Surnames
Crannum, Granham, Grannum
Background
The Grannum DNA project aims to use DNA to complement documentary and archival research to the better understand the origins and history of the name and to bring relatives together.
Grannum is a registered on the Guild of One-Name Studies (member 1404). Research shows that Grannum is first found on the Caribbean island Barbados in the 1740s and until the late 1700s was interchangeable with Granham. It is believed but not proved that the name is a variation of Crannum or Cranham originating from a William Crannum who was transported from Gloucestershire, UK to 'America' (country unknown) in 1723. See www.grannum.org for more information on Grannum research.
In common with other Caribbean families Grannums migrated to other Caribbean countries especially Jamaica (c1900) and Trinidad, and to Panama, Canada, Guyana (c1820s), USA, Scotland (1870) and England (1950s); some families live in Germany (c1980s) and South Africa (c1930s).
Traditionally, in the UK and other Anglophone countries surnames are passed on from father to son. The Y-Chromosome is passed from father to son and so usually there is a close match between DNA and surnames.
However, the social history of Barbados means that this pattern does not apply. Barbados was a slave economy and enslaved and free Africans adopted local surnames and many parents were not married meaning that children were registered with their mother's surname. Also, documentary evidence is incompete especially for African-Caribbean families before the 1840s.
See www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/roots/caribbean/caribbean.htm and www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/next_steps/genealogy_article_01.shtml for more information on the challenges of Caribbean genealogical research.
It is hoped that by analysing the DNA (Y-Chromosome) of men with known Grannum paternal line (ie father's father's father etc) and comparing this with documentary evidence it will possible to bring relatives together.
The Y-chromosome is only passed from fathers to sons, women do not inherit this chromosome. If you wish to test your paternal line women will need to obtain swabs from their father, grandfather, brothers, cousins and uncles etc. It is recommended that your test looks for a minimum of 37 markers (the more markers the better).
Unusally for a surname project it would be useful to obtain Mitochondrial DNA which is passed from mother to sons and daughters; typically this analysis is used to trace the maternal line. Women who have a proven Grannum grandmother or greatgrandmother or earlier are welcome to participate. Also, men who have a Grannum mother who was born in the 1800s can participate.
Go to www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Grannum to join this project if you have already had DNA tests carried out by FTDNA or to order a test.
If you have not had tests carried out by FamilyTreeDNA you can upload your results and compare them with others at:
General Fund
To donate to the general fund please
click here.