This Web page reports
the status and results for the Knowles Surname DNA Project. This
presentation (via tables, and links to the pages for individual Knowles
progenitors) reports and explains the test results for the participants in
the Knowles Surname DNA Project.
TEST
RESULTS PAGES
(Sorted by Progenitor's Name)
TEST
RESULTS PAGES
(Sorted by Progenitor's Geographical Identification)
Please make a donation to help support
the Knowles
Surname DNA Project
The total number of
participants in the Knowles Surname DNA Project by year and by the number of
markers tested is reflected in Table 1 below.
Starting in 2005, a higher percentage of the tests ordered have been for an increased
number of markers. The higher resolution (more markers tested) will be
important for analysis of the results in the future for the descendants of the
same progenitor. Currently the primary emphasis of the analysis is to
establish the modal Haplotype for each Knowles progenitor.
Obviously, there is great anticipation for
even wider participation in the next few years. The benefits derived for
the Knowles genealogical efforts is directly proportionally to the number of
participants in the Knowles Surname DNA Project.
If you are an eligible participant or know of family members who are eligible to
participate, please plan on joining the Knowles Surname DNA Project.
KNOWLES SURNAME DNA PROJECT
PARTICIPATION TABLE
(number of Y-DNA & mtDNA Participants)
Table 1
DNA
TEST
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Y
C
H
R
O
M
O
S
O
M
E
12 Markers
0
1
6
11
9
12
13
8
9
9
25
Markers
0
0
2
15
18
17
17
16
16
16
37
Markers
0
0
0
2
10
13
20
34
30
30
67
Markers
0
0
0
0
0
2
7
16
26
25
------
------
------
------
------
------
------
------
------
------
Totals
0
1
8
28
37
44
57
74
81
81
m
t
D
N
A
HVR1
0
0
0
0
3
9
11
13
12
12
HVR2
0
0
0
0
3
6
8
9
10
10
FGS
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
------
------
------
------
------
------
------
------
------
------
Totals
0
0
0
0
6
15
19
23
24
24
KNOWLES SURNAME
DNA PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS
The participants in the
Knowles Surname DNA Project are listed in the
Participants Table below
(Table 2). Participants are listed
in this table in the order in which they joined the project. The contents
of this table nor any of the test results are specifically linked to a participant by name
(except by explicit permission of the participant). However the table
below does
provide other pertinent identification information, including the participant's
Knowles progenitor, when known.
The Participants Table also indicates when the participant's DNA
kit was returned to FTDNA and if the results from the test are available. When
the participant's results have been added to the
Y-Search
Database, the Y-Search identification number for the participant is listed in
this table.
The Web page for the Results
Table for each Progenitor is accessed via the link in the PRO column
in the Participants table.
The participants currently included in the
Knowles Project represent over 30
different Knowles progenitors (although several are unknown as of this writing). Nearly
one-third of all the participants have
been proven to be descendants of Edmund "Old Silverhead" Knowles
(Knowles Progenitor: Delaware-01). Greater participation from the many other Knowles lines is
required. There may be more than 100 unrelated unique Knowles progenitors.
Note: The KNOX participants in the KNOWLES Surname DNA Project have been
removed. A separate
Knox Surname Project
is now available for those men with the KNOX surname.
Note: Haplogroups listed in
RED are
predictions; those in GREEN
have been confirmed by a Backbone and / or an SNP test. Haplogroups in
RED have been predicted by Family Tree DNA based on
unambiguous STR results.
* This Knowles line may be a
Jernigan line.
Return
to Top of This Page
Knowles Case Studies
(important results)
compiled by: Robert B. Noles
KNOWLES SURNAME
DNA PROJECT - CASE STUDIES
1)
Maryland Progenitor #01 and North Carolina Progenitor #18 -
Two descendants of Maryland Progenitor #01 (Peter Knowles, or Peter
Nowels, b 1716) and three descendants of North Carolina Progenitor
#18 (Benjamin Noles, b 1765) have been tested. The test results for
these five participants in the Knowles DNA Project indicate that
these two Knowles progenitors have a common direct male line
ancestor. The paper work documentation for these two progenitors
does not indicate any connection. The DNA test results mean we can
focus the traditional research to determine the actual connection,
that previously had not been considered. Benjamin Noles was
probably a grandson of Peter Nowels, whose father removed from
Baltimore as did other descendants, but he migrated south to North
Carolina instead of West to Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana as the
other family members did.
2) Indiana Progenitor #08 and
Delaware Progenitor #01 -
This Knowles line, Lee Hiram Knowles, b 1870, the progenitor for
Indiana #08 was believed to be a descendant of the Edmund “Old
Silverhead” Knowles line (Delaware #01), based on traditional
research. The Y-DNA test results indicate otherwise, based on only
an eight marker match at the 12 marker level. The genetic distance
is a huge value of 17 at the 25 marker level, confirming Indiana #08
is NOT an “OSH” descendant. (at 25 markers, only genetic distances
of less than 5 would be considered relevant). Perhaps Lee Hiram
Knowles was adopted by Hiram and Elizabeth Knowles from Gibson
County, Indiana instead of being a natural son as previously
thought.
3)
North Carolina Progenitor #20 and North Carolina Progenitor #30 -These two
progenitors; i.e., William Knowles, b 1795 and Butler Noles, b 1769,
were not thought to be related via a common direct male ancestor,
even though both of these Knowles lines originated in North Carolina
in the 18th century. However, the DNA test results indicate that
they do share a common male ancestor. Each of these progenitors is
only represented by one participant and by only a 25 marker test and
a 12 marker test respectively. More participants and more markers
need to be tested before the test results can definitely say these
two Knowles/Noles lines are related at via what generation.
4) Bahamas Progenitor #09 -
The Knowles participant representing this Bahamas Knowles line, was
originally assumed to be a descendant of Thomas Knowles (b 1766)
from Long Island, Bahamas; however, his DNA test results match a man
tested with the Jernigan surname and a Jernigan genealogy. The test
results in this case have identified that a name change occurred and
that the Knowles participant is a Jernigan descendant, not a Knowles
descendant. The current research is now focused on where, when and
why the name change occurred.
5) Massachusetts Progenitor #01 and
New York Progenitor #02b - Two
descendants of Massachusetts Progenitor #01 (Richard Knowles, b
1614) and two descendants of New York Progenitor #02b (Squire
Knowles, b 1785) have been tested. No connection has ever been
detected for the these two progenitors via traditional genealogical
research. However, the DNA test results are indicating a very close
connection, via an exact match, genetic distance of 0) at the 25
marker level. Additional markers for these participants are to be
tested to help identify the generation and the person where the
connection occurred.
I hope this Knowles DNA Project genetic genealogy
results page plus the articles the included in the
KAT (the Association
Newsletter) have answered some of your questions concerning DNA
testing in support of genealogical research and the results achieved
by the Knowles Project so far. If you have some specific questions
concerning your need to be tested or the test results available so
far, please let me know via
rbnoles@bellsouth.net.
Rob Noles
November 4, 2007
Knowles Progenitor Tables
compiled by: Robert B. Noles
Click on the PROGENITOR
IDENTIFICATION in the table below to see DNA TEST
RESULTS and the associated genealogies for the participants (when
available).
Click on the PROGENITOR
NAME in the table below to see the BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCH for the progenitor (when available).
* Further testing required to determine if these two progenitors were brothers.
** Further testing required to determine if William Knowles (DE-03) is a
descendant of Edmund "OSH" Knowles (DE-01).
*** Further testing required to determine if Charles Hill Knowles
(GA-02) is a descendant of Edmund "OSH" Knowles (DE-01).
**** Further testing required to determine if
Jacob Knowles (NY-02a) and Squire Knowles (NY-02b) [brothers] are
descendants of Henry Knowles (RI-01) or Richard Knowles (MA-01). Testing
is in progress.
Three participants under Pro
NC-18 are also descendants of Pro MD-01
? Three participants under Pros NY-02a and
NY-02b are also descendants of MA-01
Return
to Top of This Page
TEST
RESULTS by PROGENITOR
KNOWLES HAPLOGROUPS
The following tables
compare the allele values for each of the currently known Knowles
Haplotypes
(some of which are not as yet proven).
KNOWLES Surname DNA Project
Y-Chromosome STR Results
MARKER
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
MARKER #
DYS
#
393
390
19
391
385a
385b
426
388
439
389-1
392
389-2
DYS #
Progenitor
Repeats
(Alleles) for each Marker
Note: Marker #3, DYS 19 is also Known as DYS 394
Haplo-
group
NOTE: Haplogroups are determined either by
predictions (shown in RED
font) made by FTDNA based on reported Y-DNA test results or as
specifically confirmed by an SNP test (shown in
GREEN
font).
Observations of
thousands of test results now indicate that some Markers change or
mutate at a faster rate than others. While the actual faster rate
has not as yet been definitively calculated, not all markers should be
treated the same for evaluation purposes. The DYS Markers displayed in
RED
have shown a faster mutation rate then the average; therefore, these
markers are sometimes very helpful at splitting lineages into sub sets,
or branches within a specific family tree.
After spending considerable time in central
Asia, developing skills to survive in the harsh new conditions and
exploit new resources, a group from the
Central Asian Clan
began to head west toward the European subcontinent. An
individual in this clan was born with the new M207 mutation on his
Y-chromosome. His descendants ultimately split into two
distinct groups,; one group continuing westward onto the European
subcontinent and the other turning south to ultimately end its
journey in the Indian subcontinent.
The undifferentiated R lineage is currently found in India, Pakistan,
and central Asia at intermediate frequencies.
HAPLOGROUP
R1
'Y-Adam'
> M168 > M89 > M9 > M45 > M207 > M173
Members of Haplogroup
R1 are descendants of Europe's first large
scale human settlers. Their lineage is defined by Y-chromosome
marker
M173, which shares a westward journey of
M207
central Asian
steppe hunters. The descendants of
M173
arrived in Europe
around 35,000 years ago and immediately began to make their own
dramatic mark on the continent. Soon after their arrival, the
era of the
Neandertals ended (Neandertals
lived in Europe from about 350,000
years ago to about 30,000 years ago).
The undifferentiated R1 lineage is quite rare. It is found only at
very low frequencies in Europe, Central Asia, and south Asia.
About 10,000 to 15,000 years ago, a man of European origin was
born in present-day Ukraine or southern Russia, north of the Black
and Caspian seas. His nomadic descendants would eventually
carry his genetic marker, M17 from the
Eurasian Steppe to places as far
away as India and Iceland.
The
R1a1
lineage is believed to have originated in a population of
Kurgan culture, known for the
domestication of the horse (approximately 3000 B.C.E.). These
people were also believed to be the first speakers of the
Indo-European language group. This lineage is currently
found in central and western Asia and in Slavic populations of
Eastern Europe.
About 30,000 years ago, a descendant of the
clan making its way into Europe a man was born with marker
M343, the
defining marker for Haplogroup
R1b.
These travelers are direct descendants of the people who dominated
the human expansion into Europe, the
Cro-Magnon. The Cro-Magnon
created the famous cave paintings found in southern France,
providing archaeological evidence of developing artistic skills as
humans moved into Europe.
Haplogroup R1b is now the most
common Haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have
expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial
maximum, 10 to 12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the
Haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype.
[Haplogroup identified for
descendants of Edmund “Old
Silverhead” Knowles (1685-1762)]
Haplogroup
R1b1 is
the most common Haplogroup in European populations. It is
believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized
after the last glacial maximum, 10 to 12 thousand years ago. This
lineage is also the Haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal
haplotype.
[Haplogroup identified for descendants of
Edmund “Old Silverhead” Knowles (1685-1762)]
In the
"R1b"
Haplogroup chart below, Edmund "Old
Silverhead" (Knowles Progenitor DE-01) is the first Haplotype listed and it is
established as the basis for comparing the other Haplotypes.
The markers with allele
values different from the allele value for the corresponding marker for
the DE-01 Haplotype are highlighted in white squares.
Notice that the
Haplotypes from the "R1b" Haplogroup are all relatively similar.
Haplogroup "R1a & R1b"
KNOWLES
SURNAME DNA PROJECT
PROGENITOR COMPARISONS
(compared to Knowles Progenitor DE-01)
Ancestors of this Haplogroup were part of
the
M89 Middle
Eastern clan that continued to migrate northwest into the Balkans
and eventually spread into central Europe. The most recent
common ancestor, the man who gave rise to Marker
170 was born
about 23,000 years ago or
longer. His descendants were later forced into the isolated
refuge areas during the last of the ice age in the Balkans and
Iberia. As the ice sheets covering much of Europe began to
retreat, his descendants likely played a central role in
recolonizing central and northern Europe.
Today, the I,
I1, and
I1a lineages
are nearly completely restricted to northwestern Europe. These
would most likely have been common within Viking populations.
One lineage of this group extends down into central Europe.
Lineages not in branches I1a,
I1b or
I1c
are found
at low frequencies throughout Europe.
HAPLOGROUP
"I"
'Y-Adam' > M168 > M89 > M170
> M253
Some 20,000 years ago this group, like many Europeans, sought refuge
from the massive ice sheets of ice that covered much of the
continent during the last ice age. They found temperate
ice-free refuge on the Iberian Peninsula. While this ancestral
lineage was geographically isolated, the distinctive genetic marker
M253 appeared in one of its male members. As the Earth warmed
and the glacial maximum passed, some 15,000 years ago these refugees
left the peninsula and began to repopulate other parts of Europe,
carrying with them the unique marker that defines Haplogroup
I1a.
Today
I1a
is found most frequently within
Scandinavian populations in northwest Europe and has since spread
down into Central and Eastern Europe, where it is found in low
frequencies. It is likely that many Vikings descended from
this line. The Viking raids on the British Isles might help to
explain the dispersal of this lineage there as well.
In the
"I1a"
Haplogroup chart below, Benjamin Noles (Knowles Progenitor NC-18) is
established as the basis for comparing the other Haplotypes.
The markers with
allele values different from the allele value for the corresponding
marker for the NC-18 Haplotype are highlighted in white squares.
Notice that the
Haplotypes from the "I1a" Haplogroup are all relatively similar.
Haplogroup "I1a" KNOWLES
SURNAME DNA PROJECT
PROGENITOR COMPARISONS
(compared to Knowles Progenitor NC-18)
Members of Haplogroup
G
share a marker,
M201, that arose around 30,000
years ago in a man born along the eastern edge of the Middle East,
perhaps close to the Himalayan foothills in Pakistan or India, and
later dispersed into central Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
The descendants of this lineage are few, and the members of
this clan are rarely found at frequencies greater than a few percent
in any populations.
About 30,000 years ago, the genetic marker
P15
emerged and now defines the Haplogroup
G2. The
G2
lineage arose in the Middle East, though
P15
descendants soon spread westward through modern Turkey into
southeastern Europe. The bulk of these migrations took place
more than 15,000 years ago, before much of Europe was locked in ice
during the last glacial maximum. When the glaciers
finally began to recede, the
G2
lineage expanded northward and eastward to repopulate Europe.
Today, the
G2
branch of the
G
Haplogroup (containing the
P15
mutation) is found most often in Europe and the Middle East.
In the
"G"
Haplogroup chart below, David Knowles (Knowles Progenitor BAH-13) is
established as the basis for comparing the other Haplotypes.
The markers with
allele values different from the allele value for the corresponding
marker for the BAH-13 Haplotype are highlighted in white squares.
Notice that the
Haplotypes from the "G" Haplogroup are all relatively similar.
KNOWLES
SURNAME DNA PROJECT
PROGENITOR COMPARISONS
Haplogroup "G" (compared to Knowles Progenitor BAH-13)
Director:
Robert B. Noles
