The “Big Y”
test is the most extensive Y-chromosome test that you can buy for genealogical
research. Big Y measures 500 individual
locations on the Y-chromosome, so only men can take it, and the results can
allow families to be grouped together based on the results. The map of the
human Y chromosome is like a big tree, with the trunk branching into limbs,
limbs into branches and branches into twigs.
If you want to learn more about the Big Y, check out this explanation.
Once you understand the Big Y, you have to decide whether it can provide
genealogical information of interest to you.
A good explanation of why you might want to take the Big Y test is here.
Our Skaggs
correspondent who took the Big Y found some very interesting results:
- His Y-haplogroup matched other Skaggs test-takers who are descendants of the Long Hunters
- These Skaggs test-takers who are descendants of Old Peter and the Long Hunters comprised a new and unique Y-haplogroup subset on the human genome, in other words they were a new and unique “twig” on the Y-chromosome tree for humanity
- The Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) for this group of Skaggs test-takers was estimated to be about 325 years ago, e.g. about 1693
- The branch that these Skaggs branched from about 475 years ago contains members of the Keig family from the Isle of Man
Given what we know now, and since only a few
Skaggs that have tested with the Big Y, we can only speculate, but it appears likely
that:
- The Skaggs family of the Old Peter and Long Hunter lines and the Keig family of the Isle of Man came from the same paternal line
- The Skaggs split into their own Y-haplogroup about 475 years ago
- The Keigs of the Isle of Man believe that their ancestral paternal line used the name Skeigs in the past, so perhaps Skeigs became Skaggs over time
- The Long Hunter Skaggs and Old Peter’s descendants had a common ancestor around 1690, so perhaps James Skaggs, the father of the Long Hunters, and Richard Scaggs, Jr., who died in Maryland in 1725, were brothers
- The Keigs believe their ancestors were Vikings who settled the Northern end of the Isle of Man about 1000 years ago, so the Skaggs surname is likely of Viking background
I'm calling out to see if we could get more men with
the surname Skaggs, Scaggs, and Skeggs to take the Big Y DNA test. More test results would:
- Allow us to determine which Skaggs family groups are related to one another, e.g. the Long Hunters related to the Maryland Eastern Shore Scaggs
- Give us a better estimate of our Most Recent Common Ancestor
- Confirm that Skaggs are descendants of the Viking Skeigs from the Isle of Man
Big Y is offered by the Family Tree DNA testing
company only, and I know its price is high at $649, however there are a couple of ways
to reduce the cost:
- If you have previously taken one of the other Y-chromosome tests at FTDNA, e.g. Y-37, you can upgrade to Big Y at a reduced price
- FTDNA occasionally has sales on Big Y and they are usually worth waiting for
It's still early, but we may be on the verge of determining the European origin of the Skaggs family.
Hi Mr Er,
ReplyDeleteChris Keig here, Skaggs DNA project admin. I was sent your article and enjoyed reading it.
A few things to clarify:
1) The Skaggs must be of Manx origin. This is based upon them genetically matching three Manx families, the Keigs, Oates & Caines. The Skaggs and Keigs come from a common ancestor. Next the Skeigs, as I like to call us & the Oates share a common ancestor & finally further back is the common ancestor for all three families;
2) The Big Y results which were uploaded to a third party website called YFull give and age estimation based on a predefined formula. The science is sound. However not all mutation rates are the same and therefore the age estimation can be over or under;
3) When we look at the DNA as a whole, combining Big Y data with something called STR data the common ancestor for the Keigs and Skaggs is estimated to be 1350. This fits the paper record. The S has been lost from the surname here in the Isle of Man by 1418 based on records that survive;
4) My theory is that the Skaggs ancestor left the Isle of Man pre 1418, most likely in the latter part of the 1300s, when the surname was still Skeig/Skegg or Skeg. The name then changed over a period of time to become Skaggs;
5) I’ve also established our ancestry is Viking based upon the Y chromosome being Scandinavian. The only Scandinavians who came to the Isle of Man 1,000 years ago were the Vikings;
6) Based on our Big Y matches I determined Norway as being the country of origin for our ancestor who most likely came via the Hebrides.
I’m always looking for more Skaggs to join the project and we have a large group of Skaggs now. My goal is to make a unified Skaggs family tree and it is possible over time with more people joining.
All the best,
Chris Keig
Thanks for the clarifications Chris. I'm excited about the possibility of the Skaggs origins on the Isle of Man. An ultimate Scandanavian origin is consistent with family legend. I shall do my best to encourage Skaggs, Scaggs and Skeggs men from our side of the Atlantic to get involved with your project.
DeleteThank you Mr Ed. I believe a sale may be starting in the next few days too.
DeleteI also believe there is a chance we are descended from the Manx Kings!
To give you some background. The Manx people are made up of about 135 unique families based on surname. 30 of those families are of direct Viking descent. 3 of those 30 are of course the Skeigs, Oates & Caines.
It’s very unusual to have three families descend from a single man. There is also strong evidence for a fourth family to descend from the same man but I’m still working on that. Whenever you have a larger than average number of people descend from one man it usually indicates the common ancestor was someone very powerful, perhaps a Jarl or more likely a King. It could also be that we descend from the first settlers who came in the 850s which accounts for why so many families come from a single man.
I take it you are a Skaggs or have Skaggs ancestry?
Yes, I'm a descendant of the Old Peter Skaggs who died in Lawrence County, Kentucky in 1841. Interestingly, one of his contemporaries in Lawrence County was a Richard Caines. We know some background of this Caines since he applied for a military pension in 1819.
DeleteThe above is the most amazing, exciting ground breaking Y DNA information for all Skaggs scattered throughout the world. To be able to peer back into our hidden origins is fascinating to me. Keep it up Chris, Mr. Ed and all the other Skaggs who will hopefully get their Big Y tested and uploaded so that the ones doing all the genetic research can continue to punch back into the past.
ReplyDelete