The Phylogenetic Network Diagram, below, shows the six Galbraith DNA groups that have been identified so far, based on FTDNA 25 marker Y chromosome tests. Group 3 is I1c haplotype, along with Kit #16700 and 37682, which are far separated from Group 3. A good narrative on the history and geographic distribution of this haplotype is located HERE along with a listing and discussion of other groups outside the Galbraith surname that have the I1c haplotype.

All of the other groups are R1b. The path lengths along the network lines are proportional to the distance in mutations between group members and between groups, and is also a very rough picture of the relative distances in time to a most recent common ancestor between group members and between groups

Galbraith Phylogenetic Network

The larger colored circles indicate that several members of these groups had a 25/25 marker match. It can be seen that Group 3 is extremely far separated from the other five groups and suggests that there was no common ancestor with the other five groups since before the last glacial maximum roughly 10,000 years ago. The other five groups likely shared a common ancestor several thousand years ago. The four members who do not fall in a current group will likely become the nucleus of additional family groups as more members are tested. This occurred when groups five and six were formed.

The usefulness of these groupings lies in the fact that after several group members are found to share the same or similar paper genealogies, then the remaining group members can be assumed to share this same general patriarchal line. This information then points the other members toward the correct areas to continue their paper research.

Some day it may be possible to find the common ancestor of the members of some of the groups. In other cases, the common ancestor may be too far back in time for conventional genealogy research methods to identify him.

Email Project Coordinator: