The Earliest Known Ancestor (or EKA for short) represents the farthest back in generation (and often time) ancestor known along a particular line. It is the EKA that often defines a family branch and used as a stake in the ground from which to study before and after. Specifically, following forward in time the chain of descendants to find cousins. And casting a wider net of search backward in time to find the ancestors of the EKA.
In this study project, Patrilineal studies are most often identified by the EKA ancestor that likely represented the modal marker values uncovered by DNA testing of current ancestors. Occasionally, a line is identified by a more famous descendant or a more recent, better known ancestor. The line then will mention the currently known EKA in addition to the person used to identify the line. When lines are merged through advancement of study, a previous EKA may still be mentioned as important names for genealogical study purposes.
A synonym sometimes seen for EKA is Most Distant Known Ancestor (or MDKA). We have also seen MDCA used but believe this to be a an improper acronym to adopt; due to closeness with the related but very different Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) term. We believe Earliest/Distant and Known should be used exclusively together and the terms Recent and Common similarly used exclusively together.
In this study project, Patrilineal studies are most often identified by the EKA ancestor that likely represented the modal marker values uncovered by DNA testing of current ancestors. Occasionally, a line is identified by a more famous descendant or a more recent, better known ancestor. The line then will mention the currently known EKA in addition to the person used to identify the line. When lines are merged through advancement of study, a previous EKA may still be mentioned as important names for genealogical study purposes.
A synonym sometimes seen for EKA is Most Distant Known Ancestor (or MDKA). We have also seen MDCA used but believe this to be a an improper acronym to adopt; due to closeness with the related but very different Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) term. We believe Earliest/Distant and Known should be used exclusively together and the terms Recent and Common similarly used exclusively together.