FamilyTreeDNA Rutherford & Ruth** Surname Project — Family C

Y-Chromosome Haplogroup R-P312

Members of Group C are descendants of the Y-DNA haplogroup R-P312, which branched off from R-L151 in about 2850 BCE. This haplogroup is a large genetic population group of individuals who share a common paternal ancestor.

The list below shows the position of R-P312 in the haplogroup lineage (oldest to recent) commencing with R-M269. Haplogroup R-M269 formed about 13000 BCE with its most recent common ancestor being born about 4450 BCE, and it is the most common Y-chromosome haplogroup in Western Europe, defining the largest sub-clade of R1b (R1b1a1b). It is strongly associated with ancient Indo-European migrations, with frequencies exceeding 90% in Wales, Ireland, and the Basque region, and is a key indicator of Celtic descent.

After R-P312 the Group C haplogroup lineage branches to R-Z290 (2850 BCE) — unlike the Group F lineage which branches to R-Z46516 (2850 BCE). Although Group C and Group F both now share the same Rutherford surname, their ancestors are from different lineages that separated over 4875 years ago.

Haplogroup lineage (oldest to recent)

R-M269 — R-L23 — R-L51 — R-P310 — R-L151 — R-P312 — R-Z290 — R-L21 — R-S552 — R-DF13 — R-Z39589 — R-Y126199 — R-BY69231 — R-BY67961 — R-BY93793 — R-FT105716 — R-FT104166

In Group C

In FamilyTreeDNA Rutherford & Ruth** Surname project Group C:

Descendants of R-FT105716 (est. 1639 CE) and R-FT104166 (est. 1684 CE) trace their genealogical family trees back to Robert Rutherford (1634–1724) of Essex County, Virginia. There is some debate as to who Robert Rutherford’s father was and where he came from — this can be explored here. Further (Y-DNA testing) research is required to resolve this genealogical ambiguity by discovering how Group C descendants are related to other Rutherford branches in England and Scotland.

Summary

In summary, at this stage in the research, all the members of Group C in the FamilyTreeDNA Rutherford & Ruth** Surname project are descendants of R-P312 — R-Z290 — R-L21 — R-S552 — R-DF13... lineage, and mainly from subclade R-FT104166. They are distinct from Group F and Group L. All are of American descent with genealogies pointing to Scottish ancestors. Ongoing Y-DNA testing and traditional research together aim to clarify relationships among these lineages.

Y-DNA testing is helping to distinguish separate Rutherford branches within Group C, identify shared ancestry among seemingly unrelated lines, and connect American families back toward their points of origin.