THE WALKER SURNAME DNA TESTING PROJECT
We are looking for male descendants with the Walker surname to participate in
a DNA testing project. Our objective is to match up individuals or families
who share a common male ancestor of the Walker surname.
If you’ve been keeping up with the latest news in the genealogical
community, then you’ve probably heard about DNA and it’s promise for
genealogy. Now, a number of DNA testing labs have made it possible and
affordable for genealogy researchers interested in establishing—or
disproving—a paternal link between individuals with a common surname.
Fathers pass their Y-chromosomes, or "DNA fingerprints," down to their sons
with little—if any—variation, from generation to generation. Therefore, men
with identical, or near identical DNA fingerprints (some minor variation can
occur), can be genetically proven to be descendants of a common male ancestor.
For example, if we have a sample of 30 participants with the surname Walker,
the results will reveal who of this sample group are descended from a common
male ancestor. Walker families already signed up for the project, include
known descendants of Thomas Walker of Westmoreland Co. VA, d 1654 (this
family includes Jesse (Grandsir) Walker, Rev. Jeremiah Walker and Rev.
Sanders Walker); David Walker of Goochland Co. VA, d 1774 (this family moved
from VA to Guilford NC and then to Washington and Hancock Cos. GA); several
additional Walkers with ancestors in Campbell Co. VA, New Kent Co. VA,
Cumberland Co. VA and others are also participating. The more WALKER
participants we have, the better the chance of enough results for identifying
persons descended from a common ancestor.
The testing will not tell you the degree of relationship; only that you do or
do not share a common ancestor. Also, you could get disappointing
information, such as a broken link which would suggest an unreported adoption
or other non-paternal event in your line.
THE TESTING PROCEDURE
The testing lab will send out specimen collection kits which involve the
painless use of a swab to collect a small amount of cells containing DNA from
the inside of a person's cheek. Discounts are offered for groups over 5
people and we estimate the cost per person will be around $170 for a group of
20 or more participants. You will receive the results. The lab will
maintain a database of results as well for matching purposes as more and more
studies are done. If you are a female, don't be discouraged, maybe you have
a brother or a male relative from your Walker family available to be tested.
HOW CAN I JOIN THE PROJECT
Let us know that you are interested in participating and we will send you the
final details of the study and an application for joining when we have chosen
a testing laboratory.
To help you decide:
(1) If you have any interest in having someone in your family participate,
please let us hear from you.
(2) Ask us any questions you may have about the project.
(3) If you would like to find out more about ongoing family surname
projects, here are several web sites where you can see what other families
are doing. The results are in on the Mumma surname project, and are now
included on the web site.