WOODRUFF DNA Project
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Below is a table showing the Y-DNA test results for members of the Woodruff DNA Project. The table is organized into major lineage groups with known Woodruff patriachs or with known geographic origins. These lineage groups are numbered using roman numerals which are shown in the first column of the header line for each lineage group in the table. The Woodruff patriarch for each lineage group is shown in the Lineage Founder column of the header line. For the purposes of this project, a patriarch is usually an immigrant or other recognized head of a Woodruff ancestral line. However, sometimes a patriarch for a lineage group is not known yet or the lineage can only be narrowed down to a particular geographic region. In these cases, the patriarch will be identified as a Woodruff family from a general time period and geographical area. The known ancestry and DNA results of some members may make it hard to place them in any lineage group. These members will be classified as Ungrouped until more can be found out about their ancestry or until they match closely enough with someone from a known Woodruff lineage.
A major goal of this project is to use DNA testing to develop Y-DNA marker profiles for each of the various Woodruff lineages from around the world and to connect each member through their test results to one of these lineages. As more members join the project and more test results are gathered, new lineages will be added and existing lineages may merge. Woodruff lines that were previously considered unrelated may be discovered to be closely related—and vice versa. Woodruff families that have hitherto been unable to connect with any other known Woodruff line, may be able to do so with DNA testing or perhaps even establish a new Woodruff lineage to be investigated. When enough haplotypes—a haplotype is simply the entire set of test results for a particular person—for a particular lineage are collected, the modal haplotype for that lineage can be determined and will appear on the lineage header line in the table. This modal haplotype is the likely haplotype of the patriarch of the lineage. Specific branches of a lineage may show small differences from the lineage's modal haplotype and thus establish a unique profile for that branch which will be noted in the results table.
In the results table below, each project member's assigned ID is in the first column. In the Lineage Founder and Descendancy column is the name of each linegage's earliest known ancestor (if known) and descendancy info for each member from that ancestor. The estimated (or Y-SNP determined) haplogroup of the member is in the next column followed by all of the member's marker results (see below for marker color codings). If a marker field contains a p, it means that testing has been ordered for that marker and results are pending. After all the marker results, the Member ID and Earliest Known Ancestor and Descendancy columns are repeated followed by the general migration pattern for the member's line. Next, the Haplogroup column is repeated and then there is a column showing any Y-SNP results for the member that verify the haplogroup assignment. This is followed by the company that performed the testing and the kit number or other identifier for the test. Next are the IDs and links to any online databases where the member's results are also posted. Finally, the contact information, if available, for the member is listed.
Marker Column Heading Text Color Coding by Mutation Rate
| Rate Type | Header Text Color | Approximate Mutation Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast | Red | greater than 0.5% | (or classified as fast by FTDNA) |
| Medium | Green | between 0.2% and 0.5% | |
| Slow | Black | between 0.05% and 0.2% | |
| Very Slow | Gray | less than 0.05% |
Marker Value Text Color Coding by Allele Frequency within Haplogroup R1a
| Frequency Type | Value Text Color | Approximate Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Rare | Red | from 0% to 2% |
| Infrequent | Dark Red | from 3% to 8% |
| Uncommon | Purple | from 9% to 14% |
| Under 20% | Blue | from 15% to 20% |
| Over 20% | Black | 20+% |
Marker Cell Shade Color Coding by Mutation Steps from Lineage Modal (in Yellow rows)
| ← | -4 | -3 | -2 | -1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +4 | → |
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Below are analyses of the test results for each of the lineages represented in the project. As more members join the project and more haplotype data is obtained for each lineage, more detailed analysis will be possible. Genealogical information on each lineage and for members of the project can be found on the Ancestral Lines page.
The test results so far for this lineage come from the lines of Wilford Woodruff (descendant of Matthew's son John), Ezekiel Woodruff (descendant of Matthew's son Matthew Jr.), and Wooster B. Woodruff. Wooster's connection to Matthew Woodruff was proven through DNA testing but his exact descendancy from Matthew is not yet established. We can now begin to build a modal haplotype for Matthew Woodruff and his descendants. The estimated haplogroup of R1b indicates a western European origin. Y-SNP testing of males from this line could further pinpoint the geographic origin of this line.
So far, we have test results from three lines of this lineage of Woodruffs. Although all three lines have brickwalls that stop short of identifying the specific Woodruff family from which they descend, at least two of them (Fielding Woodruff and Howell S. Woodruff) have strong circumstancial evidence indicating they go back to Richard Woodroof and the Woodroof/Woodruffs of early Surry, Brunswick, and Greensville Counties, Virginia. The third line of George Woodruff of Georgia also likely goes back to these same Woodruffs, but may go back to the lines of one of Richard's probable brothers, George Woodroof/Woodruff of Spotsylvania Co, VA and David Woodroof/Woodruff of Albemarle Co, VA. Very close matches between these Woodruff testees and some Davenport and Overton testees indicates a likely connection to George Woodruff of early Spotsylvania and King William Counties, Virginia. The nature of these matches and how they came about is still being investigated. It has been surmised that George Woodruff of Spotsylvania-King William was a brother or cousin to Richard Woodroof/Woodruff of Surry-Brunswick-Greensville. The estimated haplogroup of R1b1b2 (formerly R1b1c) for testees in this group indicates a western European origin.
Test results for the three testees establish this as the lineage of John Woodruff (the Immigrant) who immigrated to America around 1639 and settled at Southampton, LI, NY. This lineage is also known as the Long Island Woodruffs. Member W016 has a solid lineage back to John "the Immigrant" Woodruff through his son, John "The Younger Brother" Woodruff. The lineage of member W013 whose 7-generation pedigree appears at the SMGF web site shows ancestry back to Samuel Woodruff (b. 1793, NC, d. 1863, GA). Samuel's lineage is shown in other databases to go back to the immigrant John Woodruff. The ancestry of James Woodruff (b. ca 1780, SC) is uncertain but W010's results confirm that he, and probably all the Spartanburg, SC Woodruffs, go back to John "the Immigrant" and the Long Island Woodruffs. The estimated haplogroup of R1b1b2 (formerly R1b1c) indicates a western European origin.
There is only one test result so far for this lineage so more testing will be needed to determine a modal haplotype. Daniel Woodruff could be a descendant of the Long Island, New York Woodruffs. The estimated haplogroup of I1a indicates a northern European origin for this lineage—specifically, the I1a-AS variety indicating Anglo-Saxon origin. This line of Woodruffs may trace back to the Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries.