After finding a non-parential event in ones line, how should one proceed?

Question

This is a Genealogy-DNA question - The Markers on an individual does not match anyone in a surname study with his surname>

Answer 1

Hey Tom,

That is an interesting question which may require more details. There are no matches in my DNA 37 Marker test, but the situation is the Irish version of my name started the project, and said that they believed the test would prove that the Irish version was related to the Scottish version. They did not have any match at all. No one else in my ancestral line has taken the test. What about your line? Brother? Cousin? Uncle? A validation of the Test occurs when a known relative matches (else you need to talk with your mother or grandmother).

Did you submit your results to the greater Y-Dna project, and National Geographic? If you still have no match, remember my situation, that is Names are not unique to a family. Sometimes they originate from different locations. Get other people to participate in the study. Find suspected Distant cousins through your Family Tree, see if they will take the test. The closer you get to you on the tree, the closer you get to isolating the incorrect branch.

In another study, Washburn, the Project Leader has identified 4 distinctly different originations of Washburns. This sounds like what you have discovered. A new and different origin to the name, possibly.

The other possibility is the 'Milkman' syndrome, where one woman in your Surname line strayed and did not tell. In this case, using the bigger National Geographic and Y-DNA studies is very important, to get a match from the greater community.

In time, more people will be tested. The several things you can do are 1) Wait patiently; 2) Get more people to test; 3) Work on your surname Family Tree validation with Vital Records; 4) Learn more about DNA and other global efforts.

Answer 2

I have the same circumstance with a ancestor who was born in 1765. I have questioned many persons on how to proceed. The best advice I have been given so far is to trace the mothers line for genealogy. This I have done with success. But determining the father I have not yet been able to do. Since I am a female and the Y dna test does not answer any questions for me, I am looking for other tests which I can take..since I know he is a direct ancestor.

Answer 3

The DNA company I used said 2% - 5% of the people they test don't match, due to "secret adoptions or infidelity". They suggest you get a couple of cousins or siblings to test their DNA too.

My mother lives in a retirement community. She says that so many women have told her:

"My first [middle, last] child wasn't my husband's, but we patched the relationship up and I never told",

that she thinks we genealogists are all fooling ourselves.

You probably shouldn't publish this juicy tidbit. Beyond that I don't know what to tell you.