information

Go to the page for links to find other sites with various types of helpful information.