About us
The ARTERBURN Family in America was previously researched and the branches and several generations
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 ; both
Y-SNP and Y-Haplotype (Y-STR, DYS#) results are displayed. We welcome the interest of descendants
in every facet of genetic genealogy, and some of our members have utilized Family Finder (atDNA) and
mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. Autosomal DNA (atDNA) and mtDNA test results are useful for
specific purposes (see ISOGG, below) but have negligible applicability for this Y-DNA project. Family
Tree DNA (FTDNA) provides personal pages and other tools and projects that are designed for members
to explore their atDNA and mtDNA test results. (NOTE: Autosomal DNA (atDNA) test results of an
ARTERBURN descendant might possibly reveal meaningful chromosomal matching with the test results of
a confirmed descendant(s) of John and Jane Williams in the future. Family Tree DNA does not display the
test results of Family Finder (atDNA) on this platform, but if such match results should ever occur, it could
be reported here. A positive Y-DNA match with a patrilineal descendant of John Williams remains
a possibility as well ; such results would be reported similarly by FTDNA in the personal accounts of
project members who have had their Y-DNA tested. If either of these possibilities should occur in the
future for any of our members, please follow-up with one of the project Administrators.)
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; he also would necessarily be positive for Y-SNP, R-Y46. (NOTE: Although
Peter Arterburn and his family may have had some physical characteristics in common with Melungeons,
ARTERBURN descendants have never been identified as such, and have never been associated with any of
the Melungeon communities of Virginia, Tennessee, or Kentucky. All of the Y-Haplogroups that have been
identified in the test results of the families represented in the Melungeon Core DNA Project at FTDNA
are on branches of the Y-Haplogroup Tree that diverged from our branch thousands of years ago.)
Our Y-Haplogroup 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. (NOTE: Kit #67603 was 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 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. See also: SNPs at DNA Results, on side bar ; The R-Y46 Story, below.)
The genetic evidence of our Old World patrilineal origin in India (R-Y46 = R1a1a1b2a2a1b1) is conclusive,
and is corroborated by historical evidence documented in 18th and 19th-century public records of Maryland,
Virginia, and Tennessee, as summarized and published in The Arterburn Story (2023):
........................
Family Tree DNA (FTDNA): The R-Y46 Story
International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG): Y-Chromosome DNA
International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG): Autosomal DNA (atDNA)
International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG): Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
See Also:
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