About us
of descendants identified and first published in The Arterburn Cousins (1977). Our primary goal in DNA
testing has been to determine our Y-Haplogroup (Y-SNP), which would confirm the human population of
our ancient ancestral roots and therewith disclose the Old World origin prior to the arrival in America of our
earliest patrilineal ancestor, which had not been discovered by the authors of The Arterburn Cousins.
Our primary goal was effectively achieved through BIG Y (500) SNP testing in 2018 (members may log-in
to see Charts and SNPs at DNA Results, on side bar) that yielded our current terminal Y-SNP and
Y-Haplogroup, R-Y46, a subclade of R-Y47, which identifies our genetically most recent common
ancestor (MRCA). Our BIG Y test results was matched by the Y-SNP and Y-STR test results of
additional ARTERBURN patrilineal descendants who have been confirmed positive for R-Y47 or R-Y46.
The test results of descendants who were tested for R-Y47 but not R-Y46 match our Y-Haplotype
(Y-STR, DYS#)--the genetic profile shared by all ARTERBURN male patrilineal descendants; this fact
coupled with our BIG Y test results imply that all would necessarily be positive for Y-SNP, R-Y46. The
same applies for our descendant for whom Y-SNP, R-Z94, an older parent clade of R-Y46, is displayed as
his confirmed Y-Haplogroup, due also to differential individual testing; he also would necessarily be
positive for Y-SNP, R-Y46. * (See The R-Y46 Story, below.)
Our Y-Haplogroup (MRCA) could change as new subclades of R-Y46 are established on our branch of the
Y-Haplogroup Tree as Y-DNA testing continues, if confirmed by positive matching Y-SNP test results of
an ARTERBURN male patrilineal descendant. Kit #67603 has since been tested for a recently established
subclade, R-Y609, with negative results, which effectively eliminated that new Y-Haplogroup as a possible
route of advancing our line of genetic descent. The intervening subclade, Y-SNP / Y- Haplogroup, R-Y931,
was not tested and thus remains a possible route of descent, after R-Y46, of our more recent genetic
ancestors in India. However, testing for an individual Y-SNP that identifies a new subclade is no longer
available; a BIG Y upgrade ($209) to the BIG Y (700) ** is now the only way to confirm new
subclades that will make possible discovery of more recent ancestors on our branch of the Y-Haplogroup
Tree. Your support of this necessary upgrade by contributing to the General Fund *** (Donate, side bar)
will be a legacy gift for your descendants who someday may be eager to know their ancestral roots.
A descendant of Jemima (Arterburn) Collins has reported Ancestry DNA test results that indicates an
ancestral geographical link to the region identified as the Gulf of Khambhat on the West Coast of
India, which borders the Indian state of Gujarat. European commercial interests, including the British
East India Company, were established on India's West Coast early in the 17th century. This geographical
linkage derived from global DNA testing agrees with our Y-SNP test results, and may ultimately serve to
situate our in-country home of origin as more of our Indian ancestors (MRCA) are identified on our
branch of the Y-Haplogroup Tree.
The genetic evidence of our Old World patrilineal origin in India (R-Y46 = R1a1a1b2a2a1b1) is consistent
with the historical evidence as documented in 18th and 19th-century public records of Maryland, Virginia,
and Tennessee, as summarized and published in The Arterburn Story (2023):
* Identities and contact information of our test participants are restricted under the requirements of the
European Union's General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), with which our project is compliant.
** BIG Y (700)
*** We gratefully acknowledge and thank contributors (alphabetically) to the General Fund.
New contributors will be recognized unless anonymity is requested:
Charles R. Arterburn, William N. Arterburn, Catherine A. Felten, Linda L. Hope,
Sherry C. Young, and anonymous donors.
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Family Tree DNA (FTDNA): The R-Y46 Story
Family Tree DNA (FTDNA): Forums
International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG): Y-Chromosome DNA
International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG): Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree 2019-2020
International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG): Autosomal DNA (atDNA)
International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG): Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
See Also:
Find a Grave: Peter Arterburn (1711-1803)
Sharma, S., Rai, E., Sharma, P. et al. Journal of Human Genetics 54, 47-55 (2009)
https://doi.org/10.1038/jhg.2008.2