The Harris Surname DNA Project is one of the larger DNA surname project. As of January 10, 2009, there are over 336 members of the Harris Y-DNA Project and 305 Y-DNA kits have been tested and charted. The first test kit was submitted in 2001; the project was created in 2003 after several other DNA kits had been submitted for comparison. In addition to the kits submitted to Family Tree DNA, a few kits tested with other companies have been manually added to the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page. Please contact one of the project administrators if you can provide funding for a DNA test, are looking for a participant in a particular line, or can provide a Y-DNA sample yourself. You may contact the 4 administrators of the Harris Group study (private individuals who do not work for Family Tree DNA, but who voluntarily maintain a web page and can answer questions you may have) by clicking on this address: Darlene, Jeff, Glenn, and Craig
Additional information on the Harris Surname DNA Project can be found at Wikipedia. More general information on DNA testing can be found in the Wikipedia entry for Genealogical DNA test .
Since a Surname Project in essence traces members of a family that share a common surname (in this case, HARRIS), and females (a) don't carry their father's Y-DNA, and (b) acquire a new surname by the way of marriage (at least in Western cultures), in order to be relevant to the Surname Project, the tested individual must be a male that wants to check his paternal line (father's father's father's ... ) in an unbroken lineage. The test to be ordered is either the Y-DNA12, Y-DNA25, Y-DNA 37 or Y-DNA67, and females should look for a father, uncle, brother, or cousin with the HARRIS surname to be tested.
The standard DNA testing is NOT done through a blood test. Instead, a “buccal swab” is used for DNA tests. This means that a cotton swab, similar to a Q-tip, is rubbed against the inside of the cheek, to collect cells for evaluation. While it is just as accurate as a blood test, this procedure is painless and non-invasive, making it a much more desirable test. Some laboratories use mouth wash or chewing gum instead of cheek swabs.
All HARRISes are encouraged to participate in the HARRIS Surname DNA Project. Male HARRISes may participate directly. Because females do not have the Y-chromosome they can only participate through a male HARRIS relative (father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin). Each male participant will provide a mouth swab sample to be analyzed by Family Tree DNA. This sampling technique is painless and only involves the use of a swab to collect a small amount of cells from the inside of a person's cheek. The participant administers the test in the privacy of his own home.
If there are questions about the paper trail that documents one’s family line (suppose there are two John Smiths in the same county at the same time), then DNA markers can be tested to show if two people are closely related or not. The closer the matches, the closer the connection should be; however a valid match should be part of the same haplogroup and have the same last name (if comparing male DNA samples). For females, it would be a comparison between two females who trace back through the same matrilineal line (mtDNA). Also, it should be noted that there are clusters of haplotypes. For example, in Harris Group 1, the kits shown are part of the R1b1 haplogroup. However some have further been mapped out to group them further—i.e. R1b1b2, R1b1b2a1a, etc. The additional numbers and letters at the end of the haplogroup listing map out additional markers and tests that have been done that help to group the kits. But if the marker values match closely, and the last name is the same, etc., kits with the basic haplogroup listing, but with additional coding, can still be kits from close or traceable relatives.
The most popular ancestry tests are Y chromosome (Y-DNA) testing and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing for determining possible kinships. Other additional tests offered by various DNA companies attempt to determine a researcher's comprehensive genetic history and/or ethnic origins. These include testing for Biogeographical ancestry, Native American ancestry, African ancestry, Jewish and Cohanim ancestry, European and Viking testing, Hindu testing, Melungeon testing, etc.
Although the main testing company for the project – Family Tree DNA – is based in the United States, the Harris Project Administrators also oversee the results from DNA Heritage and other companies. Test results from Oxford Ancestors, one of the main testing companies in Europe, are also accepted for the project. An increasing number of kits are being submitted to the project from Europe, Canada, Australia, and other places, so the project most definitely has an international scope.
Test participants who participate in this Harris Surname group study are eligible for a special discounted testing rate. Group testing rates for Y-chromosome testing at Family Tree DNA are:
12 marker Y-DNA test: $99 group rate (normally $149) plus shipping
From 12 to 25 Marker Upgrade: $90 plus shipping
From 12 to 37 Marker Upgrade: $109 group rate plus shipping
From 12 to 67 Marker Upgrade: $199 group rate plus shipping
25 marker Y-DNA test: $148 group rate plus shipping
From 25 to 37 Marker Upgrade: $49 plus shipping
From 25 to 67 Marker Upgrade: $148 plus shipping
37-marker Y-DNA test: $189 group rate (normally $259) plus shipping
From 37 to 67 Marker Upgrade: $109 plus shipping
67-marker
Y-DNA test: $269 group rate (normally $349) plus shipping
I highly recommend doing at least the Y-DNA 25-marker test (37-marker and 67-marker tests are even better). The higher resolution tests are more useful to help to reduce the number of generations between you and a potential match. They also might help in distinguishing the branches of major families when enough test results are available.
The official testing company for the Harris DNA Study is Family Tree DNA. Their website is www.familytreedna.com. The Project administrators also manage Harris test results submitted to DNA Heritage.
Test kits are ordered directly from Family Tree DNA. You can send an email to the Harris Project administrators
asking how to order a test kit. Or, you
can go to http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=Q41837. An option is available for instances where
the test participant and the person who is paying for the test are
different. Payment can be made by
credit card or invoice.
When a test kit is ordered, the form on the first page with
the blanks is for the test participant. The form on the 2nd page will be
information on who pays for the test. The test company may have filled in
some lines on the 2nd page, assuming that the same person is being tested as
well as paying. Since this is not the case for you, you will need to
overwrite your payment information on the invoice page. You have the
option of credit card or by having them mail you an invoice.
The charts showing test results for the Harris Surname DNA Project are listed on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page. Another view of the Harris DNA project results is found at Family Tree DNA’s website. This link also allows you to view the mtDNA results submitted on direct female lines.
It is my understanding that the modals for each group are the projected DNA results which would be present in the most recent common ancestor of all lineages shown in each DNA grouping. This is determined by comparing kits which have been tested and making note of the commonalities in the results. In the future, when additional kits and markers are submitted, it is possible that the modal listing for a certain group might change slightly. When variations from the modal are shown in different markers, this shows either 1) a mutation in the DNA marker (which is common every couple hundred years among direct descendants), or 2) a variation in the DNA marker (which might mean the person is not related at all—it could just be coincidence that with billions of people living in the world today, that the two kits are very similar in markers tested. But if the kits represent the same surname and haplogroup, it is pretty solid that there is a close kinship if the kits fall in the same grouping.). If there is any question in the comparison of the test results, a better paper trail is needed to verify kinship or non-kinship. The modal listings are shown at the beginning of each grouping on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page. As an aid to researchers, these modal listings have also been plotted on the Ysearch.org website. Just look for the Ysearch code listed for each modal at the beginning of each group listing on the chart on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page.
Here is what one submitter said regarding the 12-marker test and testing a higher number of markers:
“When I had a 12 marker DNA on file at Family Tree DNA I had 18 ‘perfect matches.’ When I went to 37 markers I have ZERO. Don't get excited about matches with only 12 markers.”
When at all possible, it is better to test for a higher number of markers (more than 12). Otherwise one will never know if the results are all-conclusive or not. Currently there are over 100 DNA markers that eventually could be compared as this science progresses. The more markers tested and the more markers in common can show a close kinship. And if many of the markers do not match, then one can conclude that a relationship (if any) is very remote.
After a serious study of DNA as it relates to genealogy, I have come to the conclusion that there are billions of people in the world today. And we are only talking about tests that measure DNA marks for 12, 25, 37 and 67-marker kits (Oxford Ancestors now has a 43-marker test, but some of these are different markers than what Family Tree DNA measures). With only testing a relatively small number of markers, it seems logical that there could be a large number of people in society that would have the same markers or similar markers (and only a select few of the world population so far have even done DNA testing for genealogy purposes). (I understand that eventually scientists/lab technicians will be able to test and measure 102 different markers—and maybe even more than that—when this science becomes better refined.)
The thing that validates the DNA testing is that this is a Y-DNA test that is done to compare markers that are passed only from father to son through each succeeding generation. Thus for close relatives of the same surname, the DNA markers should match or be very close. The test results/matches with someone of another surname will not apply unless 1) the test submitter has a different surname due to adoption or similar change of name, but the individual in fact biologically should have the same surname; or 2) the test submitter does not have a traceable male lineage, due to adoption, having an unknown father somewhere in the lineage or some other reason (so there is a chance he could actually tie in to the Harris male lineage, if the DNA matches up and other evidence might bear this out).
**Note** In some instances, on the Harris Y-DNA results, test results and lineage for a different surname may be listed that do not seem to tie in to any Harris family. (The migration patterns are not similar, and the families do not live in the same locality.) If there is a connection, this might be in the case of a rare DNA marker result that matches a Harris listing, which might possibly indicate a connection. At this point, no one (no matter what their surname) has been discouraged from joining the Harris Surname DNA Project. If someone, in their own DNA/genealogy study thinks there might be a Harris connection, they are encouraged to join the project.
Although in most cases when people of different surnames show similarities in DNA marker results, it usually does not indicate a close kinship. Although it is possible that a very distant kinship could maybe be shown if one were able to trace two families back to the 1400s or earlier—about the time that surnames began to be established—and then show evidence that the descendants of different sons of a certain personage each took on different surnames. One example of this is in the families of Harris, de Beaumont, Montgomery, and Hamilton which each claim to go back to the same ancestral family back around 1000 A.D. These possible connections are explored by the Harris Group 4 at the Harrisline Yahoogroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/harrisline/?yguid=75580957
One personal thought of my own is that when we are talking possibly thousands of years and only a few markers (right now 67 markers or less when compared with a possible 102 or more markers which may eventually be testable), and only a small sampling of the world population (there are still millions of people living today—not to mention the population of previous generations—who have not been tested) being tested so far, then by the odds of probability, it seems reasonable that mutations in one direction or another could make differing family lines appear to be more closely related than they are. That is why a good paper trail is also needed to prove relationships.
Females may order what is called an mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) test for themselves such as the mtDNA or the mtDNAPlus test and participate in an mtDNA project. Also males who have been tested for Y-DNA markers can do an additional mtDNA test for themselves if desired. This mtDNA test would allow for testing to show a migration pattern of ancestors as well as proof of Native American or other ethnic ancestry (although some of the other DNA testing may be able to provide this information as well). It could also be used if a group of testers wanted to prove out an all-female lineage going back through maternal lines to find evidence of a common ancestor.
The Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the world's foremost collection of DNA and corresponding genealogical information.
Inspired by discussions in 1999 between philanthropist James LeVoy Sorenson and Brigham Young University Professor Scott Woodward about using DNA in genealogy, this foundation has now collected more than 70,000 DNA samples, together with four-generation pedigree charts, from volunteers in more than 100 countries around the world.
Y-chromosome DNA results and pedigree charts (also mitochondrial DNA results and pedigree charts) are now available for searching in the Sorenson Database (although since kits are not organized in groups, it is harder to interpret results and find matches). Currently SMGF is only testing 37 markers, and these markers are NOT the same as those being tested by Family Tree DNA and other DNA testing companies.
One positive element of this company is that testing is FREE. If you have already tested with FTDNA or some other company, you can submit an additional DNA sample to Sorenson.
The downsize is that it can take a year or longer to get results, and then it may be difficult to compare the results with others. When doing a search on their website, each marker value for a kit has to be manually added in order to do a comparison. Also, Sorenson does not provide any contact information for other kit submitters. People are encouraged to use the charts submitted (only ancestors born 100 years ago or more are listed on their website) to try to locate people through genealogy message boards and the like who may have a common ancestor.
On the Harris Y-DNA Results page, there is a link to the SMGF database for kits that match the marker values for Group 28.
For further information, go to the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation website.
Much discussion is going on in genealogical circles regarding DNA and how it can be used in proving lineages. At first many were suspect of this new approach to genealogy. Part of this was because it is new. Part was because people didn’t understand how it works. Also some have had concerns regarding privacy issues. Also, many have trouble interpreting the results. But all in all, using DNA as an aid to studying genealogy is a GOOD thing, and it works, because it is a proven scientific procedure.
According to mongabay.com, the HARRIS surname ranked as the 15th most common surname in the U.S. as surveyed in the 1990 Census (behind Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown, Davis, Miller, Wilson, Moore, Taylor, Anderson, Thomas, Jackson, and White).
In the 2000 Census (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), the 25 most common surnames in rank are: Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones, Miller, Davis, Garcia, Rodriguez, Wilson, Martinez, Anderson, Taylor, Thomas, Hernandez, Moore, Martin, Jackson, Thompson, White, Lopez, Lee, Gonzalez, Harris, and Clark. Harris ranks as the 24th most common surname in the United States.
Because HARRIS is one of the most common surnames in the world, it is vitally important to study the DNA samples of certain Harris family members to show a definite kinship whenever the links become shaky. There are several ways that DNA studies are being promoted in the HARRIS family and in other families.
In checking on the Family Tree DNA web site and other places on the internet, it appears that the Harris DNA Study is one of the largest and most organized Surname DNA studies being conducted. It includes participants from the U.S. and other countries. Hats off to all those who have submitted DNA or posted information to aid in this study!
In checking the internet a found an interesting site on the World Families Network which lists DNA studies with more than 50 participants at Bill Davenports Summary of Surname Projects: “Over 50 List”.
The World Families Network also has a forum for posing DNA-related questions of all types. It is called WFN Forum. There are related boards on a number of different topics divided by surname, general discussion, Y-Haplogroups, Mitochondrial DNA, etc. Some pedigrees of various families are included on this forum. You may also do keyword searches of all postings.
In addition to Family Tree DNA, there are a number of other companies who are doing DNA testing for genealogical purposes. One of these is Oxford Ancestors, located in Great Britain. They offer testing up through 43 markers. They also offer a number of genealogy forums, including one on their Y-Chomosome Database and ones on the Seven Daughters of Eve. Currently there are 5 Harris DNA kits which have been processed through Oxford Ancestors. DNA submitters with Oxford Ancestors have access to their online Y-chromosome database. Guest users only have access to a limited amount of information. One of these customers descends from a Harris in Denmark.
Another good source for DNA studies is Ybase: Genealogy by Numbers which allows searches by haplotype, surname, etc. It also includes a database that is searchable by up to 49 Y-chromosome markers. There are also several Ybase forums accessible through this site. These are organized by surname, by geographic locations, and by general topics relating to DNA.
Currently there are 9 DNA tests (with Y-DNA results listed) for the HARRIS surname listed on the Ybase website. These test results are supplied through DNA Heritage, but it appears that these all match up with DNA kits that were submitted to Family Tree DNA, as a search shows no Harris surname project at the DNA Heritage site. (DNA Heritage also offers 43-marker Y-DNA testing.) Here is a synopsis of some of the kits listed:
HARRIS ID #60C4C. This kit #is for a descendant of Charles Creed Harris (1878-1929) of Patrick Co., Virginia. It is a 25-marker test connected with the R1b haplogroup. This is the same as Kit #2461 listed on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page. See Lineage #U2 in the Unknown Lineages listed at the end of the groupings for more on the family of Charles Creed Harris (1878-1929).
HARRIS ID #YQ8BP. This kit #is for a descendant of James Douglas Harris (b. ca. 1868), whose family lived in Maryland and Illinois. It is a 23-marker test (not sure why 2 more markers are not reported), but no haplogroup is listed.
HARRIS ID #J1KLW. This kit #is for a descendant of Abraham Harris (d. 1863) of New Jersey and Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania. It is a 25-marker test connected with the I (HG2) haplogroup. See DNA Kit #12065 listed under the unmatched kits on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page.
HARRIS ID #WT7IV. This kit #is for a descendant of Joseph Harris (b. ca. 1766). It is a 37-marker test connected with the R1b haplogroup. See DNA Kit #20600 listed under Group 9 on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page.
HARRIS ID #KBGP4. This kit #is for a descendant of Elijah Harris (b. ca. 1800-ca. 1875) of North Carolina. It is a 37-marker test connected with the R1b haplogroup. See DNA Kit #12922 listed under the unmatched kits on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page.
HARRIS ID #RWYA6. This kit #is for a descendant of Sergeant John Harris (ca. 1588-ca. 1638) of Charles City Co., Virginia. It is a 37-marker test connected with the I haplogroup. The Y-DNA results for this kit would place this kit in Group 4 or Group 12 of the Harris DNA Study.
HARRIS ID #JF7NR. This kit #is for a descendant of Sergeant John Harris (ca. 1588-ca. 1638) of Charles City Co., Virginia. It is a 12-marker test connected with the I haplogroup. The Y-DNA results for this kit would place this kit in Group 4 or Group 12 of the Harris DNA Study.
HARRIS ID #IEGN9. This kit #is for a descendant of Israel Harris (b. ca. 1800-ca. 1859) of Bedford, Bedford Co., Tennessee. It is a 25-marker test, but no haplogroup is listed.
HARRIS ID #P1SZV. This kit #is for a descendant of Joel Harris (1728-1750) of Virginia. It is a 25-marker test connected with the I haplogroup.
One way to stay in touch with what is happening regarding Harris DNA, is to subscribe to the HARRIS-DNA list which is a mailing list on Rootsweb.com for participants in the Harris DNA Study.
To subscribe send "subscribe" to
harris-dna-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or
harris-dna-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode)
There is also a mailing list that specifically deals with DNA studies of all family surnames:
It is called: Genealogy-DNA-L
To subscribe send "subscribe" to
genealogy-dna-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or
genealogy-dna-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode)
In addition to the HARRIS-DNA list on Rootsweb.com, special e-mail lists have been established on Yahoo! Groups for a few of the DNA groupings on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page which appear to trace back to a common ancestor.
The Yahoo! Groups are a combination of mailing lists with other features such as photo and database storage, polling, etc.
NOTE: When you sign up for Yahoo groups to get a user name and password, one of the things that is requested is your date of birth, to be used only to identify you in case you forget your password and they have to send it to you. You do not need to give a real date of birth; just remember whatever date you provide. This advice also applies to any security question you are ever asked, including postal code, mother's maiden name, etc. You can always use fictitious information as long as you make a note of it and can remember it (which that can be hard sometimes).
To view the group home page of each of these Harris Yahoo! Groups and to learn how to subscribe to one of these groups, go to the following pages which relate to Groups 4, 6, 8, 9, and 12 of the Harris-Y-DNA Project:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/harrisline [Group 4]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crispincousins [Group 4]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisGroup6
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisGroup8
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisGroup9
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisGroup12
Currently there is a Harris Surname DNA study being conducted through Family Tree DNA, one of the best and most reputable companies that is doing DNA studies for families. If you will go to their web page, they can probably answer many of the basic questions you might have on DNA testing:
There are now more than 100 people who have submitted DNA for the HARRIS surname. An introductory page for the Harris DNA study (along with an order form for submitting DNA to Harris DNA project) can be found here:
There is a group rate for joining (submitting DNA) to the Harris Project. Currently, the prices of testing are $99 group rate (normally $149) for 12 markers; $148 group rate for 25 markers; $189 group rate (normally $259) for the 37-marker test; and $269 group rate (normally $349) for the 67-marker test. Some companies in Great Britain are also doing a 43-marker test. The higher resolution tests are more useful to help to reduce the number of generations between you and a potential match.
You may contact the 4 administrators of the Harris Group study (private individuals who do not work for Family Tree DNA, but who maintain a web page and can answer questions you may have) by clicking on this address: Darlene, Jeff, Craig, and Glenn
To participate in the Harris DNA Project, you must be male and have the Harris (or a variant spelling of the) surname. The Y-chromosone is passed exclusively from father to son through each generation and only rarely mutates after several generations. The more people with known lineages who participate, the more useful the results will be. An introduction to the Harris-Y-DNA Project can be found here: Welcome to the Harris Y-DNA Project
The Harris Group Administrators have set up a page to help see the DNA markers as they relate to various lines. All kits submitted are shown on this chart, which covers 12, 25, and 37 marker tests:
For those kits submitted where there is a definite or close match of the DNA, these results have been grouped together to show kinship. Also, when the earliest given ancestor is shown, if you put your cursor over the name, you will see their birth and death dates. Then if you click on numbers to the left of the names shown (if they are hyperlinked), then you can see the full or partial lineage that goes from the DNA submitter back to the earliest listed ancestor. This chart is a wonderful tool to help people understand and interpret the results given. THANK YOU Craig and the other administrators for all your work to list and update the information on the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS PAGE! (And thanks to all Harris descendants who have helped me to chart out these various family lines.)
If you are having trouble understanding the results from a particular Y-DNA testing, here is a page with some answers:
Understanding Your Results: Are We Related?
There are a few individuals who would be willing to submit a sample of the DNA if they had the money available. Currently Family Tree DNA has a link for the general fund if someone is willing to contribute money to help fund someone else’s DNA test. If you specify “Harris DNA project” it would be credited to that project. Use the following link and specify the surname for your donation. You may also specify one certain person to receive the donation to be used for their DNA testing. The site is: Contributing to the General Fund
In addition to all the testing done at Family Tree DNA for the HARRIS Surname of which we are a part of, there is a second Harris Surname Project being conducted by Family Tree DNA which is centered around another group of Harrises. In checking with the administrator for this group, the reason for this separate group was to have a small group of HARRIS family members tested to find out how much Native American blood was in them. It appears that they still did Y-DNA testing, so it would be helpful to have their test results. 5 family members of this one Harris group have each submitted DNA samples.
To find this second Harris group at Family Tree DNA, go to this link: HARRIS-2 Y-DNA Study
There is also a Harris-Calvert DNA Study being conducted by Family Tree DNA which revolves around a group of Harrises that descend from family members whose name may have originally been CALVERT, as some of the names in early records are shown as “Calvert alias Harris,” “Calvert alias Harrison,” “Harris alias Calvert,” and “Harrison alias Calvert.” This seems to indicate that at least one family member of this group had more than one set of parents. The child could have been illegitimate, orphaned, or assumed a stepfather’s last name, etc. In some records the surname is given as CALVERT and other places it is listed as HARRIS or HARRISON. (From my study of this family, it appears there were 3 brothers, Thomas, George, and Burr Calvert, sons of John Calvert (ca. 1692-1731) of early Virginia. Their mother was Jane HARRISON. It appears that this family should trace back to either the Calverts or to the Harrisons, rather than a Harris line.) However, with DNA testing it is possible that this riddle may be solved once and for all. If a strong match can be found with a HARRIS, HARRISON, or CALVERT. That should end the questions about the origins of this family.
At least one Harris from this Harris-Calvert group is listed in Group 3A of the Harris Y-DNA Results Page. This is DNA Kit #9703 for the family of Burr Calvert/Harris (ca. 1728-1787).
Currently there 41 participants in the Calvert DNA Study. This group also has a website: Calvert DNA Group Study.
To find the main site for the Harris-Calvert group at Family Tree DNA, go to this link: CALVERT (and variants) Surname Y-DNA Study
This group also has a web site found here: Calvert DNA Group Study
Project Coordinators are Beth Calvert and David Edwin Bell.
Another place to look for information on this Harris/Harrison-Calvert connection is the HARRISON DNA Project.
Here is a listing of each of the groups shown on the Harris Y-DNA Results Page. Actual lineage charts and an introduction are included with each section.
Glenn Gohr's Harris DNA Page Harris DNA—Group 1 Harris DNA—Group 2 Harris DNA—Group 3 Harris DNA—Group 4 Harris DNA—Group 5 Harris DNA—Group 6 Harris DNA—Group 7 Harris DNA—Group 8 Harris DNA—Group 9 Harris DNA—Group 10 Harris DNA—Group 11 Harris DNA—Group 12 Harris DNA—Group 13 Harris DNA—Group 14 Harris DNA—Group 15 Harris DNA—Group 16 Harris DNA—Group 17 Harris DNA—Group 18 Harris DNA—Group 19 Harris DNA—Group 20 Harris DNA—Group 21 Harris DNA—Group 22 Harris DNA—Group 23 Harris DNA—Group 24 Harris DNA—Group 25 Harris DNA—Group 26 Harris DNA—Group 27 Harris DNA—Group 28 Harris DNA—Group 29 Harris DNA—Group 30 Harris DNA—Group 31 Harris DNA—Group 32 Harris DNA—Unmatched Kits Harris DNA—Ybase Kits Harris DNA—Y-DNA Kits
My main interest in studying Harris DNA is to try to show the interconnections of several lines that tie back to early Harrises in Virginia. But because there could be a tie-in back in England (or even an unknown connection here in the U.S.), I have attempted to show the interconnections of all the Harris lineages that have been grouped together (because of matching or similar DNA markers) in Groups 1-29 as shown on the Harris Y-DNA Results Page. I have also mapped out the lineages of some of the Unmatched Kits because they may possibly match up with some of the other lineages shown.
#U1 is the line of George Harris (ca. 1750-1824) of Warren Co., Kentucky. He was believed to trace back to Capt. Thomas Harris of Jamestown, VA (Group 8), however through DNA study, it was learned that this line does not connect.
#U2 is the line of Charles Creed Harris (1879-1929) of Patrick Co., Virginia, son of an Elizabeth Harris and an unknown father. The male line of this Harris family ends here, but Elizabeth Harris’s line going back to William Harris (ca. 1735-ca. 1796) of Buckingham and Patrick Co., Virginia, ties in with Group 10.
#U3 is the family of Beverly Harris (ca. 1763-1849) of Rutherford Co., Tennessee. He is believed to be the son of David Harris and grandson of Robert Harris (ca. 1710-ca. 1785). It is possible this line could tie in to Group 6, although this is only a 12-marker test.
#U4 is the family of Benjamin Franklin Harris (ca. 1822-1857) of Buchanan Co., Missouri. Reportedly this is the same line as Lineage #U5, however the DNA does not match.
#U5 is the family of Benjamin Franklin Harris (ca. 1822-1857) of Buchanan Co., Missouri. Reportedly this is the same line as Lineage #U4, however the DNA does not match.
#U6 is the line of John Harris (ca. 1700-aft. 1775) of Prince George’s Co., Maryland. This line was thought to tie into the line of Sergeant John Harris (ca. 1588-ca. 1638) of Charles City Co., VA, but the DNA does not match.
#U7 is the line of Thomas Harris (1717-ca. 1774) of Gravesend, Kent Co., England. With a good paper trail, it seems likely that this family could tie in to Groups 6, 8, or 12. The connection would have to be in England prior to 1600.
#U8 is the family of Robert Cornelius “R. C.” Harris (ca. 1820-ca. 1884) of Red River Co., Texas. Reportedly the DNA of this line matches with that of Kit #N5966, but these appear to be 2 totally separate lines.
*This same basic information on each of these lines—along with some added close relatives of each of these lines—can also be found on a page I have set up on Rootsweb’s WorldConnect site: Some Early Harrises And Possible DNA Connections
As time permits, I have been attempting to incorporate lineages from all the groups of Harrises on the Harris DNA page. Quite a few of the lineages originate in early Virginia (which is my main interest), as well as some Harrises in Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina, who could easily have crossed paths with the Virginia Harrises which have been charted. Others are found in England and Australia, Canada, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, New England, etc.
This information on my webpage, including the charted lineages, is intended to augment or supplement what Craig Harris has mapped out on the official Harris-Y-DNA Results page. Disclaimer: Please view this information as a tool and not as proven fact (even when supported by DNA samples). I have gleaned this information from a number of different sources (some may be inaccurate). Sources for these lineages include the Harris Y-DNA Results Page, Rootsweb’s WorldConnect Project, the LDS FamilySearch.org, messages posted to the Harris-DNA list on Rootsweb as well as other Harris lists and message boards on Rootsweb, various web sites, personal e-mails, and published family history books and articles. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me at the following link: Contact Glenn Gohr
Also remember, that even with oral history, a good paper trail, and matching DNA markers, the matches are not 100 percent conclusive. One of the best-known DNA studies so far is the example of President Thomas Jefferson and his reported mistress, Sally Hemings. Oral history supports that he fathered children with Sally Hemings, but because of the situation, little if any paper evidence can be found to prove that he was the father. With the assistance of DNA testing, the best conclusion was that the children were fathered either by President Thomas Jefferson or by a very close relative of his (brother, uncle, nephew, etc.). Evidence and tradition, backed by DNA testing, would lead us to the conclusion that Thomas Jefferson is the father as has always been reported. But the DNA results are not 100 percent provable (as another close family member could also have been the father and had the same results with DNA testing). So DNA testing is a well-defined science, that can assist in proving lineages (or disproving them), but they cannot prove beyond a shadow of a doubt. The same criteria used in establishing the Thomas Jefferson-Sally Hemings link can be applied to each of the Y-DNA Results charted out on the Harris-DNA shown on this page and on the harrisdna.org pages.What is needed to better prove out the results shown by the DNA testing is a better paper trail of records—death certificates, census records, Bible records, wills, land deeds, and family records recorded in other primary documents. If the paper trail is not accurate, then someone could easily misinterpret the DNA results. The DNA results are helpful to either prove or disprove a given lineage back to a common ancestor. If the DNA markers match, then there is strong evidence of a given lineage. If the markers do not match, then research needs to be done elsewhere.
This is an unofficial working file to try to show kinship of various groups of Harrises in the U.S., Canada, England, Australia, etc. that have sent DNA samples to the Harris Y-DNA Project. Names with * are not proved as children of the previous generation. Use this listing for research clues and not necessarily as fact, as some lines are not well documented. Living descendants not listed. There are at least two good ways to search these files:
1) Once the page comes up, then in the box given, type in a name of interest, such as: HARRIS, THOMAS
Then click the box that says LIST
Then go several names down the list to where it says HARRIS, THOMAS <8> b. ABT 1586 d. 1658
Click on that entry. It will give you the birth, marriage, etc. for Capt. Thomas Harris of Jamestown, VA who is listed in Group 8 of the Harris Surname Y-DNA Project.
Then at the bottom of this page, click DESCENDANCY. It will list all known descendants of Capt. Thomas Harris for 10 generations in chart form. Each line of DNA is marked from father to son down several generations. <8-#35835> is one line down through William Harris (grandson of Capt. Thomas Harris). <8-#8991> is another line, etc.
The same procedures above can be used to find Thomas Harris of Isle of Wight Co., VA (ca. 1636-ca. 1688) and his descendants, Britton H. Harris, Graves Harris, Samuel Harris, or any of the other names of interest. Feel free to click on various links on this site to better see the individuals listed, their personal information, and their connections.
2) One other way to view the various DNA lineage charts on this site is to type in the DNA Kit number. Go to the main site for Rootweb’s WorldConnect Project Global Search . In the GIVEN NAME field, type in the Kit number, such as 8991, 35835, etc. This will list all person’s in the direct line which has been DNA tested for that specific kit number. If you go to the earliest ancestor (by determining the earliest dates listed), then you can double click on that name, and then on the personal page for the person, at the bottom of that page, click DESCENDANCY. It will list all known descendants of the earliest known ancestor for the tested line for 10 generations in chart form. Each line of DNA is marked from father to son down several generations, with the kit numbers included in the direct line.
. For any questionable generations, the names are preceded by an asterisk *.
Another good page that relates to Harris DNA is: Gregg Bonner’s HARRIS Family Page.
Here is a listing of some other Y-DNA Surname Projects and DNA Pages on the Internet. Double click on the names to view the URL addresses:
Chris Pomery’s List of Y-Chromosome DNA Studies being undertaken by Family Historians
Family Tree DNA Surname Projects
Ancestry by DNA (find geographic origins)
DNA Information & Resources Page
Jefferson – Hemings DNA Project
Sorenson Molecular Genealogy (Free DNA Test)
YBASE (Match your DNA to others in this database)
The following comes from Family Tree DNA and was sent along with one of those notices of another perfect match with a complete stranger bearing a different surname...
I honestly think this clears up quite a bit, though this is a lengthy explanation, because the subject can become quite mundane and over-drawn if given to uninformed translation...Read On:
“Just as there are surnames which are very common, (such as Smith and Jones), and surnames which are uncommon, there are Haplotypes (a set of results that characterize you on the Y-Chromosome) with a high frequency of occurrence (aka common), and Haplotypes with a low frequency of occurrence (aka uncommon). The 12 Marker result from the Y-chromosome test is called a Haplotype, and can help determine if your DNA sample is common or uncommon.
“When you compare a 12 Marker result to another 12 marker result of someone with the SAME surname, and the results match 12/12, there is a 99% probability that you two are related within the time frame included in the MRCA tables. If the match is 11/12, there's still a high probability that you are related IF the 11/12 match is within the same surname. If you compare a 25 Marker result to another 25 marker result for the SAME surname, and the results match 25/25, then there is also a 99% confidence that the two individuals are related…and at a much closer time interval then with the 12 marker test.
“If you compare the 12 marker result to someone else who does not have the same surname, but the scores match, you are most likely NOT recently related. When we use the term recently related, we are talking about a time frame within the last 1000 years or 40 generations, a time depth that accommodates the earliest known use of surnames.
“According to current theories, we are all related. The degree of relatedness depends on the time frame, or the number generations between the participants and the common ancestor.
“We all descend from one single person, but of course the DNA test that we do is not to tell us this obvious fact.
“Since we all descend from one person, and then from a few families, and as times goes by those families keep branching out up to the point where we get to our own family nest, it would be natural that when we check our DNA, the less markers we check, the less unique they are, and the more markers we test, the more unique the whole string of markers is. In other words, to go to extremes, if we tested only one marker, we would most certainly match with millions of individuals that shared that marker for thousands of years. But if on the other hand when we test many markers, we will match very very few people that share those same markers. Those would be the ones that are closely related to us.
“This is valid when checking our matches on 12, 25 or 37 markers. The likelihood that we will match other individuals with 12 markers is far greater than matching on 25 or 37. Especially if our family descends from a populational group that came from one or a few prolific families thousands of years ago (which is the case for Western Europe). Dr. Luigi Lucca Cavalli-Sforza, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University, in his fascinating book: The Great Human Diasporas: The History of Diversity and Evolutions says that the total population of Europe was 60,000 people at the end of the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago. Now Europe has a population of 300 million people. This increase is almost entirely due to a natural increase in population rather then immigration from other continents. Keeping this in mind it is reasonable that many people alive today in Europe will match with other Europeans from BEFORE the time that our ancestors began the adoption of surnames, and when you match someone who has a different surname your first thought should be that the ‘connection’ is distant rather then recent.
“Our bodies work as copy machines when it comes to the Y-DNA. You can have a copy machine doing 1,000 copies without a problem, and then, the 1,001 copy may have an "o" that looks more like an "e". And when we use this copy to make additional ones, all the new ones will now have an "e" instead of an "o". This is a simple way to explain how variances occur in our Y-DNA when it's transferred (copied) from father to son. Variances don't happen frequently, on the contrary, very seldom, but they can happen randomly in time, which means that I could be one variance off of my father. That is why all those matches or close matches on 12 markers will in most of the cases go away when they happen between different surnames, and we increased the numbered of markers that are compared: more variances showing up, which means way back in time when the common ancestor lived.
“The only exceptions to this are if an unannounced adoption or false paternity has taken place, but that is difficult to prove, although certainly not impossible.
“If two 12 marker results match for two participants with the same surname, and the genealogy research shows a common ancestor in 1835, the DNA test has validated the research and proven that the two descendents are related. In this example, you have two items of evidence to support that the individuals tested are related…a documented paper trail and the DNA results. In addition, the research provided a precise time frame for the common ancestor.
“Without the genealogy research, and where 2 participants with the same surname match on the 12 marker test, then the scientific answer to the degree of relatedness is that 50% of the time the common ancestor would have occurred within 7 generations, or within approximately 150 years. The range of generations for the common ancestor extends to 76.9 generations, or almost 2000 years for those cases where there is not a surname in common. Therefore the importance of a surname link is paramount to provide a comfortable conclusion of relatedness. Most of the time random matches with people with different surnames do not stand the test for extended DNA testing.
“While the MRCA tables will give you the general probabilities for relationships on different levels of matching, the FTDNATiP found in your personal matches page will give you probabilities that are specific to others that you may be related.”
Send comments to Glenn Gohr
Understanding Matches
Copyright © 2003-2009.
Downloading and printing for personal use is allowed. But copying onto a webpage or printing or distributing this information in part or in whole without permission of the copyright owner is a violation of copyright laws.
Last updated March 1, 2009.
Glenn Gohr's Introduction to the Harris Y-DNA Project
Harris DNA—Group 1
Harris DNA—Group 2
Harris DNA—Group 3
Harris DNA—Group 4
Harris DNA—Group 5
Harris DNA—Group 6
Harris DNA—Group 7
Harris DNA—Group 8
Harris DNA—Group 9
Harris DNA—Group 10
Harris DNA—Group 11
Harris DNA—Group 12
Harris DNA—Group 13
Harris DNA—Group 14
Harris DNA—Group 15
Harris DNA—Group 16
Harris DNA—Group 17
Harris DNA—Group 18
Harris DNA—Group 19
Harris DNA—Group 20
Harris DNA—Group 21
Harris DNA—Group 22
Harris DNA—Group 23
Harris DNA—Group 24
Harris DNA—Group 25
Harris DNA—Group 26
Harris DNA—Group 27
Harris DNA—Group 28
Harris DNA—Group 29
Harris DNA—Group 30
Harris DNA—Group 31
Harris DNA—Group 32
Harris DNA—Unmatched Kits
Harris DNA—Ybase Kits
Harris DNA—Y-DNA Kits
Go to Family Tree DNA
Go to the Harris DNA Study
Go to an Introduction to the Harris Y-DNA Project
Go to the HARRIS Y-DNA RESULTS Page
Go to “Some Early Harrises And Possible DNA Connections” on WorldConnect
Go to “Harris Genealogy from Henrico Co. and Prince Edward Co., VA and Marshall Co. and McNairy Co., TN to TX, OK, CO, etc.” Database on WorldConnect
Glenn Gohr's HARRIS/HARRIES/HERRIES/HARRISS GENEALOGY Page
The Harris Miscellany Page
The Harris Family Reunions Page
The Will of Thomas Harris of Creeksea, County Essex, England, 1617
Glenn Gohr's Genealogy Page