Some of you will already know that all those who tested BigY will have been assigned their specific branch on the tree of mankind. Which branch is automatically updated as more tests are done and new branches created. BigY is the test that keeps on giving.
The recent Discover tool introduced by FamilyTreeDNA gives you information on your individual branch, along with a Time tree.
More recently FTDNA have also now provided the time tree information for a whole project, here's the Fairbairn project group time tree, a selection from which, for the Scottish Borders Fairbairn families is shown below.
yDNA branch snapshots over time can be found on the Guild of One Name Studies Fairbairn project webpages here.
The December 2022 snapshot of the different branches now tested, has been annotated with both the Discover timeframes at both the 95 and 68% certainty levels, and with the earliest known genealogy within the group (ie not necessarily the common ancestor for all in the branch).
You can select which branches to display by the project subgrouping assigned by the project admin.
The bulk of the Fairbairn BigY testers can be found under haplogroup I-BY21384
The earliest known ancestor shown on each branch here, is that the tester has entered on their test under their profile > Account Settings > Genealogy > Earliest Known Ancestors
Please check that you have completed this section - DO NOT GUESS. The key word here is known.
This information is also that shown on your public results on the y DNA results page.
If a padlock appears on the Discover group tree, the tester has chosen not to make their results public.
Check your settings under profile > Account Settings > Privacy and Sharing.
The recommended settings are Y-DNA match level > All Levels and
Match Preference summary to select all to be shared.
You can chose NOT to be notified of the smaller matches under Notification preferences.
There may be subsidised yDNA testing available for selected Fairbairn lines.
Contact the Fairbairn Surname DNA project administrator with the details of the direct male line concerned to enquire.
We recommend starting at y37 to test the water first and if results are as expected, do recommend saving the pennies, pooling funds with family members, and testing BigY to both contribute to your and science's knowledge of connections.
Most of the links below take you to WikiTree - all help in documenting descendants welcome.
It is a free, collaborative tree, great privacy controls for the living, and very DNA friendly.
Whatever test you have taken, IF you are comfortable being in an online tree, connected to your ancestors, then join WikiTree, input enough of your family to connect up to any already there, and show what DNA tests you have taken.
Regardless of any DNA tests, why not help the Fairbairn project by expanding your line down at least a little bit towards present day?
One of the goals for the Fairbairn DNA project for this year (2023) is to further clarify the DNA groups for the Cockburnspath line down from George Fairbairn (married Christian Bookles).
Our sole yDNA tested representative for this line is a descendant of James Fairbairn b. 1793 (married Jean Anderson) and son of John (married Grizel Johnston).
Here's the list of yDNA descendants for John currently on WikiTree - quite a gap down to present day and a mere drop in the ocean of the actual descendants!
The Fairbairn Surname DNA project is currently looking for direct male line descendants down from any of James' brothers to validate the DNA signature back as far as John for starters.
- David b. 1787 (married Alison Anderson)
- Walter b. 1802
are currently the only two descendants connected to John on WikiTree.
You can help.
The project has a y37 DNA test available for a suitable candidate, with the possibility of an upgrade should the results be as hoped.
Contact the Fairbairn Surname DNA project administrator with the details of the direct male line concerned to enquire.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Do keep an eye on the Guild of One Name Studies Histories section where snapshots of revisions to the yDNA BigY DNA grouping results are posted every so often, the latest being as at Dec 2022.
We are gradually increasing our knowledge of which lines are more closely related.
Any Fairbairn who has DNA tested is welcome to join the FamilyTreeDNA Fairbairn Surname Project.
You can upload your test from Ancestry, MyHeritage, 23andme into FamilyTreeDNA for free. There is a small one-off free to unlock the additional tools beyond the match lists and contact info, such as FamilyMatching to split your matches by "side", the chromosome browser ++.
If you are a direct male line descendant, please use the contact details for the project to ask the admin (me, Lorna) whether or not your line is already represented with a yDNA test, or needs another to confirm the DNA signature. Subsidies may exist, depending on the answer to this!
Start at y37 to get a toe in the water and see who all pops up as matches.
Enjoy the journey
