As usual, I continue to use DNA to search for our origins in Europe. Here’s a surprising possibility that just presented itself:
I just found out that my I1 Y-haplogroup could very well be I1-Z63+ (as others in the yellow group 3 Bakers are also discovering). Note that this is from an educated guess by an advanced DNA researcher who looked at our Y-DNA Baker results at FTDNA and is yet to be confirmed by further testing by our family.
Why would this haplogroup change be important if it turns out to be true?
Maybe not, but there is currently a lot of discussion and disagreement both amateur and professional DNA experts about what Z63 subclade really indicates. Many claim that Z63 is a strong Germanic subgroup for what is now primarily the Germany/Belgium area of Northern Europe—and much, much less so for the British Isles (at least one recent Z63+ map doesn’t even show the British Isles…). Since several men in my family have tested as a match to Rev Andrew, I can only wonder what’s going on now—since, years ago, I came to accept that our Baker roots were somewhere in the UK or Ireland—which could still be true.
My question now is: Have any of us Yellow Group 3 Bakers ever had a DNA match with a Becker, Beckert, Backert, Bakker, Bakere, Bager, Backer, Baxter, Barker, etc. (any German, Dutch, Belgian, etc. version of the English “Baker”) with autosomal or Y-DNA? I’ve asked this question on several forums and no one has come forward yet.
Also, I have to mention that, as far as my autosomal DNA results, Ancestry shows me as being primarily British and Irish/Scot with some Northern Europe. Whereas, the same DNA data was interpreted by FTDNA’s algorhythms as more Northern Europe (Germany/Belgium, etc.) with much less from the British Isles/Ireland. This is a clear example of how inaccurate much of this recent flurry of DNA testing can be. So take heed.
However, I must say that a name change from Beckert to the English “Baker” just prior to or just after arriving in America could explain why we’ve have had a rough time finding Rev Andrew’s ancestors since way before DNA testing became available—and why we may have an even harder time finding Andrew Esquire’s parents and siblings. Maybe “Old Andrew” Esquire’s pappy or grandpappy was a Beckert or a Bager, rather than a “Baker”. Like an NPE, It only takes one generation (one father) to change a surname in history and throw a wrench in all of our careful research.
I’d love to see some proof that this is impossible. Until then, stay open-minded my friends. As for myself, I’m going to stay with my gut instinct that most of our Baker blood came here from the Isles.