I realize many of you will probably skip to this page first and that is understandable. All I ask is that, if you have not done so already, please take a look at the Y-DNA Overview, Genealogy Background, and Acknowledgements pages at your convenience. I believe you will better understand the journey it took to get to this point. Simply put, this is not an “overnight success” story. Plus, I am a firm believer in ‘giving credit where credit is due.’ I fully acknowledge that these current Y-DNA findings would not be possible without the efforts of other researchers and Y-DNA testers. On those pages, I have introduced a few of those incredible individuals, and once I have permission to do so, I would love to acknowledge more..
Lastly, please know that even after decades of research, in some ways, this is just the beginning. Only within recent months did I find the original baptismal records noted in the graphic below. The good news is that we now believe we know where Jacob Wannamaker (b.~1714 – d. 1768 SC) was born. However, we still need to find more documents and Y-DNA participants to further support these findings and to continue to answer more questions overall. Until then, we thought it was important to share what we know at this point with the Wannamaker community at large. We think it’s exciting and hope that you do, too.
One benefit of Y-DNA testing is to narrow down the field of possibilities. For the SC branch of the Wannamaker family, I believe Y-DNA was absolutely essential. On Ancestry, my family has DNA cousins who have Wannamaker ancestry throughout the US, Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland. Some would think that having all these matches would be helpful in finding Jacob’s (b.~1714) baptismal record, but it’s not. The amount of shared DNA between two people who are so distantly related is usually too small to determine an exact common ancestor. This is especially true if they share more than one.
In the map below, the red circles represent the hometowns of Wannemacher ancestors found throughout my family’s DNA matches on Ancestry. In the German Genealogy courses I have taken, it was suggested that I look through the church books of all the churches within a 20-mile radius of my ancestor’s hometown. Well, not only did we not know Jacob’s exact birthplace, but considering the number of German hometowns noted throughout the DNA matches, I wouldn’t even know where we begin.
Feeling somewhat optimistic, I went to my local LDS center and ordered many rolls of microfilm. After a few weeks of “turning the dial” and seeing so many baptismal records for other Wannemachers, the task at hand felt daunting. At this time, I did not even know “if” nor “how” we were related to them. I felt defeated, and I have not been back since.
In the back of my mind, I knew that Y-DNA testing was going to be my last hope of finding Jacob’s baptismal record. In brief, I had learned that Y-DNA results could narrow down geographical origins, confirm kinships, help identify fathers in cases of unknown parentage, and extend direct paternal lines of descent. Thankfully, my father agreed, and he became the first Wannamaker to take a Y-DNA test. Then, everything changed.
This graphic represents an overview of the current Y-DNA findings of the Wannamaker DNA Surname Project at Family Tree DNA and the extensive genealogical research conducted by members within these family groups.
Printable version: Wannamaker YDNA Findings 081818
UPDATE FOR DECEMBER 2018
Additional Big Y-500 and/or Big Y-700 tests have been ordered for two of these kits. Results are expected in the first quarter of 2019.
UPDATE FOR JULY 2, 2019
We also have results pending for a new Y-DNA tester. Unfortunately, results for some of these kits have been delayed for a second time. I appreciate your patience. It may help to know that BigY-700 is the most advanced Y-DNA test to date, providing us with the opportunity to learn and gather more data through improved testing methodologies. The results are discovering more SNPs than ever before and helping to further develop the haplotree of mankind. If you’re interested in ordering a test for a direct paternal line in your family, you can order a test at Family Tree DNA. Keep a look out for sales throughout the year.
In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about BigY-700 testing and how the results can be used for genealogical purposes, please join Bill Wood’s Facebook Group. Since 2018, he has provided a wonderful service to the Y-DNA community at large, helping new and seasoned Y-DNA testers to better understand this more advanced test. Especially important, Bill has created helpful guides for users, and you can always ask questions within the group. These three files are essential:
– Understanding BigY-700
– BigY-700 and SNP Convergence Dates
– BigY-700 and the Rule of Three
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Here is a map of select routes that were taken when various Wannemacher family members left Darmstadt.
I have anticipated several questions about these findings and how they relate to the extended Wannamaker family and more specifically, how they relate to the SC branch of the family. I recommend that you print the Y-DNA Findings graphic to have on hand while reading through the answers of the following questions and other topics.
2. Are ALL Wannamakers related?
3. Why do you think this Jacob is “our” immigrant ancestor?
5. I thought Jacob Wannamaker (SC) was from “the City of Speyer.” Is this still true?
6. The Wannemacher family of Ezhausen
7. The Wannmaker family of Hans Bernhard Wannemacher from Asbach
8. What is a “R-S1480” and what does it tell us about the Wannemacher family?
9. Do you recommend Y-DNA testing?
10. Why is researching Family History and Genetic Genealogy important to you?
Julia Wannamaker
juliawannamaker@gmail.com
Project Administrator
Family Tree DNA (FTDNA)
Wannamaker DNA Surname Project
August 18, 2018
Wannamaker Genealogy 