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Hunsicker / Hunsecker / Hunseker / Hunsiker / Hunsaker
and Similar Spelled or Sounding Surnames
[New] Genetic Genealogy Y-DNA Surname Project [New]

(Primarily Soundex Code H522)


Filename:   hunsickerdna.htm

Internet:   http://www.kerchner.com/hunsicker/hunsickerdna.htm

Key Dates:  Project Started:             6 Oct 2005
            Webpage Created:             7 Oct 2005
            Last Updated:               24 May 2008

By:         Charles F. Kerchner, Jr.
            3765 Chris Drive
            Emmaus PA 18049-1544 USA

Notice:     Copyright 2005-2008 Charles F. Kerchner, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
            Establishing links to this page is encouraged and permitted.
            But, reuse or reprinting it in it's entirety or in part in other
            websites, or in any other media or publication, without my
            permission, is not permitted. Printing a hard copy of this
            report for your own personal, non-commercial use is permitted.

Subj:       A project to determine the unique Y-DNA chromosome markers for
            various unlinked Hunsicker and similar named Hunsinger family groups
            in the USA and to determine if these various descendants of various
            immigrants have one or more common male ancestors in Europe
            in the last 400-600 years and if possible to find their
            ancestral home villages or regions in Europe.

Keywords:   GENETICS GENEALOGY DNA Y CHROMOSOME ANCESTOR HUNSICKER SURNAME PROJECT

Some early Hunsicker progenitors:

JOHANNES: Born 24 Aug 1722 in Schalbach, Rauweiler, Nassau, Germany died 17 Dec 1800 in Heidelberg Twsp, Lehigh County, PA
MELCHIOR Born 1636 in Switzerland. Emigrated to Hessen, Germany where he died in 1692. Married to Elisabetha Jacob in 1663 in Germany. A descendant emigrated from Germany to the USA in 1866.
RUDOLPH: Born about 1690 in Switzerland. Died 4 Nov 1768 in Bethel Twsp, Lebanon County PA.
JOHN: John Honssinger along with two of his sons John, Jr., and Jacob immigrated to Missouri in the early 1800s from Canada. Both John and Jacob were born in Canada based on census data. Jacob married Tabitha Bledsoe in St Charles, MO 11 March 1819, recorded 2 June 1821.


Some spelling variations found in various records for this surname are: Hunsicker, Hunsecker, Hunseker, Hunsaker, Hunsucker, Hunziker, Hundzinger, Hunzinger, Hunsinger

Learn more about using DNA to aide genealogical research.
Download My "Genetics & Genealogy - An Introduction" Report

The Beginning and Project Evolution

The Hunsicker Y-DNA surname project was started in Oct 2005 in an effort to use the latest in Genetic Genealogy DNA testing tools to investigate the relationship, if any, between the early Hunsicker and Hunsinger immigrants and to provide Y-DNA reference marker sets for each Hunsicker clan to aide in placing various descendants into the proper Hunsicker immigrant descendant clan. Since many of these early immigrants had same or similar names and also went by what we would now consider their middle names, researchers unfamiliar with early PA German research should read this report on 18th Century PA German Naming Customs. Another goal is to determine if there is any genetic evidence in the Y chromosome or other DNA markers to support the oral history that this surname is connected to areas in Germany and/or Switzerland where the Huns encamped during their invasion of Western Europe circa 452 a.d. There a Huns Valley in Switzerland. Also, I have a copy of a circa 1940 Hunsicker family research report which claims there is an area in or near the Schwartzwald (Black Forest) in Germany which is known to some as Hunseck. But via online research and correspondence with Germans in that area, I can only find a "Hundseck" in or near the Schwartwald. There is a mountain race there every year. It is sometimes found online misspelled as Hunseck. But the local Germans I've communicated with via email tell me the correct spelling is Hundseck. However they told me it is pronounced in the local dialect as Hunseck. The Hundseck name has a completely different root name meaning than we are looking for, i.e., "Hunds Eck" which translates roughly to "dog's corner". But the Hunsecker descendants in the USA I have spoken with say their family oral history connects them to an area where the Hun Army encamped in what is now Germany during the invasion of Western Europe in circa 451 a.d. The Hunsickers of German origin who settled in Lehigh County PA claim to have come from such an area in Germany, not Switzerland, i.e., Hunseck. Hopefully we can resolve a lot of this via our new Y-DNA surname project. If we test Hunsickers who assert ancestry located in the Black Forest region of Germany and Hunzingers of the Swiss clan, and they match closely, we'll know there is a connection between the two lines. We can then work on trying to find a paper trail connection. If they don't match then we know we are dealing with two completely different male lines with a similar sound and spelling. We will have to test at least two distant cousins in each clan before we can reach any conclusions with reasonable confidence. You must be a Hunsicker surnamed male or be sponsoring a Hunsicker surnamed male in order to join this project since only males carry the Y chromosome.


Initial Test Results and Analysis

To date seven people have ordered from FamilyTreeDNA for Y-DNA testing and comparison. Another two members joined the project via the National Geographic Genographic Project. Genographic Project test kits begin with the letter N. Initial results have allowed me to separate the individuals tested into three groups. Two of the groups, 1a and 1b, are in the R1b Haplogroup. See the "Y Results" tab in this webpage for the three groups. Group 2 being in haplogroup "I" is definitely not recently related to the other two groups in haplogroup R1b. The time separation between haplogroups "R1b" and "I" is in the order of tens of thousands of years. Link to FTDNA Hunsicker Y Results Data Table.

For a color coded display and analysis of the 37 marker testing data see this Excel table.
Combined 37 Marker Test Result Data for Hunsicker Project

The initial results (12 markers) show a closeness between Group 1a and the other R1bs in Group 1b because of the fairly close match between kit 44835 haplotype and the haplotypes for N13627, 65782, and 72738. But additional markers need to be tested for N13627, 65782, and 72738 to come to any firm conclusions for those kits. Extended testing for kit 49257 showed that the haplotype was not relatively recently related to those in Group 1a. Because the R1b haplotypes in this project all are equal to or close to the Western Atlantic Modal Haplotype (WAMH) at 12 markers a firm conclusion cannot be made without testing at 37 markers. It is strongly recommended that all participants upgrade to at least 37 markers if not already done so. Extending their respective haplotypes to 67 markers would be even more desirable. With haplotypes close to the WAMH, the more markers the better in order to sort out who is recently related and who is not.

Some comments involving one of the markers. See table below and especially Note (4) below that table as to why what looks like two marker differences is really only one for the DYS389 two part marker. The nomenclature used by FTDNA for this marker is very confusing to people new to the field and old timers as well. The initial results also indicate the two groups 1a and 1b are in the R1b haplogroup, the most frequent major haplogroup found in western europeans tested. Haplogroups determine which major group of humanity you descend from based on a common ancestor who lived 10-20,000 years ago for that haplogroup. The R1b haplogroup has been one of the most successful of the several european male haplogroups, each of which have millions of descendants of the original haplogroup founder.

Are the close R1b haplotypes displayed with only 12 markers related to group 1a in a fairly recent genealogical time frame? Well the short answer is: "could be?". Given they share the same surname, that is positive traditonal evidence that they are may be connected in a genealogical time frame based on the initial Y-DNA test results. But since they are near the WAMH clade of R1b, the most common clade in R1b, random matches occur quite frequently. So we cannot rule out the 11/12 near match between a person in one group to a person in the other group is merely a "random near match" and that it is simply a coincidence that they share the same surname and/or that their common ancestor is way back in history and we'll never find the common link. This can happen quite often with very common names like Smith or Miller who are also in the R1b haplogroup. Therefore, we need to get more markers tested for Kit# N13627, 65782, and 72738 to be more sure of the time frame of the genetic male line relationship to the others. Is it in the last 100-400 years or is it 800-1000 years ago or more. Testing more markers can help answer that question more precisely and with greater confidence in the estimate of the Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA). I continue to hope that 12 marker haplotypes will upgrade to at least 37 markers. I have seen even 10/12 close "but not close enough to be sure" matches at 12 markers go on to have every other additional marker tested match exactly and thus combined with sharing the same surname, a genealogically recent genetic male relationship is confirmed. See my Kerchner Surname Project Success Story Page for an example of an initial 10/12 match between two male lines thought to be related by some limited traditional evidence even though they spelled the surname differently. But I have also seen 11/12 near matches completely diverge farther apart from each other as to the percentage of markers tested which matched exactly as more markers are tested and thus the conclusion ended up being that they were not a very recent relationship, i.e., their nearest common male ancestor could be back 500-1500 years or more and the two lines just somehow ended up with the same surname by coincidence when surnames got adopted in Europe. That is exemplified by kit 49257 which diverged further from the modal haplotype for Group 1 when the haplotype was extended from 12 markers to 37 markers. This indicates that any common ancestor between kit 49257 and the haplotypes in group 1 would be further back in time than the surmised common ancestor of group 1. Thus the importance of comparing at least 37 markers. At this point, as I said previously, we need more markers tested. See the link below to my ZIP+4 Zip Code Analogy comparison to the Extended 37 Marker Y-STR Haplotype report. It explains with a simple analogy to ZIP+4 numbers why more markers are better and why having 37 marker haplotypes to compare is very important in determining the exact nature and time frame of the genetic relationship between two males tested, in the absence of any other traditional evidence beyond sharing the same surname when close, but not close enough to be sure matches happen in the very common R1b haplogroup of western Europe.

Kerchner's Zip+Four Analogy of Why to Upgrade to the 37 Y-STR Marker Extended Haplotype
A Tutorial Paper on Why One Should be Tested at or Upgrade to 37 Markers


I strongly encourage additional Hunsicker, Hunsinger, or similar surnamed males to volunteer to join this project. Your contribution of a sample to this project for haplotyping will be very helpful to all present Hunsicker genealogists and for future generations of Hunsicker family researchers. This is a unique way that you can help the Hunsicker genealogical efforts and leave a genealogical legacy to the future. While Hunsicker females biologially cannot provide a Y-DNA sample they can sponsor and encourage their grandfather, great-uncle, father, uncle, brother, or a cousin to do so.


First 12 Markers (Low Resolution) Test Results
Provides a low resolution haplotype and is used to define one's haplogroup.

FamilyTreeDNA.com Y-DNA Results
DYS Locus Allele Values/DYS Marker STR "Repeats" Numbers
Results from Initial (Low Resolution) 12 Marker Panel DYS Loci/Markers

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

 

Kit#

Participant's
Surname
Spelling and
Geographic
Locale of
Participant

Early Known
Ancestor per
Family Research

DYS
393

DYS
390

DYS
394
aka 19

DYS
391

DYS
385a

DYS
385b

DYS
426

DYS
388

DYS
439

DYS
389-1

See Note (4)

DYS
392

DYS
389-2

See Note (4)

Haplo-
group
or
closest
suggested
Haplo-
group

-

Group 1a

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

44835

Hunsicker
Ohio

JOHANNES

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 16

R1b
Predicted


WAMH

55308

Hunsinger
Connecticut

MELCHIOR

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

11

13

13

29

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 16

R1b1
Predicted

92015

Honsinger
California

JOHN

13

24

14

10

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 16

R1b
Predicted

92586

Honsinger
Canada

TBD

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 16

R1b1
Predicted

-

Group 1b

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

72738

Hunsicker
Illinois

TBD

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

12

14

13

30

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 16

R1b1
Predicted

N13627

Hunsicker
Illinois

TBD

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

12

14

13

30

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 16

R1b1
Predicted

49257

Hunsucker
North Carolina

Abram Hunsucker
born ca. 1803

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

12

14

13

30

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 16

R1b1
Predicted

65782

Hunsicker
Ohio

RUDOLPH

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

13

14

13

30

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 16

R1b1
Predicted

-

Group 2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

N18083

Hunsinger
New Jersey

TBD

15

23

16

10

13

15

11

13

11

12

12

30

389B=
389-2 minus 389-1

= 18

I
Predicted

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-
Notes:
1. Cells with dashes in them, if any, indicates we are still awaiting test results.
2. Genetic test results for this participant did not match expected results of prior historical genealogical research evidence.
3. TBD = To Be Determined.
4. Explanation why what looks like two differences for the two-part marker with the parts named DYS389-1 and DYS389-2 is really sometimes only a one step difference. To avoid this confusion some labs report this as an alternately named marker DYS389B. DYS389B=(DYS389-2)-(DYS389-1). As you can see in our Hunsicker Project using the DYS389B nomenclature we can clearly now see that the second half of the two part marker DYS389 is the same, i.e., 16. Thus the only mutation is in the first part, DYS389-1. Thus for the 12 marker haplotype these two tested are a 11/12 near match.

For a color coded display and analysis of the extended haplotype testing data see this Excel table.
Combined 37 Marker Higher Resolution Test Result Data for Hunsicker Project


Any male Hunsicker, Hunsecker, Hunseker, Hunziker or other similar spelled surnames or H522 soundex code variations of this germanic surname(s) wishing to learn more about this project and/or possibly participating in this project, please Contact Me.

How and Where Do You Order a Y-DNA Sample Collection Kit

You must be a Hunsicker surnamed male or be sponsoring a Hunsicker surnamed male in order to join this project since only males carry the Y chromosome. I selected FamilyTreeDNA as the company to provide the testing services since they were the first company to my knowledge to specialize in DNA testing for genealogical purposes and also because they provided testing of the most markers for the least cost and other early project leaders spoke highly of their results. But as more testing companies entered this new industry, and since I am an engineer by education and experience I decided to also do my own quality control check by having my Y-DNA tested by another independent genetics testing company, Ancestry.com, which entered this field about a year after my project started. The allele value test results from Ancestry.com for the DYS markers which are used in common by FamilyTreeDNA's lab and Ancestry.com's lab matched exactly. This confirmed to my satisfaction that the quality and reliability of the STR allele values being obtained and reported by FamilyTreeDNA's lab were accuate and reliable. In addition to FamilyTreeDNA's lab results being completely accurate and reliable, the company personnel are very user friendly and easy to work with and communicate with, both by email and by telephone with a real live, knowledgeable person to answer your questions. You get an email notice of your results as soon as they are done as well as getting a written report and certificate with the results sent by postal mail. You also get email notices of other individuals in their database which you may have matched initially as well as in the future as more people are tested. FamilyTreeDNA also has an outstanding website which clearly displays your results and provides extensive information to be used in the interpretation of the results. FamilyTreeDNA also stores your DNA sample for 25 years at no additional charge at their lab for convenient use in future desired tests. Therefore, FamilyTreeDNA is my preferred and recommended organization for managing a Y-DNA surname project. And based on my experiences with both organizations, I also recommend FamilyTreeDNA as the best organization to choose for anyone considering starting a similar Y-DNA project of their own.

DNA samples are collected by yourself in your home using a simple inner cheek swab. It sort of works just like a tooth brush. No blood sample is required. Click here to see a sample test kit. Here is a photo journal of the sampling process demonstrated by Mr. Bob Dorsey who is part of another unrelated surname project. But it very nicely and humorously shows the process so I included the link here. Check it out. Also, to learn more about the DNA collection and lab processing procedures view this animated presentation provided by FamilyTreeDNA. You may also wish to review the various type tests which are available from the test laboratory, FamilyTreeDNA.com. The "25 Marker Y-DNA" kit is the recommended kit you need to order for participation in this project. The mininum kit for participation is the "12 Marker Y-DNA" kit, but it is not recommended, due to the much lower resolution as compared to using 25 markers. Review the various product kits and list prices. Discounts are available to participants in this project when the test kit is ordered through me as the project coordinator.

Contact Me And Join The Project


Benefits of Participation

Some benefits of participation are:
1. You identify the genetic genealogy profile of your male family line.
2. You may identify your roots when traditional documentary genealogical research methods have failed.
3. Your results may identify information offering clues of where to focus and pursue additional traditional documentary genealogical research.
4. You may be able to verify once and for all that your traditional documentary genealogical work is accurate and scientifically verified.
5. You may get clues or help others get clues as to the village of origin in Europe of their immigrant ancestor.
6. If you live in Europe with a similar surname to one of our current participants you may find descendants and cousins living in the USA you did not know you had.
7. Your DNA will be preserved for the future at no additional cost. Thus, you leave something for posterity for use by future members of your family. This is especially important for older members of a family, particularly if that older person is the last surviving male member of the family. Note: if that elderly person cannot afford the test another family member can sponsor and pay for the test.
8. You may identify new genetic cousins you did not know you had.
9. You will be joining the ranks of the select few early Genetics and Genealogy Pioneers and will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are an early participant in a state-of-the-art project which is contributing to the world knowledge base for this new and exciting field, genealogy by genetics.
10. By donating a DNA sample now for posterity, your descendants won't have to dig you up later. :-)

Click Here to See A Sample Y-DNA Test Results Certificate

To get your sample collection kit at substantially reduced cost, place your order through me as the Hunsicker Group Coordinator and you will get the substantially discounted group rate price. When you are ready to order your kit, email me and let me know your complete name and postal mail address, and telephone number, and that you want to submit a sample and order a kit and I will place your order and get you the discounted price. You will receive your invoice directly from FamilyTreeDNA.com with your sample collection kit. As of May 2008 the cost of the YDNA37 37 marker paternal/male line test is $189. Any questions, please contact me and I will be happy to try and answer your questions.

Contact Me And Join The Project

Genetic Genealogy Information Website Links

Kerchner's Genetic Genealogy and DNA Testing Information and Resources Page

Recommended Books

PA German Genealogy Research Help Pages

PA German Naming Customs
PA German Nicknames
PA Dutch Are Of German Heritage, Not Dutch
PA German Name Spelling Idiosyncrasies
Genealogy Research Tips
1812 Project
Kerchner Genealogy

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Charles F. Kerchner, Jr.
3765 Chris Drive
Emmaus PA 18049-1544 USA
Email: Contact Me

Copyright © 2005-2008
Charles F. Kerchner, Jr.
All Rights Reserved
Project Started: 6 Oct 2005
Webpage Created: 7 Oct 2005
Last Revision: 24 May 2008