FAUX SURNAME DNA PROJECT
Genealogical Links:
The Purpose of the DNA Project

The purpose of the present project is to use
the DNA findings to tie participants to their
branch of the FAUX families; to link them
up with their genetic cousins; and to
hopefully determine their deep ancestral
roots (e.g., whether there is evidence that
their male ancestor was a Viking). Any
FAUX who is interested in joining this
project can click on the various sites / links
on the left.  Here you will find large FAUX
databases from traditional genealogical
sources.  In addition, you may wish to click
on the Family Tree DNA website (they are
the lab chosen for the purposes of this
project and offer participants discount prices
for the testing) so see what is involved if you
do decide to participate.  Note that they offer
12, 25, and 37  marker testing.  My
recommendation is that participants chose
the 25 option (169USD) as it will better
permit the realization of the goals of this
project and keep potential problems to a
minimum (e.g., I have 10 random matches
with unrelated individuals when just looking
at  12 markers).

If your surname is FAUX (or you are
reasonably sure this spelling of your the
Project Administrator  at the e-mail address
on the left, who  will send a "join
authorization" with further details (e.g., how
to order the cheek swab sample kit).  With
confirmation of your registration, the
Administrator will send a private URL
providing information on introductory
genetics, the Y chromosome, searchable
databases, and research articles that will
help participants better understand their
results.  The Administrator will, however,
provide individual feedback to all
participants so they can have a clearer
awareness the meaning of their individual
results.

Example of Potential Use of DNA
Testing

An example of how important this form of
research can be is seen in the long and
fruitless search by many persons to try to
link the FAUX family of Croxton, Norfolk
County with the family of the same name
residing just on the other side of the County
line in Suffolk.  The circumstantial evidence
is very strong (e.g., use of the unusual
forenames Gregory and Burrell in both
families), but there is one "missing"
generation.  Since the documnetary evidence
firmly connects the Administrator's branch
(which has continuously resided in Norfolk
back to the 1500s) to Gregory FAUX married
in Croxton in 1642, then if anyone in the
very large Suffolk branch (whose
descendants are now found in Essex,
Northamptonshire, Lancashire, etc.)
matches on 25 markers measured on the Y
chromosome (or 23 markers due to possible
mutation within the time frame of interest),
then this would confirm the connection
between the two large branches.  This is
precisely what has been found (see Lineage 1
link to the left),  and in turn led to a
redoubling of efforts to find the "missing
link" by a team of family members.  I am
pleased to report that thanks to the
Apprenticeship Records that now all
members of this Lineage have proof of
descent from the above Gregory FAUX Sr.
Charles Warren Clarke Faux (1814-1879)
The Y Chromosome

The above Sgt. Charles Faux, a veteran of
Queen Victoria's Wars in Burma, India,
and Pakistan is the great great
grandfather of David K. Faux.  He passed
his Y chromosome to each of his male
descendants down to the present day.  
Therefore his pattern of markers (Short
Tandem Repeats) in the "junk DNA"
section of the Y chromosome would be
identical (or nearly so) with each of his
great great grandsons through the male
line; and for that matter with his own
great great grandfather and so on back to
Norman times and beyond.

Although the surname FAUX may be
relatively rare, it appears that there may
be at least five separate, unrelated
families (Lineages) who just happen by
chance to share the same name.

The documentary record becomes more
and more unreliable through the 1700s
and it is necessary to turn to other
sources to attempt to tie various
individuals to their genetic cousins and
their ancestral heritage.  Perhaps the
best, or only source when traditional
sources (e.g., parish registers, Manorial
records) have been tapped out is
comparison of patterns of Y chromosome
DNA.
DNA Links:
Family Tree DNA
Contact Person: David K.
Faux
Project Administrator's Homepage
Faux Family Search - Rod Faux
Faux Family Genealogy Forum
Faux Family - Derrick Faux
Faux Family - Mark Russell's Site
[email protected]
Lineage 1 DNA Link:
TO PROJECT DNA
DATA:
TO INTERPRETATION OF
DATA:
Faux Family History - David A. Faux