DNA Spiral DNA Spiral

Wetzel / Wetsel / Whetzel / Whetsel
and Similar German Surnames
[New] Genetic Genealogy Y-DNA Surname Project [New]

(Primarily Soundex Code W324)

As of 15 Sep 2005 the Wetzel Y-DNA Project has been transferred to John Wetzel.
You can contact him via email at: "JWetzel [at] aar.org".
Please note: I am not a Wetzel descendant.
The Wetzels at one time were neighbors of my Kerchners.
 

Filename:   wetzeldna.htm

Internet:   http://www.kerchner.com/wetzel/wetzeldna.htm

Key Dates:  Project Started:              4 Feb 2004
            Webpage Created:              5 Feb 2004
            Last Updated:                15 Sep 2005

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

Notice:     Copyright 2004 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 Wetzel and similar named family groups in
            the USA and to determine if these various descendants of various
            immigrants have one or more common male ancestors in Germany
            in the last 400-600 years and if possible to find their
            ancestral home villages or regions in German speaking areas of Europe.
            Also, if slight differences are observed in the Y chromosome marker
            haplotypes for the various known Wetzel lines, it may be possible to use
            the Y chromosome marker data to verify lines of descent and/or sort out
            which Wetzels belong to which immigrant line when the paper trail is
            nonexistent or weak.

Keywords:   GENETICS GENEALOGY DNA Y CHROMOSOME GERMAN ANCESTOR SURNAME PROJECT

Some early Wetzel progenitors:

JACOB1 Johan 'Jacob' Wetzel arrived at Philadelphia PA on 8 Oct 1737 on ship Charming Nancy. Died about Nov 1785 in Hereford Twsp, Berks Co PA.
CONRAD Conrad Wetzel arrived in PA circa 1720. Died 5 Apr 1753 in what is now Macungie Twsp, Lehigh Co PA.
JACOB2 Jacob Wetzel arrived in PA circa 1734. Died 22 May 1774 in what is now L Milford Twsp, Lehigh Co PA.
MARTIN Martin Wetzel born about 1680 in Germany arrived in VA in the 1700's. Died 5 Aug 1760 in Winchester, Frederick Co VA.
JOHN John Wetzel of Lebanon Co PA in 1840 census.
JOHANNES MARTIN: Johannes Martin Wetzel born about 1700 in Baden Germany. Died in 1760 in Shenandoah Co VA. Married to a Maria Barbara.


Some spelling variations found in ancestry records of known descendants: Wetzel, Wetsel, Whetzel, Whetsel.

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

The Beginning and Project Evolution

The Wetzel Y-DNA surname project was started in Feb 2004 in an effort to use the latest in Genetic Genealogy tools to investigate the relationship, if any, between the early Wetzel immigrants and to provide Y-DNA reference marker sets for each Wetzel clan to aide in placing various descendants into the proper Wetzel 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. You must be a Wetzel surnamed male or be sponsoring a Wetzel surnamed male in order to join this project since only males carry the Y chromosome.


Initial Test Results and Analysis

To date eight people have ordered sample kits for Y-DNA testing and comparison. Seven of those tests were ordered via FamilyTreeDNA.com which is the surname project lab for this project. Also one participant was tested via a private lab other than FTDNA. Y-DNA marker data has been received back from the labs for six people.

Results for kits 11781, 18008, and 21116 closely matched. The very close match combined with the fact that they share the same surname indicates they share a genealogically recent common male ancestor. These three people's haplotypes are also placed into the same haplogroup of R1b which is the most common haplogroup in males of European descent. Traditional research for these three people has theorized that some are descended from different immigrant ancestors. Given the initial results for these three and their having matching haplotypes this indicates that the traditional research could be wrong OR it could also be true that the two immigrant progenitors of their respective Wetzel lines could have been closely related. Here is what the FamilyTreeDNA.com website says about close matches between two people sharing the same surname using their 25 marker Y-DNA test.

Results for the Privately Tested person who was tested via a lab other than FamilyTreeDNA did not match any of the other participants. Only 11 markers of the 12 markers tested for that person are used in the FamilyTreeDNA low resolution 12 marker panel of markers. However for those 11 markers this person only matched on 2 markers. Therefore this person does not share a genealogically recent common male ancestor with the other persons tested.

Results for kit 21485 did not match any of the current participants which based on this initial single test for his line would indicate that his Whetzel line of Virginia does not share a genealogically recent common male ancestor with the Wetzel lines of Pennyslvania. In fact the haplotype of this person is so different from the other Wetzel lines tested that his suggested haplogroup is even different, i.e., suggested to be in haplogroup R1a.

Results for kit 21847 did not match any of the current participants which based on this initial single test for his line would indicate that his Wetzel line which traces back to Philadelphia PA does not share a genealogically recent common male ancestor with other Wetzel lines of Pennsylvania. In fact the haplotype of this person is so different from other Wetzel lines tested that his suggested ancient male line haplogroup origins is even different, i.e., suggested to be in haplogroup "I".

Results for kit 30456 did not closely match any of the current participants which based on this initial single test for his line would indicate that his Wetzel line which traces back to Lebanon Co PA does not share a genealogically recent common male ancestor with other Wetzel lines of Pennsylvania.

Results for kit 35983 did not closely match any of the current participants and thus does not share a common male ancestor with the other participants within a recent genealogical time frame.

Participant kit N6398 joined the project via the Genographic Project being conducted by the National Geographic Society. His initial 12 marker results match kits 11781 and 18008 exactly. This fact combined with the fact that they share the same surname indicates they have a common male ancestor. Kit N6398 is upgrading his test to obtain data for more markers to see if the exact match still holds at 25 or more markers.

I strongly encourage additional Wetzel surnamed males to volunteer to join this project. Especially those with strong, traditional research, paper trails back to the various immigrant Wetzel ancestors, especially Conrad Wetzel, the Moravian Church member, of Macungie Twsp, Lehigh Co PA. Your contribution of a sample to this project for haplotyping will be very helpful to all present Wetzel genealogists and for future generations of Wetzel family researchers. This is a unique way that you can help the Wetzel genealogical efforts and leave a genealogical legacy to the future. While female Wetzel genealogists biologically 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 DYS Loci/Markers

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

 

FTDNA
Kit#

Participant's
Surname
Spelling
& Geographic
Locale of
Participant

Earliest Known
Ancestor
per Traditional
Research

DYS

393

DYS

390

DYS

394
aka 19

DYS

391

DYS

385a

DYS

385b

DYS

426

DYS

388

DYS

439

DYS

389-1

DYS

392

DYS

389-2

Haplo-
group
or
closest
suggested
Haplo-
group

21485

Whetzel
Florida

MARTIN
WETZEL
died 1760
in VA

13

25

16

11

11

14

12

12

11

13

11

29

R1a
Suggested

35983

Wetzel
Massachusetts

TBD

13

24

14

11

11

14

12

12

11

13

13

29

R1b
SNP Tested
P25+

30456

Wetzel
North Dakota

JOHN WETZEL
Lebanon Co PA

13

25

14

11

10

14

12

12

12

13

13

29

R1b
Suggested

21116

Wetzel
Pennsylvania

JACOB1

14

23

14

11

10

14

12

12

12

13

13

28

R1b
Suggested

11781

Wetzel
Maryland

theorized
to be
CONRAD

14

23

14

12

10

14

12

12

12

13

13

28

R1b
Suggested

18008

Wetzel
Pennsylvania

JACOB1

14

23

14

12

10

14

12

12

12

13

13

28

R1b
Suggested

N6398

Wetzel
Pennsylvania

JOHANNES
MARTIN

14

23

14

12

10

14

12

12

12

13

13

28

R1b
SNP Tested P25+
NGS Genographic Project

21847

Wetzel
Virginia

JOHN
WETZEL
b. abt 1816
of Philadelphia PA

15

23

16

11

15

16

11

13

11

13

12

31

None Suggested
Closest is I

Private
Test

Wetzel
Texas

JACOB
WETZEL
b. 1751
last of NC

14

22

15

10

14

14

NT

NT

11

12

11

29

Private test.
Haplogroup
not evaluated
by the lab.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-
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. Cells with NT in them, if any, indicates that the person was not tested for that marker.

Additional 13 Marker (medium resolution) Y-DNA Test Results
Combined with the first 12 markers this provides a 25 marker haplotype.

Results in the following table for the refined Y-DNA test adding 13 more markers.

FamilyTreeDNA.com Upgraded/Refined (Medium Resolution) PP3 Results
Results of 13 Additional DYS Loci/Markers

 

 

 

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

FTDNA
Kit#

Participant's
Surname
Spelling
& Geographic
Locale of
Participant

Earliest Known
Ancestor
per Traditional
Research

DYS

458

DYS

459a

DYS

459b

DYS

455

DYS

454

DYS

447

DYS

437

DYS

448

DYS

449

DYS

464a

(Note 5)

DYS

464b

(Note 5)

DYS

464c

(Note 5)

DYS

464d

(Note 5)

21485

Whetzel
Florida

MARTIN
WHETZEL
b. abt 1708
in VA

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

35983

Wetzel
Massachusetts

TBD

15

9

10

10

11

24

16

19

30

15

15

17

17

30456

Wetzel
North Dakota

JOHN WETZEL
Lebanon Co PA

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

29

15

15

17

17

21116

Wetzel
Pennsylvania

JACOB1

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

14

15

17

17

11781

Wetzel
Maryland

surmised
to be
CONRAD

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

18

30

14

15

17

17

18008

Wetzel
Pennsylvania

JACOB1

17

9

10

11

11

25

15

19

30

14

15

17

17

N6398

Wetzel
Pennsylvania

JOHANNES
MARTIN

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

21847

Wetzel
Virginia

JOHN
WETZEL
b. abt 1816
of Philadelphia PA

16

8

9

11

11

26

15

20

28

11

14

15

15

Private
Test

Wetzel
Texas

JACOB
WETZEL
b. 1751
last of NC

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

16

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

NT

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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. Cells with NT in them, if any, indicates that the person was not tested for that marker.
5. Allele values for markers DYS 464 a-d adjusted down by count of one each on 19 May 2003 due to lab nomenclature change for those markers.

Any male Wetzel, Wetsel, Whetsel or other phonetic spelling variations of this German surname(s) wishing to learn more about this project and/or possibly participating in this project, please feel free to Contact Me.

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

You must be a Wetzel surnamed male or be sponsoring a Wetzel 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 Wetzel 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 Feb 2004 the Wetzel Group discounted net prices are: $169 for the 25 Marker Y-DNA Kit and $99 for the 12 Marker Y-DNA Kit. The higher resolution 25 marker test is the recommended test for new participants. As you can see the prices within the group are substantially better than ordering directly from the testing company individually. For participants previously tested who wish to upgrade their results from the 12 marker test to the new 25 marker high resolution test, the cost for Wetzel Group members is $90. 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 © 2004-2005
Charles F. Kerchner, Jr.
All Rights Reserved
Project Started: 4 Feb 2004
Webpage Created: 5 Feb 2004
Last Revision: 15 Sep 2005