A Surname Study uses DNA matching to enhance good genealogical work on a family branch with a male patriarch. The genetic testing provides additional evidence toward a theory of truth. Often one starts with a large body of genealogical work that is then expanded and confirmed through genetic testing.

This section of our study website is focused on the current body of evidence for family branches of surnames under study in this project; whether yet supported by genetic testing or not. The structure of pages and identifications will evolve and tend to follow the research into records that combine or split previously defined family branches.

Family Branches (of Patrilines) are most often identified by a male Earliest Known Ancestor (or EKA). This because (a) for most western Europeans, the surname is inherited from the patriline (or father) and (b) the yDNA testing matches patrilines through recent and ancient history.

In some cases a more recent, defining ancestor is the better known identification for a patriline branch. If the defining ancestor is not the EKA nor the Most Recent Common Ancestor (or MRCA), then the current EKA is described inside the branch page identified by the defining ancestor. The MRCA will always be that confirmed through DNA and genealogical work.

Note that this may cause problems later as descendants are found from the EKA that branch before the defining ancestor. Hence look for mergers, splits and restructuring over time.

The goal is not to detail the family branches and trees here. Mainly to provide a minimal structure with which to link formerly disparate work that we use DNA evidence to reconfirm, bring together or possibly split apart. We then link to others research and work instead of replicating it here.

We would prefer to identify Family Branches by the surnames of both spouses. We are really building linked nuclear families and not individual patriarchs. But for many of these families, the wife's maiden name (or more properly, her father's surname) is not known. Or sometimes there were several spouses in an evolving nuclear family over time. So we identify the Family Branch by the name of the traditional (and first) male head of household, their date of a BMD event, and the geographic location for that event; as best known. This is an unfortunate fact of recorded history that is all we have to go on to identify and distinguish studies to build a body of evidence into a family branch.

We have categorized the Family Branches in this study into 3 main groups:

1. Active: Active branches with current researchers, DNA test results and often grouping multiple, previously un-linked branches within it as studies mature.
2. Known: Known, Historical ,previously published branches that are not DNA tested and without a current, identified researcher
3. Other: other lines that we include in our project pages for stated reasons.

Active Branches are labelled with a page name of Bnn that forms the family branch identification. Active Branches have strong genealogical and DNA work that has brought together a diverse community of researchers. Ones that often have 10 or more generations before a shared MRCA. Work in these branches is often more mature but new discoveries and startling revelations still occur. As when we discovered, through DNA testing, an ancestor from over 200 years ago was actually in the wrong branch!

Some Active Branches are isolated in that they have a single researcher (or more than one but closely related) and have only a single DNA test result that does not match with anyone else. But they may have genealogical work done back a few hundred years and are simply awaiting another matching tester to help uncover any earlier ancestors. In such cases, we offer them a Family Branch page in hopes of recruiting others.

Known Branches are identified by a page name of Knn and have no identified DNA testers nor active researchers participating . We list them here as a way to collect information we discover when doing general one-name study research. They are historical and often with previously published material. We often then search for current descendants to encourage them to get DNA tested and join the project. At which time they will be moved to Active.

Other Branches are tangential groups that may be a part of this surname study or not.  They may be active. They are given an Onn page name. Future DNA testing or research may pull them in an Active Branches or prove they likely should form their own surname study as they are not a variant of something covered here. If there is any confusion or doubt, we document such family branches here so as to catalog the body of work and reduce confusion. We have already moved one group that had been the source of lots of confusion into an Active Branch after DNA testing showed they overlapped with an existing line in our study.

Those who do a genetic test but do not match to an existing Active Branch, and are not sure of their heritage, are left un-grouped in the yDNA Groupings area and not necessarily depicted in these Family Branches pages. If tested, not matched, but have their own significant genealogical work back a few hundred years, then they are placed in an |active branch but as a singlet. We simply await other DNA testers and genealogical work to build them into a truly |active branch..

The expansion into Autosomal DNA, which often represents more recent, closer known branches (that is, since 1800) are a sub-group of a main Active Branch. Such sub-groups are named Bnn- Snn. These more recent Family Branches will have identified an MRCA who is in the Patriline and who all members of the sub-group should be descended from and test as a positive Autosomal match in that group. With these sub-groups, the study expands to more than just a Patriline to include the wider group of descendants who branched off the line in more recent times. Earlier branches from current study lines must find and test a living Patriline line descendant to form a new autosomal study from their patriline. Most autosomal DNA pages are behind login and visible only to those participants.

General information independent of any branch but of interest about the surnames here is covered in the Support Material section.

Somewhat parallel to the Active Branches are yDNA Groupings studying and developing the DNA evidence. Each yDNA Groupings page corresponds to one or more family branch description pages here. Append the letters DNA to a branch page name (url) to get the matching yDNA Groupings page, if it exists.

Often we find DNA testing all of a sudden pulls together multiple, independent Active Branches (and/or Known Branches) into a single branch. But the cause of the link is not known. That is, there is an unknown common ancestor or an unidentified EKA. To document the search for this unknown EKA, we create an upper-level family branch placeholder with some generic name until the mystery is resolved. That way, the individual Active Branches continue to exist and we have an encompassing branch page to document the search for the matching DNA results. Overtime, the encompassing page will be renamed to the discovered EKA.

Project member David G Hoare has developed a helpful geographic map depicting the current EKA locations of the various branches identified here. In a likewise fashion, we have developed a guide map of his HoareOrigins study groups and clusters to help others utilizing his one-name and surname study body of work. We have his map on our HoareOrigins Guide page. Hopefully we can keep the maps up-to-date in this quickly changing project.

There are too many ancestors in each members family branch, not linked with common ancestors for upwards of 300-500 years back, to have everyone list their individual lineages. So we summarize each researchers lineage based on their (EKA)) and simply reference their work located elsewhere for details. Similarly, we are not creating family branch pages for every ancestor in a line. Only key ones that are well known and are a key anchor point to cluster some body of work. See the links to other's work for detailed family lineages.

Much of the published work of the last 200 years for various family branches link their line back to a Hore line at Risford Manor in County Devon near Chagford that existed from 1330 to 1630. Often the work simply regurgitates information passed on about this family. The linkage is surmised because their work on the EKA abruptly halts before showing a linkage to this family or any other. This is one of the only family lines in the 1500's or earlier with any documentation. We do not want everyone repeating these same claims without stronger justification here. Hence we identify groups with their EKA before any linkage to the Risford Hore line. Any work on the Risford Hore line itself is captured in its own, separate page. If we ever progress far enough to identify actual Risford Hore line descendants, we will notate that line and annotate the other reference material to indicate the new knowledge. We similarly handle the other "ancient" lines such as the Pole Hore's of Wexford, Ireland (reputed to be founding the Risford Hore's of Devon ) and William le Hore of Pembroke, Wales (reputed to be founding the Pole Hore's of Wexford, Ireland ). We will investigate these all as ancient, independent branches until and when strong evidence shows how to link them up.

William le Hore, the reputed flag bearer for Richard "Strongbow" de Clare's army to Ireland in the 1100's, is the oldest known use of the surname. A photo of his ring seal, found in North-central Ireland, is used as the logo for this H600 Surname Study project. The name of William le Hore is reported to come from the Doomsday book. But we have not been able to verify the reference to date (although others claim to have). The Risford Manor Hore line is similarly claimed to be detailed in the visitation of 1620. But we have since learned they were omitted in the original, early manuscript and added in the republications of the mid-1800's. And thus are no more accurate than earlier publications such as Sir Richard Colt Hoare's book of 1819.

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Active Questions looking to resolve

• Does James Horr, b.1812 in Ohio, belong to the Charles Hoare or Hezekiah Hoar line in North America?
  This is actually the question that caused Tim Peterman to found the group in the first place. The first group member was his 4th cousin he had tested. Tim's documentation concludes that this James was likely descended from Josiah Hoar and Lucy Powers; part of the Charles Hoare line. Detailed genealogical work posted by others place James as the son of Robert Horr and Lavina Hamm in the Hezekiah Hoar line.Resolved 22Apr2015.
• From which line is Peter Horr, b.1819abt in Ohio tied to?
  • Traditional records research is drawing blanks. Similarity to others with the surname in the same area is not helping the matter (too many from too many different family branches). Will DNA help narrow the search down? The second project member and now co-admin Randy had this issue to solve. His DNA results gave him an almost immediate answer. That he is a descendant of Hezekiah Hoar due to a near direct match with Gordon Hoard. The DNA results even implied likely from different siblings. Gordon has since joined the project as well.Resolved 30Nov2011 and research page renamed to Robert Hoar 2nd.
  • Who are the parents of Peter Horr, b.1819abt in Ohio?Resolved with DNA on Nov2015 and then further with genealogical evidence on Nov2018
• Which, if any, of the researched family lines trace back (through DNA to the Risford Manor family (of Chagford, Devon)?
  Most of the branches claim this linkage. Often because they hit a brick wall on their EKA about the time that family dispersed. Some also due to usage of a similar coat of arms that is originally attributed to the Risford Manor family. So can DNA testing assist traditional genealogical work and help us understand which family lines are linked there?
• Which, if any, branches link back to the Pole Hore line in Wexford, Ireland dating back to 1200 A.D.?
  Lore, repeated in many places, claim that a non-inheriting son Richard was setup to be married to the Risford Manor only child (heir) and daughter in the early 1300's. And that he came from the Pole Hore group in Wexford. Can we prove or disprove this with DNA testing to assist traditional records work? What lines, if any, link to the Pole Hore line in Wexford?
• Does the Pole Hore line of Wexford, Ireland appear to descend from a Norman knight William le Hore who came with William the Conqueror, as lore has it?
  Lore, starting from references in the Doomsday book, has it that a William le Hore of Wales, one of the Norman invaders, was the flag bearer for Strongbow when he retook Ireland for the deposed king there. In return for his service, William was given land in Wexford that founded the Pole Hore family branch. Can we determine from unique enough DNA today that this family line is from a Norman family? The answer might also give credibility to the lore that the surname origin is a place name; due to the origins in the town of Auray in Brittany.
• Does the M06 Mundy / Munday line originate with a Nicholas Mundy, b1648, Barbados or with Thomas Mundy, b16xx, Virginia?
• Where do I belong?
  Well, everywhere and with everyone if we are to believe the "connectedness" of people in the world today. But you are welcome to collaborate here with others toward finding your ancestors of interest through the field of genetic genealogy.