DNA Project Results

Our Joines/Joynes/Jines DNA Project began in 2007 with the first Y-DNA test from a man bearing the Joines surname. His results identified him as belonging to haplogroup T (T-M70), a lineage that has provided fascinating insights into our deep ancestry.

Haplogroup T-M70: An Ancient Lineage with Middle Eastern Roots

Haplogroup T is a relatively rare Y-DNA lineage, originating between 15,000 and 22,000 years ago. It descends from haplogroup K, which gave rise to many Eurasian haplogroups. Today, haplogroup T is most common in East Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Southern Europe, but it appears in smaller percentages across Europe, including the British Isles.

Most of our project members belong to the T-M70 subclade, which likely arose in the Middle East. The distribution of this haplogroup in Cyprus, Sicily, Tunisia, Iberia, and coastal North Africa suggests it may have spread via ancient seafaring civilizations such as the Phoenicians (1200-800 BCE). Other possibilities include Roman expansion or early Celtic migrations. Our results indicate that our ancestors may have traveled through these regions before reaching the British Isles.

Key Findings from Our DNA Project

• Common Ancestry of American Joines/Joynes/Jines Families:
  DNA testing has confirmed that all tested American project members share a common paternal ancestor. Many trace their lineage back to Edmund Joynes, who lived in Virginia in the late 1600s. However, additional research is needed to confirm whether Edmund Joynes is the earliest common ancestor.
• Ezekiel Joines Lineage Confirmed:
  In Wilkes County, North Carolina (1803), Ezekiel Joines' will mentioned his son Thomas and another son, Edmund Joines alias Edmund Gunter. A Y-DNA test between descendants of both men proved they shared the same male ancestor, confirming Ezekiel Joines as Edmund’s biological father.
• Connection Between Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina Joines Families:
• Descendants of George W. Joines (Giles County, TN) and Joseph Joines (Kentucky) share a common ancestor with Ezekiel Joines’ descendants.
• A branch of Joseph Joines’ family adopted the Jines spelling, but Y-DNA confirms their shared ancestry with other Joines lines.
• UK and European Connections:
• A man from England with the Joynes surname tested as haplogroup G-M201, proving that not all Joynes/Joines families are genetically related.
• We continue to seek male participants from the UK to help trace our British origins.
• Unexpected Barton Surname Connection:
  Several men with the Barton surname have tested as genetic matches to the Joines/Joynes/Jines families, indicating a yet-undiscovered historical connection. Further testing and research are needed to determine how these lineages are related.

Next Steps: Expanding Our Research

To refine our understanding of our family’s migration and origins, we encourage more UK-based participants to join and take Y-DNA tests. Big Y testing has already traced our ancestors back to Turkey and Lebanon around 8,500 years ago, but we need more data to map out later migrations to Britain and beyond.

If you’re a male with the Joines, Joynes, or Jines surname (or a possible related name), consider taking a Y-DNA test to help us unlock more of our family’s story!