Genetic ancestry

Details of the genetic ancestry of the family - or parts of it : the parts are not yet clearly defined - has only become possible because of recent advances in analyses of DNA (deoxyribose nucleic acid), found in almost every cell in the human body. Advances have been spectacular in the last 15 years, and it is now possible for almost anyone to have their DNA analysed. With this knowledge, it is possible to map family lines and pursue relationships which may not be obvious from the documentary records.

It does not however provide a solution in itself. DNA analyses are only useful when supported by a good 'paper trail' from established records.

Roger Washbourn in New Zealand has had his YDNA analysed by American company FamilyTreeDNA, which is one of the foremost companies specialising in genetic analyses for family historians. Roger - who considers himself to be a descendant of the Wiltshire branch of the family - has joined a Washburn Surname Study (note that all the various surname spellings {Washburn, Washburne, Washbourne, Washbourn} are consolidated as Washburn - with no preference implied as to which spelling is more important or correct). The results of his Y-DNA analyses are displayed in a website:

https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Washburn/default.aspx?section=yresults

Look for Kit Number 70172 (about 2/3 way down the table). Roger has been assigned to the R1b haplogroup, more recently re-classified as R-M269 and further subdivided into R-U106. (His grandson, Matai Grant Washbourn, appears as Kit Number 197658 immediately below.)

Interestingly, there is another New Zealand resident, Herbert James Washbourne from Christchurch, whose results can be found on this table at Kit Number 40992. HJW has a different haplogroup (I-M253), and belongs to the Gloucestershire branch of the family. He is not considered a close genetic relative of anyone in the Wiltshire branch - this is alluded to in the 'Puzzles' (#3) page.

In 2016, Jack Washbourn of the Wroughton Branch of the family also had his Y-DNA analysed by FamilyTreeDNA (Kit No. 561846). His haplogroup is R-M269 - exactly the same as Roger and Matai Washbourn in New Zealand. This gives considerable support to the inclusion of the Wroughton Branch amongst the Wiltshire Branch of the family.

From inspection of the Y-DNA chart on the Washburn Surname Study, it can be deduced that there are two distinct genetic lines in the Washburns - identified by the I and the R1b haplogroups. The genetic disconnect is intriguing : members of some of the American Washburns are also R-M269 (but also I-M253); the unexplained disconect is believed to have occurred in the middle-1500s where the descent of the male lines has been called into question. [See the 'Puzzles' page.]

The discussion below is derived from Roger Washbourn's results, which are taken (in the absence of any others) by default as representative of the male line of the Wiltshire branch of the family.

Autosomal DNA: DNA can be analysed in several different ways : Y-DNA (males only); mitochondrial DNA (both males and females); and autosomal DNA (also both males and females). Autosomal chromosomes are inherited from both parents and mixed from one generation to the next. Every person has 46 chromosomes in total, 23 from each parent. 2 of these 46 chromosomes are the sex chromosomes; the other 44 are autosomal chromosomes. Family Finder testing (available through FamilyTreeDNA) compares your DNA to reference populations around the world and gives an estimate of your ethnicity in percentage terms.

Roger Washbourn has had a FamilyFinder test : see diagram opposite.

This shows his ethnic makeup to be :

European 97%

British Isles 71%

Eastern Europe 12%

Scandinavia 7%

Western and Central Europe 7%

Middle Eastern 3%

Asia Minor 3%

Understanding this is not so difficult. The Asia Minor component arose, probably thousands of years ago, as early mankind made its way from its African origins into central Europe, as has been documented for my R1b haplogroup. It is believed to have expanded
throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial period ended approximately 10-12 thousand years ago. The male-line genetic marker R(U106) which accounts for a quarter of Britain''s population, was probably brought to Britain by numerous waves of invaders and immigrants who came to Britain from northern Europe.

In the AD 800s and 900s came the Vikings from Scandinavia who forged their own kingdoms across the British Isles. A branch of them settled in northern France where they became known as the Normans. William of Normandy invaded England in 1066. Amongst his warlords was one Urse d'Arbitot, an ancestor of the Washbourne family. William's descendants sit on the British throne to this day, and a vast number of Britons are descended from him and his warlords.