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Surnames:
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.carr/5250.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
A low resolution DNA test can tell you what ancestral tribe your paternal or maternal
ancestry is likely from, such as middle eastern, northern or southern European, Asian,
African, etc. Your DNA can tell if your paternal or maternal ancestors have a high or low
probability of descent from the same paternal or maternal ancestors of another person.
Many people tell me this alone is worth the cost of the test. One of our Carr
participants was surprised to learn he had a DNA profile common amongst people from the
middle east. Discussing this with family members revealed that the paternal line did not
descend from Scotland, but that the name Carr had been adopted to fit in better in
America. Most Carr paternal lines in the project have YDNA haplotypes that can be
confidently identified with Scotland, or other places the family paternal ancestors are
believed to be from. Removing doubt about one's true ancestral identity is very
satisfying.
The Carr Family DNA project has over 60 participants who tell me they are happy to have
taken the DNA test. Several have expressed their satisfaction in no uncertain terms.
For years the various Carr families living in Tennessee or descended from Carrs who lived
in Tennessee in past generations wondered if they share a common paternal ancestor. The
favorite paternal ancestor of many of these families was one man whose grave-site was well
known, Elijah Carr. DNA testing has confirmed that some of these families who share
stories about common Carr paternal ancestry with Elijah, but have never identified the
common Carr paternal ancestor, have almost identical YDNA haplotypes (signatures) at 67
markers, which is a lot of markers. This is the only confirmation they have for their
family lore. They have told me that they are ecstatic with this result and that this
makes it all worth while for them. More rewarding than many of the paper record searches
they have conducted. Someday we hope to have a participant from the Virginia Carr
families who will match the Tennessee Carr families YDNA haplotype and subsequently
provide additional confirmat!
ion of their family lore. YDNA testing also confirmed another story amongst the
Tennessee Carr families, that there are Carr families related through the paternal
lineage, but not descended from Elijah, that exist there as well. Now those families know
they do not share common ancestry with Elijah Carr, but probably do with each other. That
is also satisfying for them as it supports their family lore.
Similar stories are unfolding every day amongst the 100,000 or more people who have taken
DNA tests for genealogy or ancestral identification. Many more stories of discovery are
waiting unfold. The evidence is in the DNA of male Carrs who have not yet had their YDNA
haplotype identified. The Carr YDNA project is here to help identify common paternal
lineage amongst Carr families around the world.
I could write for some time about the many stories that exist where people are very glad
for these DNA tests. That is why I have spent so much time, money and effort promoting
and working with DNA genealogy. A DNA test opens an adventure that continues and a
record that is good for all time. The alternative is to spend money on something
frivolous that will likely soon be forgotten. Legacy or gone with the wind, you can
choose.
Is it worth it? How much is adventure and satisfaction worth to you? Do you go to far
off cities or sit on your computer searching record files to identify your ancestors.
Your DNA can identify your living close cousins who share your interest in the families
history. How much is that worth?
Write me anytime with any questions you may have about DNA genealogy. Hopefully, we have
addressed many if not all of them on the Carr-DNA list and our Carr family websites linked
below.
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/CARR-DNA/2006-02/1140499569
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/CARR-DNA/2006-02/1141015725
http://www.carr-genealogy.com/dna.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~carrfamilydna/
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/carr
John Carr
Carr Family DNA Project Administrator
Connecting Carr Family ancestral lineage using DNA