CYR DNA Project- Background

Background

PIERRE SIRE'S ORIGIN: In an effort to determine the actual origin of our first ancestor, Pierre SIRE, all 'cousin(e)s' with the CYR or similar surname (see "Project Surnames" listed above), are invited to seriously consider having their own DNA tested and join this group. (See below for added information on the Cyr Clan/Name, where you will find my added comment..."we cannot be certain that Pierre was from France and early DNA tests, suggest he may in fact have Flemish roots. Flemish is the territorial name for the Dutch language spoken in historic Flanders, a region mostly comprising the northern part of Belgium, but also including a southern part of the Netherlands and a small area of northern France". Click on the following link http://www.acadian.org/cyrname.html for the latest on our research to find the origin of Pierre Sire.

90% OF GENEALOGISTS CHOOSE FAMILY TREE DNA: Family Tree DNA is the world leader in Genetic Genealogy. Since its inception in April of 2000, we have been constantly developing the science that enables genealogists around the world to advance their family's research. Family Tree DNA works in association with a scientific advisory board and the University of Arizona Research Labs. The Arizona Research labs are led by Dr. Michael Hammer, one of the world's leading authorities in the field of Genetics.

INCENTIVE TO JOIN THE CYR DNA GROUP:
a) Group Administrator, Yvon Cyr, has been researching his Pierre SIRE ancestry for over 30 years! He is the owner/webmaster of the oldest (1991) Acadian-Cajun resource web site on the Internet, the Acadian Genealogy Homepage located at http://www.acadian.org and has produced hundreds of 'specific surnames' Acadian Genealogy CD-ROMS [see list at http://www.acadian.org/family.html] among them, his "Cyr Family Genealogy" CD-ROM containing lineage-linked information on over 11,000 individuals... Yvon expects to at least _double_ those numbers, by 2011.
b) As a SPECIAL INCENTIVE for all Cyr (and all variant spellings) 'cousins' to have their DNA tested and join this Group, Yvon is offering to provide a "free" copy of his Cyr genealogy CD to any/all cousins who are members of this group. And, to ensure that your own family is included on the CD, Yvon will review any GEDCOM file provided him by the Cyr DNA Group member and, assuming acceptable quality of information, include those GEDCOM files on the Cyr genealogy CD! Thus, the "free" CD provided will include your own tree, going back some 10-12 generations.
c) Gedcom files are created using one’s own genealogy program (see http://www.acadian.org/gedcom.html for added information). Be aware that Yvon reserves the right to include (or exclude) any/all GEDCOM files and that, when you submit your GEDCOM file to him (send via email to cajun@acadian.org), you release any/all copyrights to Yvon.

JOIN THE CYR DNA GROUP:
To join the Cyr DNA Group, click on the following link http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Cyr&code=K65428, or contact the Group Administrator or one of the Co-Administrators.

JOINING MORE-THAN-ONE-GROUP AT FAMILYTREEDNA:
You can join any Surname Project that researches individuals that have the same surname or a variant. Joining a Surname Project could be very helpful to verify relationships with individuals that share a similar surname. FamilyTreeDNA makes it easy for you to join more than one Project... and there is NO CHARGE to do so. Here's all you need do:

        * Go to FamilyTreeDNA at http://www.familytreedna.com and sign-in using the Kit number and password that they gave you.

        * In your FTDNA personal page, is a button labeled "JOIN". Click on that button.

        * Select the surname of the project you wish to join.
       
        * Then select a second "JOIN" button, which is lower on the page.

        * When you have joined a second (or third) project, the Project Administartor will be notified by FTDNA and your results will then         posted on the Project's Results Page.

        * Or, you can email FTDNA and tell them you would like to join another Project, tell them _which_ Project, and ask them to add         you. You can do that on their web site at, http://www.familytreedna.com/contact.html

CYR ET AL VARIANTS SURNAME RESEARCH:
To view some of the research that has been done on the Cyr et al surname, as well as added information on genetic genealogy, please don't hesitate to connect to http://www.acadian.org/cyrname.html and http://www.acadian.org/hightech.html

(SADLY) YOU ARE _NOT_ A CYR et all variant spellings) BUT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR OWN DNA TESTED:
You may not be lucky enough to be of Cyr ancestry :-) but would be interested in adding DNA testing to your own genealogy toolkit! Males can test their Y-DNA to trace their surname. Men and women can also test their mtDNA to trace their maternal ancestry. If you're interested in tracing a surname but you're female or you yourself don't have the surname, you can get a male relative with that name to test. The neat thing about this service is it matches you against the Family Tree DNA database, the largest of its kind in the world. Family Tree DNA gives you a list of the names and emails of the people you match, so you can exchange genealogical information. This is a great way to prove the paper trail, get past a brick wall, and even, when there was an adoption or a change in surname, learn more about the original surname and biological family. All it takes is a painless cheek swab. You can get started  by clicking on the following link... Join FTDNA Today! 

FAMILY TREE DNA SURNAME, LINEAGE and GEOGRAPHICAL PROGRAMS: Family Tree DNA encourages customers' participation in lineage and geographical projects. By transferring routine data management tasks to project administrators we are able to offer a discounted testing rate to those who order through a project.

THOSE WHO TAKE A Y-DNA TEST MAY JOIN: * A Paternal Lineage project. This may take the form of a Surname Project for all who have the same surname or a variant. It may also be a project specific to a suspected shared ancestor. * A Y-Chromosome Geographical Project to verify a possible point of origin for the paternal line. Membership is free and voluntary. You may join or leave a project at any time.

THOSE WHO TAKE AN mtDNA TEST MAY JOIN: * A Maternal Lineage Project for individuals that have or suspect having the same maternal line. * A Mitochondrial Geographical Project to verify a possible point of origin for the maternal line.

MORE ON THE CYR NAME AND ITS NUMEROUS VARIATION IN SPELLING:
A final word needs to be said about the CYR family name, variously spelled Sire, Cire, Sears, Syre, Cyre et al... and Cyr. Church and civil records in Acadia contained these and other random spellings, dictated more often by recorder's degree of familiarity with the local scene, than anything else. Our name came from France as Sire. Its metamorphosis to Cyr was gradual and a rather long time in developing. Why did Cyr prevail? My own theory is put forth for what it's worth. Cyr was probably more wisely known than Sire in the 18th century. There was an elite school for girls at Versailles, widely known as l'Academie St. Cyr. Subsequently, St. Cyr (the "dit name" for the Deshaies in Quebec), became widely known as the West Point of France. Sire and Cyr are pronounced exactly alike in French; cire. I suggest that missionaries newly arrived from France, on hearing the family name at the baptismal font in Beaubassin, thought of St. Cyr (the "dit name" for the DeShaie/Deshaies in Quebec) and began to favor that spelling. This process took place over a period of time when there was a dearth of education among the Acadians. The spelling of their name was, so to speak, taken out of their hands. A current fad for spelling names in various ways, may have contributed to the process. The actual experience of our particular branch of the family, was typical:

PIERRE (first generation) appeared in the 1671 census of Acadia, as Pierre SIRRE. We must assume that, as a gunsmith schooled in France, he was able to spell his name. He gave it as he spelled it in France. Sire was a name indigenous to northwestern France.  We cannot be certain that Pierre was from France and early DNA tests, suggest he may in fact have Flemish roots.

JEAN (second generation) signed Jean SIRE in 1715 as one of the commissioners reporting to the British the decision of the Beaubassin population, in regard to taking the oath of allegiance to George II.

JEAN-BAPTISTE (third generation) appeared as Jean SIRE in the Beaubassin church record of his marriage January 26, 1734; and as Jean SYR in a list dated August 12, 1763, of prisoners on the St. John River. An appeal that he and his sons addressed to the Governor of Canada in 1784, reveals that they were unable to sign. The illiteracy of their fugitive existence (since the burning of Beaubassin in 1750), was becoming apparent. In 1792, a St. Basil (New Brunswick) record referred to him as "feu Jean SIR".

PAUL (fourth generation) baptismal record at Beaubassin, referred to him as Paul CYRE in 1741. The Studholme Report of 1783, listed him as Paul CIRE. The United States did not take a census of Madawaska in 1790, 1800 or 1810, thereby sparing the name considerable mutilation. He was buried as Paul CYR in 1812.

PAUL (fifth generation) baptismal record at St. Basil, referred to him as the son of Paul SYR. The U.S. census of 1820 was not a nominal census in Madawaska. His marriage record at St. Basil referred to him as Paul CYR in 1822. U.S. censuses called him Paul CERE in 1830; Paul CYR in 1840; Paul CROCK in 1850; Paul CYR in 1860. His burial record in 1865, called him Paul CYR.

ALEXIS (sixth generation) was described in the 1860 U.S. census as Alexander, the son of Paul CROCK, but subsequently during his lifetime, the name settled-down to CYR (I like to think that, after all these years, they finally 'got it right' :-) The French pronunciation (cire) remained constant in Madawaska, but with the increasing use of English in the area, it has been anglicized (like the English word "seer"), including all the frequent aberrations such as "cur" and "cry".

CLOSING NOTE BY YVON CYR: My theory is not intended to suggest that we had any connection with the St. Cyr (the "dit name" for the DeShaie/Deshaies in Quebec) family. There was none. The Cyrs of Madawaska are all descendants of JEAN-BAPTISTE SIRE, one of the grandsons of the first-generation PIERRE SIRE of Acadia. They are _not_ descendants of first-generation Louis Sire of Acadia, to whom goes the honour of being progenitor of Louis (Cyprien-Noe) Cyr (1863-1912) of Napierville, Quebec, best known as the 'strongest man in the world'.

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GENERAL FUND STATUS: The general fund is a feature that Family Tree DNA offers, that allows members to donate money for other potential members' tests. The money is used at the Group Administrator's discretion. Click on the "Contribute to the Surname Project General Fund" link to contribute. Thank you in advance for your consideration... and generosity.