Y-DNA

Three types of DNA can be used to support relationships between individuals: autosomal (atDNA), Y-DNA, and mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA does not apply to studying Daniel Paine’s family since it passes along maternal lines. Since atDNA can help confirm relationships for only four to five generations, it does not help identify family members born in the 17th to 18th centuries. This leaves Y-DNA as the most effective tool for confirming the traditional genealogical research into Daniel Paine’s descendants and for identifying his parents.

The Y chromosome is passed from father to son, remaining mostly unaltered across generations, except for small traceable changes in DNA. Test results can provide evidence of a common paternal ancestor within about fifteen generations. FamilyTreeDNA’s Big Y-700 test offers an advanced methodology for identifying single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences and 111 Short Tandem Repeats (STR) markers over the genealogically significant regions of the Y chromosome. Y-SNP testing detects genetic variations unique to a family line, allowing for the identification of haplogroups, discovery of new branches (new haplogroups), and connections between closely related men.

Y-DNA also tells us where we fall on humankind's family tree. All male lineages trace back to a single common ancestor who lived hundreds of thousands of years ago. Researchers have identified haplogroups, genetic population groups of people who share a common ancestor, within this global family tree. Top-level haplogroups are assigned alphabet letters, and deeper refinements consist of additional number and letter combinations. Our top-level haplogroup is I1, aka I-M253. All men in the I-M253 haplogroup descend from just one man who lived roughly 4600 years ago.

Haplogroup I1 is the most common type of haplogroup I in northern Europe. It is found mainly in Scandinavia and Finland, typically representing over 35% of the Y chromosomes. Associated with the Norse ethnicity, I1 is found in all places invaded by ancient Germanic tribes and the Vikings. After the core of ancient Germanic civilization in Scandinavia, the highest frequencies of I1 are observed in other Germanic-speaking regions, such as Germany, Austria, the Low Countries, England, and the Scottish Lowlands, which all have between 10% and 20% of I1 lineages.

Haplogroup I is the oldest major haplogroup in Europe and, in all probability, the only one that originated there (apart from minor haplogroups and deep subclades of other haplogroups). Haplogroup IJ would have arrived from the Middle East to Europe some 35,000 years ago and then developed into haplogroup I soon afterward. It has now been confirmed by ancient DNA testing that some of the first Homo sapiens to colonize Europe during the Aurignacian period (45,000 to 28,000 years ago) belonged to haplogroup I.

As of February 2025, 11 male descendants of Daniel Paine agreed to take a Big Y-700 test. The chart below shows how these men are related according to traditional genealogy research. Fortunately, we have test results from the two major family lineages headed by John (1725-1777) and Jacob (1727-1773), and the DNA results confirm the traditional research. I’m hoping that descendants of Wrixham (1755-1827) and Moses Upshur (1766-1815) agree to test to confirm these family lines.

All the men tested share the SNP mutation I-FTE27452 that branched off from the ancestor with SNP mutation I-FTE28350 and the rest of mankind around 550 CE. I believe I-FTE27452 occurred in John (1698-1755), Daniel Sr.’s grandson. Another SNP mutation, I-FTG40357, occurred around 1750 and most likely occurred in either John (1770-1842) or Levin (1748-1821). A third SNP mutation, I-FTG43544, occurred around 1800 CE, and I believe this happened in Levin D. (1833-1911).

I’ve identified 28 living male descendants of William Paine of Ipswich and contacted them to see if anyone was interested in taking a Big Y-700 test, and one descendant has agreed. His test results will either confirm that William Paine of Ipswich is Daniel’s father or rule him out as a possibility.

To learn more about our haplogroup, check out this article on Eupedia: https://www.eupedia.com/europe/Haplogroup_I1_Y-DNA.shtml. To see how our ancestors migrated from Africa, view FamilyTreeDNA’s Migration Map here: https://discover.familytreedna.com/y-dna/I-M253/migration. You’ll need to create a free account at FamilyTreeDNA to use their Discover tools.