Merrill/Merrell DNA Genealogy

Merrill/Merrell DNA Genealogy
(all haplotypes, all families)

Deane Merrill, Asheville NC
dwmerrill@charter.net

July 2010

Merrill/Merrell DNA Test results (July 2010)

This document includes all known results of Y-chromosome STR (single tandem repeat) DNA tests, for males of surname Merrill or Merrell.

There are about 15 human Y-DNA haplogroups. These are subpopulations having specific genetic mutations that occurred up to 60,000 years ago. Broad prehistoric migrations have been traced by determining the prevalence of individual haplogroups in specific geographic regions. See Y-DNA Haplogroup Descriptions.

Two major haplogroups, R1b and G, are associated with the Merrill/Merrell surname. As of July 2010, 93 Merrill/Merrells have had Y-chromosome DNA tests. Of those, 59 are of haplogroup R1B and 32 are G. One is of haplogroup J2 and one is T.

R1b Haplogroup (July 2010)

The R1b haplogroup arose in Europe about 25,000 years ago. It is the most common haplogroup in European populations.

Among the 59 R1b Merrill/Merrells who have been tested, the largest subgroup, having 25 persons, is associated with Richard (1) Merrill 1642 and William (1) Merrill 1652, of Warwickshire, England and Staten Island, New York. 16 of the 25 testees are believed to descend from William(1), and the other 9 from Richard(1). The 16 William(1) descendants include descendants of the famous Capt. Benjamin (3) Merrill 1731 of North Carolina.

The relationship between Richard(1) and William(1) is not known. They could have been brothers, or first cousins, or even second cousins. Despite this uncertainty, a DNA test can determine whether a person is a Richard(1) or a William(1) descendant.

In addition to the Staten Island group 0f 25 persons, other R1b subgroups, each having several related members but unrelated to the other subgroups, have been observed. These include descendants or close relatives of:

Thomas Merrill ca.1600 of Saybrook, Connecticut (4 persons);

William Merrill ca.1645 of Somerset County, Maryland (6 persons);

Marriner Wood Merrill 1835 of New Brunswick, Canada (6 persons).

Finally, 18 other R1b Merrill/Merrells, whom we call "unassigned" have been tested. They are not known to be related to other Merrill/Merrells apart from close family members.

G Haplogroup (February 2010)

Of the 93 Merrills (or Merrells) who so far have had Y-DNA tests, 32 are of haplogroup G. The G haplogroup arose in the Middle East about 20,000 years ago. Today it occurs most frequently (up to 70%) in the Caucasus region. It is relatively rare (less than a few percent) in Western Europe.

Among the 32 Haplogroup G Merrill/Merrells who have been tested, there are three whose DNA does not closely match the others. One of these is a Merrell residing in the UK.

The others, 29 Merrill/Merrells residing the US, have nearly identical DNA, proving their descent from a recent common ancestor. Twenty-four of the 29 have well-documented "paper trails" proving their descent from Nathaniel (1) Merrill 1601-1655 of Wherstead, Suffolk, England and Newbury, Massachusetts. See the Nathaniel Merrill pedigree chart. Also see the Merrill Memorial, and Steve Merrill's and Jack Merrill's and Deane Merrill's web sites.

Haplogroup Assignment of Nathaniel Merrill b.1601

The assignment of Nathaniel Merrill to Haplogroup G is based on SNP measurements of one of his descendants.

Other Haplogroups

In addition to haplogroup R1b with 59 members and haplogroup G with 32 members, two other haplogroups (J2 and T) have been observed, with one member each. In all 93 Merrill/Merrells have been tested.

Merrill/Merrell DNA Project Results (all haplotypes)

Chronology of Selected Correspondence

Y-DNA Markers for surnames Merrill/Merrell (all haplotypes)

Results from ftdna.com (1/23/10)

Results from smgf.org (12/12/09)

Results from dna.ancestry.com

current version (6/1/09)

older version (11/23/08)

Results from ysearch.org (2/20/10)

Results from genebase.com (11/27/09)

some private files

FTDNA Merrill/Merrell Y-DNA Testing Fund (July 2010)

back to Y-Chromosome DNA for Genealogy