About us
Group 1 - Ballard Y. Origin.
"Pre Roman. Northern Gaul & Briton"
R-S1194 > R-CTS4528 > R-S14328 > R-S1211 > R-S1196 > R-Y22442 > R-S1205+ (12th Aug 2023)
R-S1194 the brother to the Prolific R-U106 & R-P312 Haplogroups under R-L151
Comparitive ancient burial animations.
U106: http://www.projectory.de/genetics/U106_migration.mp4
P312: http://www.projectory.de/genetics/P312_migration.mp4
S1194: http://www.projectory.de/genetics/S1194_migration.mp4
Important time periods.
2800 - 1800 BCE Bell Beaker Culture
300 - 600 CE Migration Period
800 - 1050 CE Viking Age
What do we see ?
U106 - very early expansion into Denmark - no or very little Bell Beaker activity in France and Spain - strong growth in Denmark - migration to England during the Migration period, but also to South-East-Europe and Norway/Sweden continuing throughout the Viking Age
P312 - massive expansion into Southern Europe and the British Isles during Bell Beaker times - continuing population growth - migration to Scandinavia starting with the Viking Age
S1194 - a bit boring because of too few samples - basically most of them staying somewhat close to the English Channel
[Dirk Struve 18 July 2025. (R-S1194 FTDNA Group participant)].
The evidence demonstrates a good overal coverage of excavated archaeological burial sites thus far, the brother haplogroup's (U106 & P312) being found widespread in Europe and reaching Briton very early on, consistent with post Japhite migrations.
The "Father" Haplotype R-L151 is mainly found (but not exclusively) from ancient burials, in the areas of what we now know as the Czech Republic (Bohemia) the stronghold of the more recent "Celtic" Boii tribe.
R-S1194 apears in the region much later than U106 & P312, apearing circa 600 BC in northern Gaul and later into Briton circa 200 BC (Pre Roman Invasion) we find them In an area said by the Romans to have been occupied by the Atrebates tribe in close proximity to the archaeological Palatial complex at Fishbourne in Sussex, That of King Cogidubnus, (Aviragus of the Silures ?) decended from King Ludd.
Of note, Caratacus, was as a Silurian King later to lead the Catuvellauni, Trinovantes & Atrebates as High King of Briton against the Roman Invasions.
Other later burials in the Cambridgshire areas, Gog Magog, hills (Gwar Madoc "Madoc The Great") ("of the giants", of greater stature) Later, said by the Romans, to have been occupied by the Trinovantes (New Troy) & Catuvellauni, Kings and Leaders of which were also decended from King Ludd the Brother of the Gaulish King Llefelys, inturn all decended of King Beli (Bolgios/Belgius/Belgae ?).
The sparsity of R-S1194 in both modern DNA test & historical archaeological burial data, is in stark contrast to its brother haplogroup's of R-U106 & R-P312 and its late appearance and small numbers, may be of great significance.
The Roman genocides of the opposing Belgae and British tribes would account for R-S1194's small numbers genetic, diversely, spread thin branches. The late appearance of this haplogroup incidently coincides with the migratory path and timeline of those that migrated after the Trojan war of 650 BC, if connected, that in its self and the many conflicts encountered on that migratory journey would also have significantly effected its numbers.
Modern day test samples show significant presence in the Belgium & British Isles area's. in Briton & Ireland many Belgic tribes migrated to these areas (there kinsmen) as the Roman expansions continued. Notably there are also samples found in Italy as you would expect, many captives were taken back to Rome during this period and later as the Roman empire collapsed the confederated oppressed tribes of northern Europe decended on Rome where we find R-S1194, appropriately dated Lombard cemetery burials.
Ballard Name Origins in this context. The Ballard Family of Monmouthshire & Herefordshire & The Welsh Knight "Daffydd Ballard" (all well documented throughout Monmouthshire, Herefordshire Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, producing Wm Ballard March King of Arms etc etc ect, a John Ballard of Much Dewchurch, of the same family, a son James Ballard a Priest).
This family interconnected in documents with Welsh/Briton families, of interest and to note. Paul De la Hay, to Lord Burghley. 1597/8, March 13. According to your will and command I have perused my father-in-law Cecil's will, and the 6th inst. celebrated the funerals, as followeth. First, 6 poor men of that parish in gowns went before the coffin; next to them, the preacher James Ballard, a prebend[ary] of the church of Hereford, and a Cecil/Sysilt by descent, in his mourning gown. [Source. Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House, Volume 8: 1598].
Wm Cecill (Lord Burley) traces his linage back to through to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ap Seisyyt ap Ednywain ap Pyll ap Sandde ap Gwyddno ap Afflach (Ludd) ap Beli
including notabally the families of Vaughan, Wynstone, Moninigton, Abrahall, Baskerville, de Knell, de Tregoz,
Note. both "Beli-Hardd" of Gwent/Ewyas & "le/de Belward" of Chester, have Welsh/Brition, origins.
"Beli Hardd ap Brochveal / Brochwael / Brochfeal / Brochmail / Brochuial / Brohomagli / et all" aka "Beluard de Caruen" Ballard of Cearwent. [Domesday Survey 1086.]. (Cearwent capital of Eywas, historic capital of the Silures) Could be one and the same "Bellward de Mealor of Holt & Malpas". A branch of the former family moved into the Somerset, Devon & Dorset areas, as far south as the "Ballard Downs" at Swanage, Dorset, using the surname (de) (K)Caraent/(K)Carent/(K)Carant. et all, it is not improbable, that part of this or another branch could have become, Ballard.
The name "Brochwell and its varients are known to be more commonly found in the Royal dynasties of Powys.
Darrell Wolcot, "Ancient Wales Studies" proposes convincing origins for both "Beli-Hardd" & "Le Belward"
BELI HARDD ap BROCHWEL, LORD OF CAERWENT By Darrell Wolcott "Ancient Wales Studies"
Owain ap Beluard de Cauren ap Brochwel III Ap Aeddan III of Guilsfield (Powys) - Back through Vortigen to Ludd.........Beli Maur
(Domesday entry 1086).
WILLIAM LE BELWARD - THE "MALPAS" FAMILY IN CHESHIRE By Darrell Wolcott "Ancient Wales Studies"
William Belward ap Gruffudd ap Owain ap Iago ap Idwal Feol ap Anarawd ap Rhodri Maur (King of Gwynedd & Powys)
(no Domesday entry).
Note; Another family (Brochfeal) shows up in Gwent/Eywas (Founded by the Silures, Britons, Ewyas / Ewias / Euas, its Capital being Caerwent (Caer/Fort Gwent) connected to Caradock / Caratacus son of High King Bran Fendigaid.) that "could" connect to "Beli-Hardd".
c. 872 - c. 910 (joint tribal kingship with brother, Fermail ap Meurig) "Brochfeal ap Maurig ap Artheal". King of Gwent, (Artheal/King Arthur).
later we find, "Gwriad ap Brochfeal" father of "Noe / Nowy ap Gwraid" King of Gwent/Eywas (Monmouthshire) 950s.
Nowy / Noe / Noui - 1066, (Domesday entry) Land Holder at Archenfield (Ergyng part of Eywas) being the origin of the ap Einion / Hynham / Baynham family. who's family were allied in many documents to the "de Carent/Beli-Hardd" family in Somersetshire etc
This family is Silurian and traces back to "Beli Maur".
DNA Test Results & Cambridgeshire
The above is all of conjecture and needs much research, More to add/update in due course as more join and further genetic referance data becomes avaliable.
Group 2 - Ballard Y. Origin.
"Anglo/Norman"
R1b-P312 > R-FGC36918 + (30th October 2022
Preliminary findings, Decended from Earls of Arundel, Bosc-Le-Hard “The Feudal chief of the Borards in Buckinghamshire were the family of De Albini (d’Aubigny). The "de Boisrohard" ancestral lands would be: Bosc-Le-Hard in Normandy; St Aubin- d’Aubigne.
Brothers (Wm Q Retinue 1066)
Rogerius (Roger) (Borrard) de Boscroard, of Bosc-Le-Hard, arr, Dieppe - 1086, Domesday land in Buckinghamshire - Clifton, Feudatory tenants of Robert de Todeni
Willelm (William) (Borrard) de Boscroard, of Bosc-Le-Hard, arr, Dieppe - 1086, Domesday land in Buckinghamshire - Clifton, Feudatory tenants of Robert de Todeni
Gregory Ballard, Chief Butler of England (1396–1399) Kent. (son of Thomas Ballard MP for Wycombe, Buckinghamshire).
The Chief Butler of England is an office of Grand Sergeanty associated with the feudal Manor of Kenninghall in Norfolk. The office requires service to be provided to the Monarch at the Coronation, in this case the service of Pincera Regis, or Chief Butler at the Coronation banquet. William d'Aubigny, 2nd Earl of Arundel, (1176–1193) or William de Arundel was Chief Butler of England passing down several generations then on through the FitzAlan family on to Gregory Ballard (1396–1399).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Butler_of_England
Three BIGY700 BALLARD samples have recently been identified as being under the SNP, R1b-P312 > R-FGC36918 this SNP dating to around 1000 ybp.
names included under this SNP; BALLARD, RANDOLF, HOWARTH, EATON, MOBRAY.
In early documents, what are described as, Anglo Norman BALLARD's, the Name Randolph Ballard features, this could correlate for the samples tested with the surname Randolph (fils "son of") and the name being handed down earlier on.
The surname HOWARTH could be a variant of HOWARD, descended form the Earls of Arundel
On quick inspection, early, EATON families appear to be in proximity to BALLARD allied family names including HUSSEY and FITZALAN.
The name MOWBRAY, descend from Nigel d'Aubigny / Albini - 1st Earl of Arundel - founder of the House of Mowbray. The ancient decent of this line going back into Norway "Normans".
My conjecture is that the name BALLARD, in this line, developed and anglicised from the Norman family name (d'Aubigny) Bosc-le hard > Bosco de Rohardi > Boscroard > de Borard > Baltard and its other various cadences. A small amount of internet research will soon show the connections.
In summary, This line needs a great deal of work to firm up the connection, but enough circumstantial evidence exists to investigate a relationships to the "Earls of Arundel" and the "Kent Ballard's".
If you able to find substantive pedigrees for this line and the owners are reluctant to take a DNA test to confirm due to cost constraints, you may be able to sway them if you offer to sponsor this single SNP test.
The terminal SNP for this BALLARD line currently stands at; R-FGC43146.
The terminal "Catch all", SNP is approximately R-FGC36918 - https://discover.familytreedna.com/y-dna/R-FGC36918/tree
The Barons of 12th Century Buckinghamshire
Compilation of Rough Research Notes on Early Ballards
Group 3 - Ballard Y. Origin.
"Lombard Merchants"
G-L14
Preliminary findings
Compilation of Rough Research Notes on "Society Of Bellardi" of Lucca & London.