Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2005 12:34:44 -0230 (NDT)
From: dapike@math.mun.ca (David Pike)
To: PIKE-DNA-L@rootsweb.com
Subject: [PIKE-DNA] First Year Progress Report


In a few days the Pike Surname DNA Project will have its first birthday,
so I thought that I would write up a status report to outline what we have
learned and accomplished in the past 12 months.  The "Results" page at

  http://www.math.mun.ca/~dapike/family_history/pike/DNA/index.php?content=results.html

already presents an interpretation of many of the individual test results,
which I'll refrain from repeating in this email.  Still, to give a summary,
to date 17 people (mostly from the USA and Canada) have joined the project.
Of these 17 participants, we presently have test results for 16 of them.
And from these 16 results we have identified 8 or 9 genetically distinct
Pike family lines (the "8 or 9" comes from one pair of results that are
close, but not close enough to be able to tell with confidence whether or
not they come from the same line).

With at least 8 different lines from only 16 tests, perhaps the most telling
conclusion that we can draw from these results is that the Pike surname appears to
have multiple family origins.  This would be expected with surnames like Smith (where
the name was probably adopted by many unrelated blacksmiths) but is a slight
surprise with Pike.  But then again, maybe not, given that there are multiple
possible meanings for the name... our ancestors could have adopted the surname based
on an association with pike (the fish), pike (the weapon), or a turnpike (one of the
early meanings of which was a turning pike, a horizontal timber that was mounted
so as to be able to spin or turn (such turnpikes apparently served as barriers to
prevent horses from accessing foot paths, and in other instances to block passage
until a toll had been paid).  I have even heard it speculated that the name Pike
might be derived in some instances from the word "peak", such as when somebody
resided on the peak of a hill.  Incidentally, I was in England recently and took
a train from London to Durham (which is in the northeast of England) and was struck
by how flat the terrain seemed.  I mention this now just because the Pike surname
seems to be more historically prominent in England's southwest than other areas.
I don't know what the terrain is like in the southwest, but if the "peak" origin
has merit, then it could be understandable that the Pike name was comparatively
rare in the northeast.

Anyway, given what we've seen with the first year's test results, it seems
likely that we will continue to discover additional distinct Pike families as
our project continues to grow.  This is a mixed blessing.  On one hand it
could mean that some participants will have to exercise patience before they
get their first genetic match.  But on the other hand, it will enable participants
to distinguish themselves from many other Pike lines, which in turn could allow
them to save time and energy (at least in the sense that an "elusive" connection
that is confirmed to be "non-existent" need not be pursued further, unless perhaps
there is suspicion of a non-paternal event such as an unreported adoption).

So where do we go from here?  Well, we need additional test results from more
participants.  As yet we are probably many tests away from having a genetic census
that includes results from each of the genetically distinct Pike lines that are out
there.  Even for those families that are already represented, additional results
from different branches of their family trees are wanted, so that Pike genealogists
can use information about mutations within an extended family to help guide their
search for elusive documents concerning connections that the DNA tests have indicated
should be there.  At the risk of repeating something that I've said on previous
occasion, if you know of somebody with an interest in Pike family history and
genealogy then please mention the DNA project to them should the occasion to do
so present itself.

In this regard, do not feel confined to talking only to male Pike's (although it's
only the men that can provide a DNA sample with a Y-chromosome).  Anybody with an
interest in the project can help support it by contributing to the project's
sponsorship fund

  http://www.math.mun.ca/~dapike/family_history/pike/DNA/index.php?content=faq.html#GenFund

which is used to help pay for some DNA tests, particularly for people who wish to join
the project but are inhibited by the costs of doing so.  Anybody who is in this situation
is encouraged to email me at dapike@math.mun.ca so that I am aware of who they are and
am therefore able to get in touch with them when sponsorship funds become available.

Also, anybody with an interest in the project is encouraged to subscribe to the project's
mailing list, which is where announcements and progress reports such as this one will be posted:

  http://www.math.mun.ca/~dapike/family_history/pike/DNA/index.php?content=mailing-list.html

Past messages to the mailing list are archived and can also be viewed by following the
instructions at the above link.

Lastly, if anybody has any questions, please feel free to contact me by email.

- David.