Traditional research
- Genealogies (Alphabetical Ancestor Listing)
- Deleted or combined genealogies
- Name origins and variations, and Genealogies of surname variations
- Families grouped by geographical area
- Research projects and preliminary results
- Research puzzles
DNA research
The tracing of ancestry for African Americans is especially difficult. Genealogists face not only the usual difficulties, but also those caused by slavery and discrimination. This page will identify some of the resources available for genealogical research, as well as some of the information available on this website.
Genealogies on the GFA Website
These are the families with African ancestry that we know about. There are probably sections of other genealogies that belong here also. If your family is not included here but should be, please let us know and send information.
DNA testing is very useful for showing what ancient ancestral group (for example, African or European) a person is descended from, and also showing whether two or more people are descended from a common male ancestor (though an all-male line) or a common female ancestor (through an all-female line). We need to have at least one male with the Graves surname tested in each family to determine the ancestral group (called a haplogroup). A 12-marker Y-DNA test is sufficient for that, but a 37-marker Y-DNA test is needed to show whether two Graves men share a common male Graves ancestor.
- Jim Graves and Melviny ------ of Caswell Co., NC (genealogy 22) -- No DNA tests
- Smith Graves and Charlotte ------ of Prince George & Sussex Co., VA (genealogy 313) -- No DNA tests
- Owens C. Graves and Mary Stewart of MS, TX & LA (genealogy 427) -- No DNA tests
- Hercules Graves and Emaline ------ of NC -- No DNA tests
- Parents of Alfred Graves and Evelyn ------ of VA & OH (genealogy 636) -- No DNA tests
- Enos Graves of Coleridge Twp., Randolph Co., NC (genealogy 789) -- 1 Y-DNA test
- Stepney Graves and Adeline ------ of TN & KY (genealogy 824) -- No DNA tests
- Ned Graves and Virginia ------ of Campbell Co., VA (genealogy 969) -- No DNA tests
DNA Testing and Test Results
Only a few of the descendants who are known to have African ancestry have taken part in our DNA study. All of those so far tested are E1b1a (previously called E3a). Haplogroup E1b1a is an African lineage. It is currently hypothesized that this haplogroup dispersed south from northern Africa within the last 3,000 years with the Bantu agricultural expansion. E1b1a is also the most common lineage among African Americans. It is an old, diverse haplogroup with many branches and is found distributed throughout Africa today. It is also found at a very low frequency in North Africa and the Middle East.
It would be very helpful to have genealogies for the families of all people tested. If we have matching DNA test results but no genealogies, there will be no way to know how these people may be related.
- DNA sample N19423, 12 markers, haplogroup E1b1a (previously E3a), genealogy unknown
- DNA sample 32262, 12 markers, haplogroup E1b1a (previously E3a), genealogy unknown
- DNA sample 32505, 12 markers, haplogroup E1b1a (previously E3a), genealogy 789
References to African Americans on this Website
Famous/Notable Family Members Page
- Denyce Graves, opera singer
- Clinton Greaves, Buffalo soldier and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor
- Alex Haley, American author
Current News Page. Stories about African Americans include:
- June 15, 2008, Joseph Graves
- June 13, 2008, Reuben Graves
- June 3, 2007, Earl Graves
- June 1, 2007, Denyce Graves
Sources for learning more
- Family Tree DNA website. If you want to order a DNA test, do it as part of the Graves DNA project, since it will be less expensive and we will help you interpret the results.
- African American Research article in Ancestry Magazine here.
- Afrigeneas is a site devoted to African American genealogy.
- CAAGRI, the Center for African American Genealogical Research, Inc.
- Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware from a book about the history of the free African American community as told through the family history of most African Americans who were free in the Southeast during the colonial period.
- Cyndi's List of Genealogy sites for African American Research
Other interesting and helpful information (blogs, etc.)
- "How Misunderstanding Genealogy DNA Tests Can Cause Unnecessary Ethnic Confusion" is an interesting blog entry on Axinar.