Saturday, September 17, 2016

Welsh Tribes

A number of recent posts presented the Royal Tribes of Wales [I-V] as recorded in Burke 1840 edition.  The following table presents the "Royal"  and "Noble" tribes as they are geographically distributed among the lands of Wales.  It also list the individual who is given as the founder of each tribe.


This table was completed from my research accomplished before 1992, and published in "The Jones Genealogist" a family newsletter started in 1989.  These tribes and their geographic location would be a foundation to the genetic haplotypes found among the mountains.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Welsh Haplogroups

Some years past, my decision to have my DNA tested was finally made.  For years [some 50+], the genealogy virus had lead me to what seemed my own JONES family origins.  North Wales it was, or at least I thought this was the case.   Uncertainty gave way to verification as my DNA haplogroup returned R1b1b2 [now classified as R1b1a2 ].   The following table shows the haplogroups for my JONES surname from 2011 and 2016.  They are then compared to haplogroups from North Wales reported in 2011.

In 2011, my R1b1 haplogroup made up around 82% of folks seeking their DNA from North Wales.  Those in my JONES surname groups made up 75% of this R1b haplogroup.  From North Wales indeed it would seem.   Other haplogroup percents are shown, which again follow the same pattern as North Wales.  The 2016 group shows that several other haplogroups have been reported to carry the JONES surname which indicates a lot more folks have become interested in all this DNA stuff.

Now the following figure shows roughly how this R1b haplogroup got to Wales.  [It was drawn when my haplogroup was still R1b1b2]  How the genes did flow, from A to R1b some 60,000 years in the making.


Tuesday, March 15, 2016

New...with the...Old

Welsh history presents its own set of problems for the genealogist.  As time changes, the names of places frequently change in response to the social and political pressures of the day.  Present day names are often derived from older names.  [A change due to language perhaps.]  As one climbs out their Welsh family tree, these changes may not be recognized as one goes back in time.  For example, the following list shows the present day names of the counties of Wales as compared to the much older Welsh names.

                                   Anglesey (Ynys Mon)
                                   Caernarvon (Arfon)
                                   Denbigh (Dinbvch)
                                   Flint (Flint)
                                   Merioneth (Meirionydd)
                                   Montgomery (Trefaldwyn)
                                   Cardigan (Ceredigion)
                                   Radnor (Maesyfed)
                                   Pembroke (Penfro)
                                   Carmarthen (Caerfyddin)
                                   Brecon (Brycheiniog)
                                   Glamorgan (Morgannwy)
                                   Monmouth (Monmouth)


Names are taken from "Welsh Genealogical Research", by Charles M. Franklin, Heritage House, Indianapolis, IN, 1995. p.4.

Monday, February 8, 2016

New Blogs

One can not discuss Welsh genealogy for very long without running into issues involving the JONES surname, and issues with other WELSH surnames.  Two new blogs are started with hopes to address these topics. "JONES SURNAME CENTRAL" one is titled.  Its purpose is to provide a place to discuss the Jones surname from a variety of angles...the origin, history, and chronology...and any other subject that might be related.  The second blog is titled "WELSH SURNAME CENTRAL".  Its purpose is to provide a place to discuss other Welsh surnames as they relate to the Welsh patrilineal naming structure so important to understand among those genealogist seeking to trace their Welsh family trees.  Come join the fun.  You can place comments for subjects or topics that you think are important to address....or questions you might have regarding these subjects.  The blogs are:

"JONES SURNAME CENTRAL" at   tjgjsc.blogspot.com

"WELSH SURNAME CENTRAL" at   tjgwsc.blogspot.com

I post this information on this blog since many readers share interest in Welsh genealogy.