Edgcombe (and variants) FamilyTree DNA Project Website- Background

Background

Origins of the Edgcombe name.

Edgcumbe is the name of a valley leading down to the Tamar in the parish of Milton Abbot, Devon in England. The name Edgcumbe combines the word combe, being a Celtic word for valley and, it has been suggested, Eggha, a man who dwelt there.
The name can be traced back to C12th and Edgcumbe farm, which still exists in the valley, has been in Edgcombe family ownership up until 1920.

 
The first recorded head of the family was William Edgcombe c.1210-1274, who was a landowner near Tavistock in Devon and a juror in 1274. It is thought that all Edgcombes descend from one John Edgcombe c.1240-1285 who was probably William's son.
 
The spelling of the name has changed over the centuries, from Egghacombe, Edgcombe, Edgcumbe to Edgecombe in the C19th, as well as Edgcomb and Edgecomb favoured in the USA. Since the C17th the descendants have spread widely throughout the world. Branches that have flourished include the early settlers of Maine and Connecticut in America, as well as New Zealand and Australia.
 
The family history has been well documented in the Edgcombe Family Genealogy and History (EFGH) publications and by other earlier independent family researchers.
 
A list of all the project members and their known ancestry can be seen on the News page.
 
Aims of the DNA project.
 
Firstly to confirm a genetic relationship to other Edgcombes and secondly to verify the paper documentation.
The principle goal is to try to enable people, who at present cannot trace their ancestry back all that far, to find a match and make a connection. The hope is that when we have family members tested from a number of different branches we will be able to discover certain patterns of results peculiar to each branch.

We now have enough data to have ascertained an ‘Edgcombe haplotype’ which enables us to confirm the main family branch and some of its offshoots. In addition, we have established genetically, through testing descendants from several branches, back 17 generations to a common ancestor in John Edgcombe who was born c.1430 in Edgcumbe, Devon.
 
Some project members have taken deep-clade tests and are participating in advanced SNP testing. These results will hopefully contribute to the L21 Plus project, whose members are trying to discover more about the ancient origins of the L21 Haplogroup. Please see the Results section for the latest findings.  

An extensive Edgcombe family tree has been produced, as well as a simplified version showing the DNA participants and how they connect. Both trees are available in PDF format and can be emailed to you at no cost. Please contact the administrator eddyedgecombe@hotmail.com for copies.
 
Types of DNA tests.
 
There are several types of Y-DNA tests and these are for males only. If you are a female you will need to have a male relative; father, brother or cousin, for example, to take the test.
The Y-DNA 12 marker test is only marginally useful. The Y-DNA 25 test may reveal enough data to indicate a family link. The Y-DNA 37 test will provide much more information and is ideal for comparing matches. The Y-DNA 67 test is used to further refine connections and is also worthwhile, but only if you have first established matches through the 37 marker test. There is also a recently available Y-DNA111 test but this can only be ordered if you have the Y-DNA 67 marker test first.

All tests can be ordered through the Edgcombe DNA project, which will entitle you to a discount.