About us
TREADWAY/TREADAWAY/TREDWAY/TREDAWAY
Y and mt-DNA PROJECT
Welcome to the Treadway/Treadaway/Tredway/Tredaway Y and mt-DNA Project. According to the Surname Database (1), the surname of Treadway/Treadaway/Tredway/Tredaway and also Tredry are Anglicised forms of the Cornish (Celtic) surname of Threthwy and Thretheway, located in and around Cornwall. The meaning of our surname is "David's Settlement"; "tre" = settlement or homestead and "Dewi" = the personal name of David which translates to beloved. Merriam Webster (2) states the following in regards to the word "Surname": 1 - an added name derived from occupation or other circumstance. 2 - the name borne in common by members of a family. The word "Surname" was first used in the 14th Century. We encourage all males with the surname same or similar to this Projects surnames to be tested; Y-DNA67 test is recommended.
The Surname Database (1) also states that the first record of our surname was an Andrew de Tredewi in 1210 in the Feet of Fines Court in Cornwall. Listed in the greater London area include: Anges Tredway of Harlington in Middlesex in 1557, Elizabeth Thretheway of Truro, Cornwall in 1629, and Ann Treadway in Blackfires in 1683.
500 years ago Cornwall was considered to be it 500 years ago Cornwall was considered to be its own country with its own language, style of dress, and folklore according to BBC History (3). Cornwall was isolated; it is a peninsula that jets out 90 miles into the Atlantic Ocean on the extreme South Western corner of the British Isles. The article goes on to state that: "after the collapse of the Roman rule in Britain, many of the original British inhabitants took refuge also known as Celts after they were driven westward by the Saxons" (3). Cornwall slowly was absorbed into the British Isles. Their language at that time was Brythonic (belonging to the southern group of Celtic languages), closely allied with Welsh (3). For more information on Cornwall click here.
OUR HAPLOGROUP
Haplogroup I dates to 23,000 years ago, or older. The I-M253 lineage likely has its roots in northern France. Today it is found most frequently within Viking/Scandinavian populations in northwest Europe and has since spread down into Central and Eastern Europe, where it is found at low frequencies. Haplogroup I represents one of the first peoples in Europe.
References:
1. The Surname Database (1980 - 2017). Last name Treadway. Retrieved from http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Treadway
2. Merriam Webster (2018). Surname. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surname
3. BBC History (2018). The Cornish a neglected nation? Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/cornish_nation_01.shtml