MY MORELL - FTDNA TEST RESULTS ARE BACK
Hi Folks:
It has been about five months since I last introduced something regarding my family history. It all started years ago with my paper trail based on Family Records, World membership in Ancestry.com, and all the curious and kind people on many of the Surname Forums of Ancestry.com, Genforum, and the forums in Ireland, Scotland, England, and Germany.
Then I started my research with Surname History Associations like the House of Names and researched both Morell and Murrell since I had written proof that my ancestors held both surnames in England, Scotland, and Ireland. I never came upon the name Morel or Morrell as being one of the derivations. My Surname History for both Morell and Murrell was the same and indicated I was of Anglo Norman Descnet. I concluded my surname was changed back and forth only in Eastern and Northern Ireland for some reason or other.
Lastly I had FTDNA test my Y-DNA with 67 markers where they discovered I had two additional rare markers so I have 67 marker test done. I tested positive for the R1b1b2a1a (U106+). Based on the FTDNA Surname, Geographical, and Haplogroup Forums, it appears so far that I am of Frisian ancestry. The Frisians assisted the Normans at the Battle of Hastings against the Saxons.
Frisia existed back between 1700 BC and 750 AD. Frisia included Northern Germany betweeen the Alps and the North Sea (Called German Sea back then), all of the Netherlands between the borders of Denmark and border of France, the Frisian Islands as they are today, and the South western coastline of Denmark.
The Frisians were the oldest of the six northern Germanic tribes (Frisians, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, and Lombards).
Anyway out of the millions of DNA donors, Morells, Murrells, Morels, and Morrells were few. They had a Murrell DNA Project but it had few and I did not match any of them. I did have quite a few using the name Morrison that matched from Scotland and Netherlands.
I had over 300 Exact 12 Y-DNA marker matches, several hundred with only one marker difference, nd obvously a lot more with 2 and 3 marker differences. As they did more markers, the numbers declines and zoomed on to Morrison and a few other names.
I challenge more Morells and Murrells to participate in the World's largest DNA Database that is also the most advanced in the world today. The prices are also much cheaper then elsewhere considering it is the largest. I recoommend especially male members to have both their Y-DNA and mtDNA to be done to the most amount of markers, it cost more to upgrade in the future. Once your main Haplogroup is determined, for Examble R1a or R1b, they will offer a deep R Subclade Test for about $80-$90,definitely order it and you will have the best accuracy and resolution. If they offer more than 67 marker test, do that as well. If you sign the release form you will have contact access to other matching donors and can communicate.
All the above has been one terrific journey of both my ancestry and learning a lot of history a long the way. I can see why some schools assign this type of project to HS Students. They will learn how to research as a scientist does backing up all their sources using most recent knowledge basis.
I recommend Morell, Murrell, Morrell, and Morel joining a geographical project when you first join. Pick the country other than the US where your last family member came from. You can join as many as you want after the test results start coming back. DEFINITELY JOIN A PROJECT FOR ALMOST A 50% DISCOUNT PLUS ANY PROMOTIONS BEING RUN BY FTDNA.
Bill Morell