Lewis surname DNA

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Permalink Reply by Rosemary Taylor on August 6, 2011 at 9:34pm

I cannot test on Lewis, although my grandmother was a Lewis.  I really wish one of her brothers descendants would submit a DNA sample for analysis.  I am guessing this would prove or disprove to my research.  Some of the older research on Lewis is shaky.  I am thinking of what happened when people with the Randolph / Randall surname did DNA testing.  Some lines were disproved.

Permalink Reply by True! on May 28, 2012 at 10:00am

I am a Lewis! I took the 23andMe test. I'm not sure how that would work if I am a Woman! It is my Paternal last name for 4 generations that I know of. Let me know how it goes!

Permalink Reply by Rosemary Taylor on November 24, 2012 at 8:22pm

LEWIS DNA CHART ONLINE :  http://www.familytreedna.com/public/LEWISSurnameDNAProject/default....

See if anyone in your family is there!

Permalink Reply by Michael Alan Lewis on November 24, 2012 at 8:39pm

Recall that the names of individuals on the DNA chart are supplied by the person who took the DNA test. They are generally the person's most distant known ancestor in the lineal male line. Identification of distant ancestors must be verified by documented records in order to be meaningful. 

Also understand that differences in DNA profiles quickly add up to vast differences in generations between living individuals and their ancestors. What might seem like a close match is often far removed in time.

Permalink Reply by Rosemary Taylor on March 11, 2016 at 12:53pm

My son (Taylor surname) did in-dept Mt-DNA and Y-DNA testing.  The Mt-DNA (full test) includes me and my direct mother's line.  My mother's mother was born a Lewis, but her mother  was not a Lewis ( born Randolph / Randall).  The only people I can match on the Lewis line are my grandmother's brothers (all deceased), and my grandmother's sisters and their female descendants.  Males inherit their mother's Mt-DNA, but it is NOT passed down to their children.  This is not very useful for Lewis genealogy, since I know of my closer relatives, but it might become more useful in the future as later female generations do not know their families.

The Taylor DNA test taught me a lot.  I had to increase markers several time to get relevant genealogical information.  I DID get relevant information useful for genealogy eventually.  Both Taylor and Lewis are common names.  I encourage people interested in doing DNA testing to start with in-depth tests.  These tests are more expensive, but worth it.  As far as I am concerned, the more simple, and less expensive DNA tests are worthless for people with common names, and a waste of money.

Yes, Michael is correct that the genealogy research is also important along with the DNA.  However the DNA results will tell you when there is an error in the genealogy research.  Errors are easy in researching common names. I have a lot of common names in my direct lines. The DNA results is grouped with others with similar results, if you do testing with a certain company.  This results can also be compared with results from other companies at a certain web site. 

The biggest problem with DNA testing seems to be people not testing in-depth.  Superficial tests do not show much.