A Chronology In The English Language

A chronology of the JONES surname as its appears in the English language is shown below.  From 1273 to 1496 the appearance by present English and Welsh counties is demonstrated.  The central area between Wales and London shows the most frequent location of the surname.  This chronology follows the Welsh wars of Edward I when English law was first applied to sections of Wales.

 An interesting display of the appearance of our surname in the English language.

How We Got Here

Our Family Trees are a time line of our ancestors.  More branches are added each step up the path, and we can explore further out these doorways as time and determination [also money] will permit.  Last post presented what has become called "haplogroups".  For the JONES surname, these haplogroups, and the percent of each, can be seen.  Now the following tree shows just how these hapogroups arrived.  It is certainly not your usual family tree.  Start at the top and work your way down the blue line marked.

This would begin some 60,000 years ago.  Can you believe it?  The first genetic mutation is thought to have occurred around this time, and it has been down hill ever since.  The blue line then passed down a number of haplogroups to around 30,000 years ago, when our  "R" is thought to get started.  Now, roughly 75% of those with the surname JONES slides down this hill.  The orange colored line shows the haplogroup branches that have also been documented with a surname JONES. [See last post for the percent.]  Wow, this is how we got here.

Haplogroups

All this DNA stuff has added a completely different aspect to genealogy.  For the Y-chromosome, the organizational system is based on genetic markers [snips] that have been titled haplogroups.  As it stands now, A thru T are the letters of the alphabet that have been tagged to the various ethic groups that have been identified.  Some 60,000 years ago [+/- 5000 years] the first genetic mutation occurred which begins the lettering starting with A.  Since then, various geographic and environmental factors have produced a gradual branching of the ethic groups.  The following table listed the various haplogroups that have been identified among the JONES surname who have had their Y-DNA tested.  The data set is taken in 2011, and then in 2016.   In 2011, a study of Y-DNA haplogroups in North Wales was summarized and shown in the line following the JONES surname.  The percent of each haplogroup found is shown to give a comparison to the folks in North Wales. [surnames not identified]  What a deal!  The distribution  among the various haplogrops [by percent] for the JONES surname matches those from North Wales.

Documentation

A document is defined as an original or official paper relied on as the basis, proof, or support of something.  It is intended to provide factual or substantial support for statements made during that process called genealogy.  Thus, "documentation" is the act or an instance of furnishing or authenticating with documents the family tree as its is discovered...skeletons and all.  Many sources are available to accomplish this task, and over my fifty some years of tree climbing various historical documents have been uncovered. 

                [For an example of this process see http://cadwalladerjones.blogspot.com ]

Documentation is a foundation to genealogy.  This is especially true with a surname like JONES.  Documentation...documentation...documentation is central to genealogical research and JONES surname tree climbing.

"Adam" Jones

An accepted premise in genealogy is that if you share a surname you must also share a common root.  If only you can connect the path to that root you will have genealogy nirvana.   For many who share the same surname, this may be correct.  However, for many of those with Welsh descent this is not the case.  

Many factors have a role in this phenomena, and it has produced a great deal of bewilderment among those Jones surname tree climbers.  This is especially true for those DNA folks who expect to have their test results reveal that straight line of descent.  Of course, it is much more complicated, and a full picture of seeking you "Adam" Jones has many twists and turns.  Well anyway, this post presents the fact that there is no single "Adam" from which the Jones surname has its root.  On the most part, those who have the surname JONES will share that DNA [Y-chromosome] from other surname groups.  What a deal...your family tree [through the male line] may be the same as a Williams, Owen, Evans, David, Morgan, Price, Lloyd, Jenkins, Ellis, Thomas, and others that follow a different route to their own "Adam". 

P.S.  For those whose Y-chromosome matches another surname, please identify yourself and which surnames are involved.

Commonality

There are many issues that face the genealogist as they climb among the various family tree branches.  Over the years, one thread that seemed to affect many genealogist that I approached with the JONES SURNAME family tree was..."you've got to be kidding"..."good luck with that"!  Many times folks would give the impression that the JONES SURNAME was so common [especially John Jones] that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to trace back down the family tree for more than a couple of generations.  "You will not get very far barking up that tree..." one genealogist once stated.

I would bet that other "frequent" surnames have faced the same, like Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and many of the other folks that share the "commonality" of surnames.  Now after some 55 years of this JONES SURNAME tree climbing, I have come to realize that many brick walls will be met along the path, but there are many ways to get around [or under...or over...or through] them.  Hopefully this blog will give a place to discuss these topics and issues. 

So...let's begin with "commonality"...what issues have you faced climbing along your own JONES SURNAME family tree?  [Please place a comment or statement in the "comment section" following each post.]

The Purpose

Sharing a common surname, like the surname JONES, has its positives and negatives.  Having a central location to focus on these topics seems like a good idea.  At any rate, the purpose of this blog is to have a place to share, to discuss, and to discover the various and sometimes complex subjects that surround this surname.  Puzzles and "brick walls" are welcome.  Each post will focus on a topic that might be frequent among us.  In the comment section of each post share your experiences or knowledge on this subject.  To discover and learn from one another is the goal.  "Jones Surname Central" it is called...a place to focus...to share...and to discover.