Contacts and
Keep Family Links

How to Participate

 

These instructions are directed to males with the last name Keep.  Others who may be interested in being tested should contact Bob or John, email links below, for information.

 

If you have questions about the Project, be sure to read the pages on the bar to the left.  In addition, questions can be answered by using the email links to Bob Warner or John Keep on the bottom of this page.

 

Here are the steps:  (You may want to print this page.)

 

1.  Complete your family information according to the questionnaire below.

 

 2.  Go to the familytreedna link below to sign up directly with the lab on their site in the following manner:

 

a.  After clicking the link below and arriving at the site, click the Reqest to Join on the upper left. 

 

b.  This will take you to the Keep Project page where you can follow the links and fill in the order form. 

 

c.  Complete your order.   Before ordering, please read below about what test to consider taking.

 

Clink this familytreedna.com link  where you will place your order.

 

The following family information must be sent to either Bob for United States Keeps or John for the rest of the world. 

 

You may want to copy and paste the following questions to your email message for ease in providing this required information:

 

1.   Full Name

 

2.  Mailing Address

 

3.   Email Address

 

4.  John Keep descendants:  Please give your Keep genealogy number found in "John Keep of Longmeadow" or list your Keep line back as far as you can.  Please give birth/death dates and names of spouses whenever possible, and the names of your siblings. 

 

5.  Other U. S. and British Keeps:  List your Keep line back as far as possible.  Please give birth/death dates and names of spouses whenever possible, and the names of your siblings.

 

If you are not able to go back very far, please don't let this stop you from participating.  The test results, with genealogy work, may help you greatly.

 

6.  Keeps around the world:  Please try to establish your connection to British or American Keeps, though finding such a link may be your reason for participating.  In any event,  list your ancestral line back as far as possible, giving data as in #5 above.

 

7.  It is not intended at this time to request permission from participants to publish individual test results.  Individual test results will never be displayed on this website without the express permission of the participant.

 

Use these email links to send this information--Bob for Keeps in the United States, and John for Keeps in the rest of the world.

 

 

 

English Keeps, 1600s
KEEP FAMILY GENEALOGY
DNA PROJECT
What to consider before choosing which test to order.

 

Y-chromosome analysis for genealogy research in the human male is still in its infancy, but it is rapidly evolving as techniques develop and knowledge and understanding increases. The DNA Testing Explained page provides an insight into the testing of "markers" in the non-recombinant or "junk" (what has been formerly considered useless) DNA of the Y-chromosome.  

 

The most basic test available is for 12 markers, which if the results are found to be identical to the other participants suggests a very likely indication that they share a common ancestry, and are related. The more markers you choose to have tested and the more identical the matches found, the degree of probability increases, ambiguous results are avoided, and meaningful data obtained.

 

Example of Four 12 Marker Test Results.

 

 

 

Locus

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Participant

Haplogroup

DYS#

393

390

19

391

385a

385b

426

388

439

389-1

392

389-2

One

I1

Alleles

14

22

15

10

13

14

11

14

11

12

11

28

Two

I1

Alleles

14

22

15

10

13

14

11

14

11

12

11

28

Three

I1

Alleles

14

22

15

10

13

13

11

14

11

12

11

28

Four

I1

Alleles

14

22

15

10

13

14

11

14

11

18

11

28

 

This example shows four participants in a 12 marker test. All four share the same surname, and are from the same Haplogroup*. Participants One and Two have identical matches in all 12 markers or Locus, which indicates that they share a common ancestry, and that they are related.  Participant Three’s tests show a difference of 1 at locus 6, which indicates that they share a common ancestry, but further back in time, i.e. one of the branches of the family tree.  Number Four has a difference at locus 10 of 6; therefore, they are not related.

 

           *Haplogroups relate to deep ancestry, 10,000 years or more. I1 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

 

The degree of identical matches in marker values in two individuals, i.e. 25 identical out of 25 within the same surname, indicates a common ancestor. Occasionally a mutation or small harmless change may occur at one of the markers as it is passed from father to son.  The difference in marker values if there is not a complete match, i.e. 24 out of 25, if the one marker is different by a value of 1, then there most likely is a common ancestor, but further back in time.  If the difference is by a value of 3, then the probability is that there is no common ancestor.  The rates at which different Y-chromosome markers change or mutate are still not yet clearly understood or defined.  An empiric average mutation rate figure is being quoted about 1 mutation in every 500 genetic exchanges; however, different markers mutate at different rates and at different rates in different families.

 

The specific aim of this project is to link specific individuals to John Keep of Longmeadow to establish his ancestry before arriving in America in 1666, but it is also intended to build up a picture of the ancestry of people sharing the surname Keep, or a variation on the name, throughout the world.

 

Our initial tests are encouraging, demonstrating a 64 out of 67 match between Marcus Keep and John Lister Keep. The difference in values in respect to the 3 differences is 1 in each case.  Up to the 37 marker tests the results were identical. So consider what test you want to undertake.  Whilst a 67 test would be ideal, you can always opt for a lesser number and then upgrade if you wish at a later date.  Whatever you decide it is very much appreciated that you have decided to participate in and take this project forward.

 

Keep Trivia
Keep DNA Project
Progress Report