At some time or another, most American genealogists encounter
difficulties trying to trace ancestors’ immigrant origins. It is
necessary to pinpoint an exact birthplace (such as a town or village) in
Europe to forge a genealogical link across the ocean. Officials created
few records to document the origins of transatlantic migrants and only a
fraction have survived. Chances for success improve after the year
1820, when keeping passenger arrival records became compulsory; however,
tracing nineteenth- and twentieth-century immigrant origins also has
its own share of difficulties. Fortunately, advances in DNA research are
solving some of these problems and provide new hope for formerly closed
cases.
Understanding DNA Testing
If you are familiar with breakthroughs in using genetic evidence to
solve family history riddles, this paragraph will be a review for you.
DNA testing allows two people, usually with the same surname, to
determine if they share a common ancestor. Testing currently costs from
$200 to $300 for each participant. You would want to have at least two
men tested (only men can be tested because women do not inherit the
section of DNA from their father that is useful for genealogy). Having
the test made is a simple procedure. You simply rub a swab on the inside
of your mouth and send it in to a laboratory in a preservative liquid.
From this simple specimen, geneticists are able to produce a string of
numbers that can be compared with other participants. If the numbers
match, it is because you and the comparative individual descend from a
common ancestor. The two main US commercial companies that offer these
services are
Family Tree DNA and
Relative Genetics. Both maintain informative web sites that provide detailed explanations of their products.
DNA to the Rescue
So how can DNA help you to trace your immigrant origins? First, it
must be pointed out that this is not a simple task and is easier for
persons with less-common surnames. It only works for studying male
immigrants. If you and another person with a like surname, in say
France, are tested, and find out that you
are related, the testing companies cannot tell you
how that you are related, just that you
are related. Determining
how requires traditional genealogical research in written sources.
Steps to Take
Here are the steps to take in order to trace immigrant origins through DNA and traditional genealogical research:
-
Save up a reserve of at least
$1000 to $1500 to spend on DNA testing. Many family organizations ask
for contributions from their members to finance these tests.
-
Select a DNA testing company
that can be used indefinitely, as different companies’ results are not
always comparable and the project will likely continue for many years to
come.
-
Find a man who is living that
is a direct patrilineal descendant of the immigrant ancestor (i.e.,
shares the same surname as the immigrant) who is willing to have his DNA
examined.
-
Firmly document your ancestry back to the immigrant through traditional genealogical research.
-
Have descendants from other
sons of the immigrant tested to ensure that no illegitimacies or surname
changes occurred in your line of descent, which would thwart
objectives.
-
Formulate a general idea of
where in Europe that a person most likely originated. Were they from
England, Wales, Italy, Russia, etc.? DNA testing will not work for most
surnames in countries that used patronymics such as Denmark, Iceland,
Norway, Sweden, and Wales. A fixed hereditary surname is required for
success.
-
Determine how common this
surname is in the old country. Learn about that surnames’ history and
geographic distribution, particularly during the time period when your
ancestor emigrated (for more on this technique read
Localize Your Surname with Distribution Maps).
-
Try to determine how many different branches of this family flourished in that country and begin tracing each of their lines.
-
Track down living patrilineal
male descendants of each branch of families using this surname or
similar variants in the old country. If your family originated in the
British Isles or France, for example, where genealogy is very popular,
you will likely be able to coordinate your efforts with foreign
genealogists who can help you find living cousins to participate in DNA
testing.
-
Have a descendant of each
separate family with that surname in the old country tested, to
determine if they are all kin, or to identify unrelated groups.
Determining who doesn’t match reduces the size of the haystack you will
need to search.
-
Compare the American DNA results with the foreign DNA results.
-
When a match is found,
concentrate traditional genealogical research efforts on families you
have proven are your European cousins. You will eventually forge a link
with Europe and place your immigrant ancestor back in his birth family.
Hopefully then you will be able to extend your pedigree back many
generations in your documented place of origin.
For enthusiasts who are willing to invest time and money, old genealogical obstacles are now being overturned by DNA testing.
