The Plant surname Y-DNA project http://www.plant-fhg.org.uk/dna.

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DNA testing of Plant and related names

Introduction to Y-DNA testing and the Plant project

Plant and possibly related name participants
- New Volunteers for testing
The DNA Results
Matching diagrams etc for Plant
- 12 markers - English migration - 37 markers - More markers - Four branches -
Current Descent Tree
Branch migration
The L617 haplogoup of the main Plant family
Matching diagram for Plante
Summary of Results so far for Plant-like names
Further advice for participants

Introduction to Y-DNA testing and the Plant project

Plant is the 617th most common surname in England and Wales, where it represents 0.022% of the total
population, and it is the 5729th most common name in the USA, where the figure is 0.002%. In North America,
there may be some confusion of spelling with the French-Canadian name Plante, but tests in this study indicate
that the different spellings largely correspond to two entirely different genetic families.

The Y-DNA evidence was soon quite persuasive that Plant is an `effectively single origin' surname, despite being
populous. It had previously been held to be multi-origin (i.e. that it descended from many genetically distinct
ancestors who adopted the Plant surname independently). It now seems that it is probably plural-origin with a few,
rather than many, origins and with around 75% of the living popluation of Plants descended from a single male
ancestor in fourteenth-century SE Cheshire.

A sufficient number of results is now avaiable at the 37-marker level to begin to piece together closest matches
between the different Plant branches, within the main Plant family for which there appear to be four major
branches that formed in the centuries before when adequate documentary evidence is available. Using just
documentary evidence, most Plants do well if they manage to trace back their male-line ancestors as far as 250
years ago. Useful Census data is available back as far as around 160 years ago and, before then, ambiguities
between such names as several possible William Plants or John Plants can quite often become a problem.
Geographical proximities can sometimes help but the Y-DNA evidence shows that these are not always a reliable
guide to building the Plant descent tree. For a male Plant, a 37-marker test will help to reveal the closest Plant
matches to your own ancestral Plant line. With the help of Y-DNA evidence, some main features of the Plant
descent tree are beginning to emerge.

If you are not suitable to be tested yourself, you can recruit suitable relatives for the Plant project.
You may be a female who is interested in a Plant line of descent. If you are familiar with genealogy, you will
already be accustomed to the idea that you often need to look for collateral relatives (brothers, cousins, etc.) in
order to make progress with tracing back your family lines. Only men have a Y-chromosome, which descends purely
down the paternal line (i.e. from his father's father's etc. father): this carries information about this male-line of
descent (which usually coincides with the descent of a surname).

Click here to see how to sign up yourself, or someone else, for the test.
The person whose address is entered in the on-line form will receive a testing kit with very simple instructions (for
him painlessly to take a swab from inside his cheek). You may, for example, select the 12-marker Y-DNA12 test
and, if necessary, upgrade to more markers later. Taking the 37 marker Y-DNA37 test, however, will more probably
identify your own particular branch of the family more uniquely. Payment (e.g. by invoice) goes direct to the testing
laboratory: I take no payment myself. I (JSP) am available to offer advice, however, and to help with analysing the
results - click here for further advice for participants, such as about how to contact me.

Open to all `Plant like' names

Some preliminary results are becoming available for various surnames, including Plant. Characteristic Y-line DNA
signatures have been measured for Plant, Plantt, Plants, Plenty and Plante, and the study is yet to be extended to
other `Plant like' names such as Planty, Planta, Plantard, Planterose, etc.

This project started early in this century in Y-DNA investigations of names (such as Warren, Cornwall and Somerset)
associated with possible male-line descents from the Plantagenets (since Plantagenet is another "Plant-like" name).
However, only many mismatching Y-DNA signatures were found amongst these claimed Plantagenet descendants.
(This same situation has been found again in more recent and more widely publicised investigations in connection

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with the skeleton of the Plantagenet king Richard III). These mismatches suggest that there were false claims of
royal or noble descent in earlier centuries or that there were, for example, wifely infidelities introducing
non-Plantagenet Y-chromosomes into these lines. (The more sensational newspapers have pointed in particular to
the long-debated possibility that there were infidelities in the supposed male-line of the successive Plantagenet
kings themselves). More clarity might eventually emerge with more testing.

Early planning and progress for the Plant Study

Starting in 2001, volunteers were sought for studies on Plant-like names (any spelling). It was initially unclear what
to expect. The earliest study for the name Sykes had shown it to be essentially a single-ancestor name despite the
fact that it had been held to be a multiple-ancestor topographical name. Some have since questioned the reliability
of this early Sykes study however. It now seems that Sykes is plural-origin albeit with perhaps a dominant family in
the geographical region around West Yorkshire.

An early focus for a DNA study of the Plant name related to:-

investigating ancestral connections in particular branches of the name, with a view to connecting together
various family tree "twigs" with more certainty; and,
seeking evidence for Plant(e) Y-chromosome types migrating around England and France and to the rest of
the world.

In Britain, the R1b clade is widespread but found particularly down the western side (i.e. in so-called "Celtic
regions" though its ancestral origins in Britain are now believed mostly to have predated the so-called "Celtic era").
Scandinavian clades (often too simplistically called Anglo-Saxon or Viking) are found more often to Britain's east.
The ancestral line of the main Plant family was found to belong to the R1b-P312+ sub-clade, which is rarer in
England than in Spain and Portugal. More recently, the sub-clade of the ancestral line has been identified more
precisely as R1b->P312->DF27->L617->FGC14951+ which apparently migrated from SW Europe to England
around 3,500 to 700 years ago. Rapid advances are currently being made with this so-called "deep ancestry"
testing.

Y-DNA testing does far more than just identify the clade, or haplogroup, of the person being tested. It identifies a
unique signature for the particular branch of his surname, and so helps with the genealogy of the different descent
branches and twigs of a surname.

For the abnormally large main Plant family, the challenges are greater than for a rare surname. However, valuable
progress is now being made with dividing up the branches of this large descent family, as well as with the earlier
distinctions that were more readily made between the main Plant family and some smaller descent families (such as
an apparently separate-origin Lincolnshire Plant family and the North American Plante family). The progress now
being made with the abnormally-large main Plant family is in some ways more valuable as it divides the large Plant
population into more personal chunks.

Plant and possibly-related name sub-branches so far

As well as adult male Plant volunteers from further sub-branches, additional adult male Plant volunteers from the
same sub-branch are sought in order to check the branching genealogies. Volunteers with other similar names are
also welcome.

Location/spelling Code for Earliest known ancestor of sub-branch Testing company,

volunteer kit number
Main matching Plant family
OA + FT 11830 +
Thomas Plant of Clowne, ?b 1745 Sutton-
YSEQ 410 +
Sheffield, England. cum-Duckmanton in NE Derbyshire son of William Plant of
P1a YF4268(BigY) +
Plant Duckmanton. Descent apparently through William (bap
YF12704(YElite
1772), William (b 1803)
EUDKM)
?ditto - i.e. ?Thomas Plant of Clowne, as above, but
Humberside, England.
P1b descent apparently through Benjamin (bap 1782) and FT 18329
Plant
John (Bark) Plant (b 1812)
Sheffield, England. ?ditto with descent from John Bark Plant through George FT 141186 + YSEQ
P1c
Plant Plant 5426
William Plant of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, c1720
London, England. OA + FT 277384 +
P2a (born 1716 Tur Langton). cf. P40a for possible earlier
Plant YSEQ 2849
ancestral connection.
William Plant of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, c1720
Congleton, Cheshire, (born 1716 Tur Langton). Descent through Thomas Plant OA + FT 475951 +
P2b
England. Plant (b 1753 Little Bowden, Northamptonshire), then John YSEQ 5050
Plant (b 1785 Ringstead, Northamptonshire)
Joseph Plant, b c1794 Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire,
Northants, England.
P3a subsequently of Duckinfield (1815) and Denton OA
Plant
(1821-35).
OA + FT 11858 +
South Cheshire, Edward Plant of Siddington, c1565; with a line possibly
P5a (YSEQ 15073
England. Plant from 15th century Rainow in east Cheshire.
pending)
Livingston, NJ, USA. John Plant, b c1646 England, d 1691 Branford, Ct, USA
P7a FT 7818
Plant (married Betty Roundkettle).
FT 105871 + YSEQ
Austria. Plant P7b ditto
13295

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Houma, LA, USA.

P12a James Plant, b c1839 Ireland, moved to New York City. FT 22839
Plant
Vancouver, Canada. Richard Plant bap 27.4.1740 Brewood, son of Richard
P14a FT 43911
Plant Plant of Chillington, Brewood, Staffs.
Davis, California. FT 96105 + YF4270
P19a Edward Plant b 1787, Birmingham, England
Plant + YSEQ 4019
John Plant, b 1700, Old Swinford near Stourbridge,
York, England. Plant P20a FT 119000
Worcestershire
Hampshire, England.
P23a Alec P Plant; b 1914 Sheffield, England FT 144948
Plant
John Plant b c1808 Donoughmore Parish, Co Wicklow,
Waterford, Ireland.
P25a Ireland (likely related to earlier Plants in parish register FT N83079
Plant
dating back to 1720)
Dudley, England. FT 182593 + YF4839
P26a Edward Plant, b 1779, Brewood, Staffordshire
Plant + YSEQ 5995
Texas, USA. Plant P27a AN
Queensland, Samuel Plant b 1768 m Mary Dignan b 1776 County
P28a FT 230023
Australia. Plant Cavan, Ireland. Descent through James, Samuel, Sidney.
Samuel Plant b 1768 m Mary Dignan b 1776 County
Queensland,
P28b Cavan, Ireland. Descent through Samuel (ca.1800-81), FT 248032
Australia. Plant
Samuel (1836-1917).
James Plant b Buglawton/Macclesfield circa 1830
Narellan, NSW, Cheshire, m Mary Ann Colyer and moved to London. FT 232765 + YSEQ
P29a
Australia. Plant Earlier descent possibly from William Plant (son of 5898
William) bap 2.3.1777 Knutsford, Cheshire.
Benjamin Plant (Master Potter) 1754-1823 at Lane End,
Longton, Staffs, m Ann Clewlow 1762-1828 on 9 Jul 1781
Gosford, NSW, at St Giles church in Newcastle, Staffs - had seven sons at
P30a FT 273914
Australia. Plant Lane End; descent through 4th son John Plant b.1796,
another John 1833-99, James Bradley Plant b 1858, John
Thomas Plant 1885-1959.
New York state, USA.
P31a FT 280105
Plant
Williamson Plant b 1763 m Frances Watts b 1760, a
grandson of John Plant of county Caroline, Virginia who
Florida, USA. Plant P32a FT 280384
was possibly a son of William Plant resident of the
"Pamunkey Neck" territory of Virginia prior to 29/1/1677.
William M Thomas Plant b 1871 Sheffield, Yorkshire,
Davidson, NSW, possibly son of William b 1841 Sheffield who was possibly FT 295512 + YSEQ
P33a
Australia. Plant son of Benjamin b 1817 Clowne Derbyshire d 1861 as in 4554
Figures 9.1, 9.3 and 9.4 of Chapter 9 (cf. P1a).
Joseph Plant (1840-1919). Descent through his son Harry
Campbell Plant, who emigrated to Canada with his brother
Canada. Plant P36a Joseph Eugene Plant in 1910. (Supplied ancestry suggests FT 372698
origins in Leicestershire circa 1720 with a possible link
back to Staffordshire circa 1550; cf. P2a and P40a).
William Plant, b 1770 in Norton le Moors, Staffordshire, d
1830; son Daniel, b 1788 Norton le Moors m Phebe. Their
Aukland, New
P39a son William Plant (potter and chemist, worked for Plant FT B68907
Zealand. Plant
bros) b 1838 in Tunstall, Staffordshire moved to New
Zealand.
John Plant, b ca. 1667 Swynnerton, Staffordshire,
Toronto, Canada.
P40a considered to be grandfather of William Plant b 1716 Tur FT 436455 + YF5854
Plant
Langton, Leicestershire, England (cf. P2a and P36a).
Francis I Plant (1849-1921) Barossa Valley, Australia with
Port Augusta, probable ancestry back to John Plant, b ca.1778, FT 453216 + YF5858
P43a
Australia. Plant Manchester, m 31.7.1797 Ellen Diggles Manchester + YSEQ 7681
Cathedral, England (see details here).
?William Plant (1550-1614 Muckelstone, Staffordshire,
Baltimore, Maryland,
P46a England) m.1582 Elizabeth Byrchenhaugh, Macclesfield, FT 487651
USA. Plant
Cheshire, UK.
Rotherham, S
John Plant, bap 28 Aug 1804, Adwick on Dearn, d 1874,
Yorkshire, England. P48a YSEQ 8042
son of William Plant
Plant
George Plant, b 1739 Cheadle, Staffordshire; descent
through John Plant (1785-1859). Deeper ancestry likely
Epsom, Surrey, FT 684179 + YSEQ
P49a back through John (1719) and William Plant (1679-) of
England. Plant 12243
Leek, Staffs and John Plant (1659-) and Francis Plante
(1640) of Shropshire (see further details here).
Cornwall, Ontario,
P53a FT 823410
Canada. Plant
William Plantt, b c1655, lived in Virginia, USA. Descent
through John, William (fought with brother Williamson in
USA. Plant(t) PT1a the 1775-83 Revolutionary War and then moved to South OA + FT 18227
Carolina), Lewis Henry, Wesley Henry, James Henry,

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Joseph Enoch, Robert Henry

FT 40279 + YSEQ
Ontario, Canada. Carr PT1b Now believed to be a lost son of the late PT1a above
5897
Florida, USA. Plantt PT2a FT 60092
Robert Plant, b circa 1780 County Longford, Ireland and
Ontario, Canada. FT 235642 + YF4841
PT3a son Thomas; Thomas and his family emigrated to Orillic
Plantt + YSEQ 5696
area of Ontario in 1855
Matching south-Lincolnshire Plant
William Plant b 27.5.1832 Leake East Fen Allotment
Brough, Yorks. Plant P9a FT 17015
(south Lincs, England) to John and Eliz (b 1791)
Robert Plant m Isaat Warner 1.7.1650 at Winthorpe,
Lincolnshire, England; descent through Thomas Plant, bap
25.3.1666 Winthorpe, will 2.10.1734 Sibsey, Lincolnshire;
NSW, Australia. Plant P18a FT 86357
...down to James Plant b 5.6.1792 Sibsey, son of Richard
Plant and Sarah Waltham; James's sons emigrated to
Australia
Other Plant
(P4a, P10a and P15a are non-Plants who thought they might be descended from
Plants)
London,
England. Not P4a ?James Plant b 1806 Cheadle, Staffordshire. OA
Plant.
George Plant, b 1819, Stafford England, son of Richard. Living in Finney Green,
Ohio, USA.
P6a Keele, Staffordshire in 1840 when he married Dinah Grocott. Migrated to USA in FT 6948
Plant
1882.
Jonathan James Plant born of Martha Plant (spinster) at Leek on 25.10.1852;
Manchester, FT
P8a descent via Mark Ernest Plant b 1.May.1877 d 1.May.1951 Manchester (i.e.
England. Plant 16102
probably not a Plant by genetic male-line descent but by descent from Martha)
Bedford, ?John Plant b c1813 Laxfield, Suffolk (hitherto uncertain whether a Plant by FT
P10a
England. Brown genetic descent) 19112
Norwich, FT
P11a Joseph Plant father of Alfred Plant b 1839 Lichfield, Staffs.
England. Plant 22831
London, FT
P13a Edmund Plant, b Yorkshire c1900
England. Plant 32239
Anglesey, ?Henry Plant b 1814 Bidulph son of John Plant - descent through his son Daniel
P15a FT
Wales. Booth Plant b 1860 Astbury, Cheshire who married Mary Ellen Booth (nee Harding).
Newport, FT
P16a Charles Plant, b 1916 Birmingham, England.
Wales. Plant 59162
George Plant b 1670 Wrangle, Lincs m Ann Skelton, descent through: Thomas b
Stamford, FT
P17a 1695 Wrangle; Thomas b 1720 Greetham, Rutland; John Plant b 1741 Gretham m
Lincs. Plant 67159
Sarah Barsby at Morcott Church Rutland 31 March 1761.
Uriah Edward Plant; b 1849 Cork, Ireland; d 7.9.1911 York, Canada; possibly a son
of Uriah Plant b 1821 Cheshire who was a merchant involved in a lawsuit in Clare
Portland, FT
P21a in 1849, possibly coal merchant Uriah Plant b 1821, d 1868 Poplar London, son of
Oregon. Plant 124512
Uriah Plant b 1768, lived in Leicester, 5th son of Samuel Plant of Lach Dennis near
Northwish Cheshire, moved to Wicham, son of William Plant of Winsford, Cheshire
Melbourne, John Plant (labourer) emigrated unmarried, aged 17, to Australia in 1868 from FT
P22a
Australia. Plant County Cork, Ireland; son of John Plant (labourer) and Johanna Keiley 133135
Cheadle, Thomas Plant, b c1699 Leek who settled with his wife Margaret (nee Walker) in
FT
Staffordshire, P24a Cheadle c1722. Descent through John (1726-98), Thomas (1750-??), William
165936
England. Plant (1783-1862), James (1806-59), James (1831-89).
Evidently, Thomas Plant, b c1585 Bucks, descent through: John b 1632 Wooton
Underwood, Bucks; William b 1677; Charles b 1704 Marsh Gibbon, Bucks; William
Reading, FT
P34a b 1727; Edward b 1771 Charndon, Bucks; James b 1816; John b 1849; Thomas
England. Plant 299895
James (or James Thomas) b 1879 Appleton Whisk, Yorks; James Herbert b 1913
Manchester
George William b 1882, Rotherham Yorkshire Engalnd, d 1969 Dargaville NZ (see
eldest child of P52a's Great Grandfather in further details given below for P52a);
Aukland, New descent through George Geoffrey Plant, b 31.5.1910 Aukland, NZ. (It was initially FT
P35a thought that this descent had stated from Francis Plante, b Jul 1626 Sheriff Hales, Shrops; via John Plant
Zealand. Plant (1659); John (1695); William (1725) Stanton upon Hine Heath, Shrops; William (1758); Joseph (1794); 332860
James (1843) Wrockwardin Wood, Shrops, then George William Plant, b 1875 Madeley, Shropshire,
England. However, this was due to an evident confusion of this George William with one in ancestry of
P52a who, it turns out, matches with P35a which evidently helps to resolve the ambiguity).
Henry Plant b 1835 (cf. P45a). Henry was the son of Catherine Plant, a single
Utah, USA. woman, hence unsurprisingly not a match to the male-line main Plant family. (AN) FT
P37a
Plant Henry took on his mother's maiden name and was raised by his grandfather, John B12091
Plant and uncle John Plant. He was born in Cadeby, Leicestershire.
California, USA. Louis Jefferson Plant, b Mussel Shoals, Alabama 1832 or 1835. Descent through FT
P38a
Plant Forrest Plant, attorney, Sacramento. 402360
John Plant bc 1775 descent through John bc 1815 Burslem,Staffs d 1867 St
co. Durham, Marlebone, London; John Robert (1838-82) Marlebone; Harry b 1876 St Pancras d FT
P41a
England. Plant 1922 Goole (m E. Alice J. Simonette b 1884 Coundon, Co.Durham) professional 444929
musicians

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Hebden Bridge, FT
P42a
England. Plant 446600
Leek, George Plant, b 1816 Appleby (in the Asby-de-la-Zouch district of Leicestershire),
FT
Staffordshire, P44a descent in Black Country through Joseph then Mark. Possible ancestry of George
470746
England. Plant back through 3 generations called William to 1726.
Salt Lake City, FT
P45a Henry Plant b 1835 (cf. P37a)
USA. Plant 366463
Western
P47a William Plant, b 1844 Stone, Staffordshire, England (see further details)
Australia. Plant
New South
John Plant of Stepny, Middlesex, England, sea captian, sailed and joined in 1852 FT
Wales, P50a
by wife and 3 children in Melbourne, Australia. 732760
Australia. Plant
(cf.P17a) George Plant b ca.1670 Wrangle, Lincs, England, descent through:
Thomas b 05 July 1695 Wrangle; Thomas b ca.1720 Greetham, Lincs; John Plant b
14 Feb 1741 Gretham d. 1805 Haringto, Northamptonshire; William Plant b 8 Apr
1765 Harringworth, Northamptonshire, d ca.15 Aug 1822 Nassington, Northants;
Australian FT
P51a Thomas Plant b 1798, Nassington, d ca.1865; Thomas Plant b 11 Jun 1834 Castor,
territory. Plant IN10279
Northants, d ca.Sep 1898, Huntington; George Plant b 28 Mar 1859 Huningdon;
Vivian George Plant b 20 March 1889 Yoxford, Suffolk, England d 28 Mar 1916
Harwich (drowned at sea); Vivian George Plant b 19 Jan 1916 Gillingham, Kent,
England, emigrated to Sydney Australia.
William Plant 1706-1768 of Duckmanton (cf. P1a), descent through John
(1733-1816) with supplied genealogy here. (Match to P35a evidently resolves some confusion
Hull, Yorkshire, FT
P52a concerning George William (see eldest child of P52a's Great Grandfather). Mismatch to Branch A
England. Plant IN20394
from Thomas (1745-1827) perhaps implying an NPE in descent line from Thomas's
brother John (1733-1816).
William Plant m Hannah ca.1790; descent through son James, bap 2 Mar 1794 at
Aukland, New FT
P54a St John's Church, Burslem; then through his 6th son Abraham b 1828 at Hanley,
Zealand. Plant IN22746
moved to Anderston, Glasgow by 1851, d 1874 Scotland. Supplied details.
Anglesey, FT
P55a
Wales. Plant IN25817
Matching Quebec Plante family
Jean Plante, sailed to Canada in 1647 from La Rochelle-Laleu, France, landed at
Quebec,
PE1b Quebec City, settled at Chateau Richer just to its east. (Descent through FT 5420
Canada. Plante
Francois b 1668 C.R. and Jos- Ambroise b 1697 C.R)
Idaho, USA. ditto (Descent from Jean through his son Jean, then Louis, Joseph Marcel, FT
PE1c
Plante Antoine, Jean Baptiste, Thomas, etc.) 13484
NJ, USA. FT
PE1e from Quebec
Plante 101225
New York, Jean Plante, sailed to Canada in 1647 from La Rochelle-Laleu, France, landed at FT
PE1f
USA. Plante Quebec City, settled at Chateau Richer just to its east 232920
Richmond,
FT
Virginia, USA. PE2a Ernest Plante (1918-91) Burlington, Vermont
76595
Plante
Illinois, USA. FT
PE3a Joseph Plante father of George Plante b 1871 Kanakee, Illinois
Plante 116202
Ames, Iowa, FT
PE4a ?France
USA. Plante 62516
Portland,
Jean Plante, sailed to Canada in 1647 from La Rochelle-Laleu, France, landed at FT
Maine, USA. PE6a
Quebec City, settled at Chateau Richer just to its east 718769
Plante
Hickory, NC, FT
LPE1a Jean Charles Plante, b. 1560, d. 1611, Pouance, France
USA. LaPlante B144379
Other Plante
Jean Plante, sailed to Canada in 1647 from La Rochelle-Laleu, France, landed at
Ontario,
PE1a Quebec City, settled at Chateau Richer just to its east. (Descent through FT 5469
Canada. Plante
Francois b 1668 C.R. and Pierre b 1702)
Adolphe Ovide David Plante of Quebec (3.5.1841-1907, son of Louis Plante and
Michigan, USA. FT
PE1d Marie Anne Gingras); descent through David's 10th child Wilfrid Nazaire Leopold
Plante 92735
Plante (24.2.1880-1924)
Indiana, USA. FT
PE5a ?from Quebec
Plante 168281
Pierre Plante m Theresa Fortier (b ca.1770 Sorel), descent through Pierre Plante
m Josette Bouilette (b ca.1790), Pierre Plante (b ca.1814) m Maria Wisc (b
Michigan, USA. ca.1821), Pierre Plante (b 1841 St Ignace Mi) m Veronique Derocher (b 1845 St
FT
Plont (sic) ex PE7a Ignace Mi), George Luke Plont (b 1883 Crystal Lake Mi) m Myrtle Berry (b 1882
841907
Plante Newago Mi), George Joesph Hurculane Plont (b 1910) m Merl Parks (b 1917
Minot North Dakota), John Richard Plont (b Mar 2 1934 Ludington Mi) m Jeri
Grogg (b Sept 2 1940 Rockville MD)
Other Plant-like names
Zaragoza, Ramón Planter (Goser) b 17 Dec 1844 Zaragoza (Descent through Antonio FT
PR1a
Spain. Planter Planter (Sangorrin) b Jun 1905 Zaragoza) N11991

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West Virginia, Christian Plants, b 21 Apr 1747 Bavaria, Germany; descent through Jacob FT
PS1a
USA. Plants Plants, b c1807 Washington County, Pensylvania, USA. 71599
Somerset, UK. Theophulis Plenty, Walton, Somerset. Descent through his son John Francis FT
PEY1a
Plenty Plenty. 399575
Western
Pietro Pianta lived in Brusio, Switzerland; father of Pietro (Peter) Angelo Pianta, FT
Australia. Pi1a
b. 5 Feb 1895 Brusio, d. 13 Apr 1959 in Western Australia. 640196
Pianta
Warren/Waring-like names
Illinois, USA. John Waring, father of Emanuel Waring, bap 4.Oct.1807 Dewsbury, W.Yorkshire,
WG1a FT
Waring UK.
NSW,
William Waring, b Lancashire, England; d Kilkenny, Ireland, will 1709 proved
Australia. WG2a FT
1713.
Waring
Jacksonville,
Arkansas, WG3a Sampson Waring 1617-68, born in Shropshire, England, died in Maryland, USA. FT
USA. Waring
Memphis,
Tennesse, WG4a Thomas Waring, Essex County, Virginia, USA, early 1700s. FT
USA. Waring
Cornwall,
Henry James Wearing, b Whitechapel, Middlesex, England 1828, d Nova Scotia
England. WEG1a FT
1909, son of James Wearing m Sarah Bignold 1824 St Mary, Whitechapel.
Wearing
Columbia.
WREG1a Harry Wareing, b Gainsborough, Lincolnshire 1899 FT
Wareing
Suffolk, UK.
W1a James Warren, b 28.12.1716 Marnhull, Dorset FT
Warren
Warren
(VNFSM, W2a George Warren, England FT
66386)
Warren
W3a FT
(70059)

Currently no new volunteers awaiting results from Lab

Location/spelling Code for Earliest known ancestor of sub-branch Testing company,

volunteer kit number

Each volunteer has been given a code (e.g. P1a, P2a, etc.) and the above table relates each code to an "earliest
known ancestor" based on documentary evidence and also, where appropriate, to a FT kit number of the testing
company Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), a YF number of the analysis company YFull, a YElite code of the testing
company Full Genomes Corporation (FGC).

Links to details of DNA Results

Early presentations only of early results. The very first results for those marked with the Testing Company
"OA" (Oxford Ancestors) in the above table of volunteers are summarised under Initial Results. Some further
results, for those tested with the Testing Company "FT" (FTDNA), appear under Some futher Results where there is
also included one tested with the company "AN" (Ancestry). More results have been added more recently however.
Most results, including the most recent ones, are given as follows.

Standard Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) and YSEQ presentations of nearly all the Results

A kit number is given in the above table of volunteers for each FTDNA testee (i.e. for nearly all those who have
been tested). Hence, almost complete Y-DNA results (Y-SNP and Y-STR) for each FTDNA kit number appear in
these listed FTDNA Results though it is necessary to be logged into a FTDNA account to see the results for every kit
number in our project.

Some supplementary YSEQ Results (no login required) use different Sample codes which are also given in the
above table of volunteers - these are also summarised here as: P1a is 410, P1c 5426, P2a 2849, P2b 5050, P5a
15073, P7b 13295, P19a 4019, P26a 5995, P29a 5898, P33a 4554, P43a 7681, P48a 8042, P49a 12243, PT1b
5897 and PT3a is 5696.
These results are for the YSEQ group 'Plant surname DNA project'.
To help with browsing these results, you can click top of column to order by Sample number or Marker.
Alternatively, there is a filter symbol near the bottom of the page which can be used to pick out the Sample number of a particular
person, or a particular marker such as Y22430 or DYS710.
(Note A: M5778=PF1031 is based on a G to C mutation, even though the HG19 reference is C. This is shown in YSEQ as C+ for P1a,
P1c, P33a and indicated as such (1C+) also for PT3a and P43a by YFull, with all others being no call. Hence, it is probably of no
significance).
(Note B: Though the HG19 reference is A for PF1376, it is no call or A+ in YFull, or 1T- for P40a and P43a, with the latter being a YFull
miscall. It has been shown by YSEQ to be A+ for both P1c and P43a).

Y-DNA matching to the Main English Plant family

The quality of the matches to the main English Plant family is tabulated in terms of genetic distance and discussed
here.

YSEQ extra measured markers

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Branch A
P1a, #FT11830, #YSEQ410, Y22430+, FGC22149+, A21072=FGC73521=Y139502+, (M5778=PF1031+ though, in
YFull, P43a and PT3a both + while P1a, P19a, P26a, P40a all no call), DYS552=23, DYS650=18, DYS710=33.2
(33.2 represents a rare 2 base micro-allele at 19436836-7)
P1c, #FT141186, #YSEQ5426, Y22430+, FGC22149-, DYS552=23, DYS650=19, DYS710=33.2
P33a, #FT295512, #YSEQ4554, A21072-, FGC22149-, DYS552=23, DYS650=18, DYS710=33.2
P48a, #YSEQ8042, DYS650=18, DYS710=33.2, DYS552=23, DYS570=19
Branch B
P26a, #FT182593, #YSEQ5995 (#YF04839), PF428-, (PF6726 tested but ambiguous Y+, Y means C or T)
PT3a, #FT235642, #YSEQ5696 (#YF04841), PF428-, (PF6726 tested but ambiguous Y+, Y means C or T)
Branch D
P2a, #FT277384, #YSEQ2849, Y22430+, A10650+, A10964+, A10965+, DYS710=34, DYS485=17, DYS504=16,
DYS513=13, DYS532=13, DYS552=24, DYS561=15, DYS593=15, DYS650=18, DYS712=22, DYS715=22
P2b, #FT475951, #YSEQ5050, DYS712=22
P7b, #FT105871, #YSEQ13295, Y22430+, A10650-
P29a, #FT232765, #YSEQ5898, F3085-, A10650-, Y22430+
P40a, #FT436455, A10965+, Y22430+
P43a, #FT453216, #YSEQ7681. DYS504=16, DYS513=13, DYS532=13, DYS552=24, DYS561=15, DYS593=15,
DYS650=18, DYS712=22, DYS715=22
Uncertain Early Branch I
P19a, #FT96105, #YSEQ4019, F3085+, Y22430-
PT1b, #FT40279, #YSEQ5897, F3085-, Y22430-
Uncertain Early Branch II
P49a, #FT684179, #YSEQ12243, Y22430-

YFull extra measured markers

Branch A
P1a, #FT11830, #YF04268(BigY), #YF12704(YElite); SNPs (Y22430+=877613-A-T), FGC22149+,
(A21072+=Y139502=8072280-T-C) [YFull analysis #YF04268 indicated that the following were either positives or false positives but
YSEQ then clarified that they were negatives: A10165, CTS11688, PF374]; 498 reliable BigY Y-STRs including DYS710=33.2; 470
reliable YElite2.1 Y-STRs including DYS710 n/a.
Branch B
P26a, #FT182593, #YF04839; SNPs (YFS1211490=8084397-C-A+, YFS1211919+); 526 reliable Y-STRs
PT3a, #FT235642, #YF04841; SNPs (YFS1212991=15237869-G-T+, YFS1213002=18024409-C-T+,
?YFS1212707=8805116-T-A+); 514 reliable Y-STRs
Branch D
P40a, #FT436455, #YF05854; SNPs (Y22430=877613-A-T, A10650, A10964, ?A10965); 496 reliable Y-STRs
P43a, #FT453216, #YF05858; SNPs (Y22430=877613-A-T, A10650, A10960, A10962, ?A10961, ?A10963,
?YFS1770187=15791020-C-A); 496 reliable Y-STRs
Uncertain Early Branch I
P19a, #FT96105, #YF04270; SNPs (F3085+, YFS529117+, YFSS529118+, YFS529119+, 13211302-C-T+,
13239222-T-A+); 497 reliable Y-STRs

BigY500 extra useful Y-STRs

Results for A:P1a, A+D:P5a, D:P40a, D:P43a, B:P26a, B:PT3a, C:P28a, I:P19a

DNA matching diagrams for Plant and migration maps

I (JSP) am grateful to Prof Richard E Plant for producing the diagrams and maps in this and the next section, from the
available FTDNA data.

12 marker Y-STR results

Early volunteers (OA) had only 10 markers measured. The following Network diagram includes only Plant volunteers
who have had at least 12 markers measured (with FTDNA). It shows differences in the measured values of these
12 markers. The labels in the diagram correspond to the same labels as those used to identify different Plant males
in the table of volunteers above. However, where more than one volunteer matches exactly (larger circles in the
following diagram), only one label is shown.

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The largest red circle above shows that many of the Plant volunteers have exactly matching DNA signatures, at the
12 marker level. There are other smaller red circles almost matching the large one. Red indicates that these
volunteers belong to a single descent family (as judged by these and further DNA results including some illustrated
below).

Though measuring 12 markers gives a good indication of the various Plant families most of the time, some
imperfections in the above diagram can arise because 12 markers can be insufficient to distinguish between real
and accidental matches between some of the tested Plant individuals. For example, the red/yellow circle labelled
P37a is a superposition of Y-DNA12 results for three different Plant men - it turns out that P37a and P45a (father
and son) match with P43a only by accident. Further testing confirms that P43a remains a close match to the main
Plant family (red circles) but that P37a-P45a are only close at this 12-marker level by accident - they separate off
too far to be real matches to the main family when more markers are measured - this indicates that P37a-P45a
belong to a separate small Y-DNA Plant family, matching just one another, consistent with genealogical evidence
that they are in fact father and son.

The above automated Network diagram gives a quick identification of who are near and distant matches but
occasionally it misrepresents the data. In particular, the small red circles for P33a and P49a have been placed, by
the Network algorithm, further away from the other red circles than the raw Y-DNA12 data actually indicates.
Further investigation (e.g. 37 markers) shows that, though they are not an exact match, they remain in fact close
enough to belong to the main Plant family.

Apart from the complication for P37a, the yellow, blue, pink and green circles in the above diagram do not even
nearly match the large red one, even at this 12-marker level. Such mismatching can be explained by one of two
possible reasons: an NPE (see next subsection); or, an entirely separate medieval origin to the Plant surname. The
two green circles P9a-P18a still almost match each other when upgraded to the 25-marker level and they might be
from a separate south Lincolnshire origin of the name. The same can be said for the two pink circles P17a-P51a
which we hence call the 'South Lincolnshire B' family. The yellow circle labelled P16a corresponds to an exact match
of P16a with P21a but no extra markers have been measured for P16a and unfortunately we have lost contact with
him to investigate this further. The circle labelled P44a is a 12-marker match to P50a and this could be investigated
further.

The blue circle represents an exact match of P35a to P52a and no other known Y-DNA12 result for any person of
any name in the FTDNA database matches here. They were not previously considered close relatives but a possible
confusion in the documented genealogy is currently being reassessed.

Mismatching circles arising from NPEs

NPEs arise when the DNA signature has not been inherited from a Plant ancestor but from a different father,
perhaps because of a wifely infidelity, or adoption, or any other mechanism by which the Plant surname is passed
on in a different way from that of the y-chromosome signature of the true father. Though it is generally estimated
that there is only about a 1% or 2% chance of a NPE at each generation, this can accumulate to around a 40%
chance when all the generations of descent are taken into account throughout Plant surname history. This can
explain most, if not all, of the significant number of yellow, blue and green circles. As already indicated, the
alternative explanation of grossly mismatching circles is that the descent is from an entirely separate medieval
origin, as is likely for the green and/or blue circles.

Migration beyond Staffordshire

Some of the Plant volunteers have traced their paternal origins back only as far as ancestors overseas, such as in
Ireland or the USA. However, for those who have traced their ancestry back to around the main Plant homeland of
Staffordshire, England, the following map shows the location and date of their earliest known male-line ancestor.

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The darker the brown of the background colour, the higher the proportion of Plants in the county in 1881. The
darkest brown corresponds to the county of Staffordshire. The proportion of Plants to the general population of
each county is derived from 1881 Census data.

Superimposed on this brown background, the DNA data show that a single Plant family (red circles) extends
beyond the county boundaries of Staffordshire by the eighteenth century.

37 marker Y-STR results

In the diagram below, 37 DNA markers are compared. (Hence, needless to say, those who have had only 25 or less
markers measured do not appear in this diagram).

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At each generation, there can be an occasional mutation of a Y-DNA marker. With more markers measured, more
mutations can be expected to show. There is accordingly more separation of the red circles in the above 37-marker
diagram than was apparent at the 12-marker level. These separations represent accumulated mutations, down the
generations, from the Y-DNA signature of a male ancestor of the main Plant descent family.
Detail of some amendments.The large red circle for the 12-marker results (shown in the 12-marker Network diagram above) is here
differentiated into quite closely matching smaller red circles, nearly all of which are singletons when 37 markers are considered. There
are slightly larger circles for PT1a (includes PT1c), P28a (incudes P28b) and P25a (coincides with P46a). However, three of the
markers are fast changing and, though they are useful for studying the detail of close family "twigs" in the last few centuries, they
tend to distort the overall picture for the main Plant family (red circles) which has developed over perhaps around seven hundred
years. The effects of these three fast-changing markers are hence omitted from the 37-marker Network diagram above. Also, the link
to P38a is omitted since it is even more distant from the red circles than all the other yellow circles which are included.

In the above diagram, there is now only one green circle (P18a towards the right of the diagram). This corresponds
to one of the pair (P9a and P18a) of volunteers who, as well as having geographically close ancestry in south
Lincolnshire, had a close genetic match at the 25-marker level.

Measuring more Y-STR markers and their stability

The above diagram was obtained using the Flexus Engineering Network software package and further diagrams
were obtained using the MEGA6 software package.

MEGA6 analyses were carried out at the 37-, 67- and 111- Y-STR marker levels. Also, these analyses were repeated
leaving out some of the relatively unstable markers. Some aspects of the resulting branching, in the descent of the
main Plant family, were resilient throughout these various analyses whereas others were not. See here for the
details of the initial MEGA6 analyses. Though not necessarily entirely reliable, they provided a start for estimating
the major branches in the descent of the main Plant family.
Those Plant volunteers who do not belong to the main Plant family appear well over to the right of these MEGA6 diagrams whereas
those in the main Plant family appeared well over to the left. The smaller horizontal distances from the left corresponds to relatively
small genetic distances from the PMH, i.e. from the estimated ancestral DNA signature of the main Plant family. The DNA evidence
that these Plants descend from a single medieval man is outlined more directly elsewhere.

Because of the limited number of Plants who have been tested, it is not always clear in which order the Y-STR mutations from the
ancestral signature have occurred. Put simply, when only those in the main family are included, the MEGA6 diagrams can be regarded
as representing an average of the guesses at how the mutations down the centuries of the main Plant family have progressed in going
from left to right (though, in detail, the algorithm is complex).

Because of the averaging, the horizontal lines can correspond to fractional genetic distances. For example, averaging genetic distances
of 1 and 2 would give an average value of 1.5. At face value, such an average would seem to imply that one can have fractions of a
mutation though, of course, that would be a false interpretation that does not make physical sense.

Four or so major branches of the main Plant family

The following branching model takes account of the aforementioned MEGA6 diagrams and it also seeks to identify
specific mutations which identify some particular branches in the descent of the main Plant family.

Such branching helps to break down the abnormally large main Plant family into rather more manageable
sub-populations. Further genealogical connections within these sub-populations can then be investigated using a
combination of documentary and DNA evidence.

The branches differ in how much Y-STR testing is required in order to gain a relatively clear idea of which major
branch is theirs. The following discussion applies initially only to those who have taken at least the Y-DNA37 test,
and so have results for the standard 37 Y-STR markers or more. However we are now recommending a cheaper
Y-DNA12 test, at least as an initial possibility, which can then be followed by some more-tailored further testing if
appropriate. This can form the basis of an alternative possible testing strategy that can be more cost-effective than
just blindly measuring more and more Y-STR markers by means of standard FTDNA tests. Towards this end, some
additional Y-STR and Y-SNP information is being appended for each branch listed below, as shown in small italics.

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Branch A
Identified by DYS570=20 in a Y-DNA37 or YSEQ test: P1a, P1c, P23a, P33a
(Also, P1a, P1c and P33a have rare micro-allele value DYS710=33.2 as well as DYS552=23; P1a also has FGC22149+ unlike P1c and P33a;
but P23a is no longer available for such further testing.)
Branch B
Identified by DYS534=16 in a Y-DNA67 or YSEQ test: P20a, P25a, P26a, PT3a
However, either DYS458 or DYS534 is a parallel mutation for PT1a making him somewhat ambiguous between Branch B and a tentative Early
Branch I.
Also, at the over 400 Y-STR level, P26a is only 0.044 from PT3a whereas both are 0.094 or 0.096 from Branch A [P1a] and 0.085 or 0.074 or
0.084 or 0.083 from Branch D [P40a and P43a] and 0.069 or 0.074 from Early Branch I [P19a].
After splitting in Branch B, P26a has YFS1211490 (8084397-C-A) whereas PT3a has instead YFS1212991 (15237869-G-T), YFS1213002
(18024409-C-T) and perhaps ?YFS1212707 (8805116-T-A).
Branch C
Identified by DYS385b=13 in a Y-DNA12 test: P28a, P28b, P30a, ?P39a
Branch D
Indicated by DYS710=34 (Y-DNA111 or YSEQ test): P2a, P7b, P29a, P36a, P40a, P43a
(P2a, P7b, P36a, P40a, P43a also have DYS456=17 and DYS712=22 with P2a having had DYS712 determined by YSEQ and P40a and P43a
having had it determined by YFull; P43a has also tested DYS456=17 by Y-DNA37; P2a, P40a and P43a have also tested A10650+ but P7b
has tested A10650-)
Super branch A+D
YFull and/or YSEQ results indicate that P1a and P1c (Branch A) and P2a and P7b and P29a and P40a and P43a
(Branch D) share Y22430+ and DYS650=18
Uncertain Early Branch I
Suggested by DYS458=19 in a Y-DNA25 test: P19a, PT1a
However, either DYS458 or DYS534 is a parallel mutation for PT1a making him ambiguous between Branch B and this tentative Early Branch
I
(Also, P19a has F3085+ unlike PT1b. P19a also has 13211302-C-T, 13239222-T-A, 17577432-A-C, 17577433-C-A, 17680770-C-T)
Uncertain Early Branch II (none of the above)
All of the above branches have been eliminated (assuming no back mutation): P49a

The Y-DNA tests identified above are in the first instance standard tests that are available from the testing
company FTDNA. However, tests for some specific markers (such as DYS712) can be bought more cheaply at the
testing company YSEQ. Those who are not yet tested are advised that they could begin with a realtively cheap
Y-DNA12 test at FTDNA and then we are always available to advise on what further testing could be the most cost
effective options leaving, of course, the final decision to you.
Caveats

The markers DYS385b, DYS570, DYS534, DYS458 and DYS712 are used as defining mutations even though there is a moderate
chance of parallel mutations in the descent lines. A mutation rate for DYS712, in particular, is not well known and it might be
faster than for some of the others and perhaps hence less reliable. Though DYS456 is omitted from some of the above MEGA6
diagrams, the value (17) might be adequately stable to be useful as a proxy (as well as confirmation) for DYS712=22.
It is possible that Branch A might be quite well defined by a rather unusual (8%) value (20) for the marker DYS570 as well as
by the rare micro-allele 33.2 for DYS710.
PT1a has both of our so-called "defining markers" DYS458 and DYS534. At least one of these must be a parallel mutation. It is
hence debatable whether the marker DYS534 should be given precedence in placing PT1a in Branch B, instead of DYS458 for
the tentative Early Branch I.
At the Y-DNA111 (or explicit YSEQ) level, the marker DYS650 cuts across and disconfirms the above branching model, in so far
as this marker has inconsistent results. The value DYS650=18 brings together four out of five tested in Branch D (P2a and
P29a and P36a and P40a, but not P7b) with two of the three tested in Branch A (P1a and P33a but not P1c). Since branches
A+D form a very credible super-branch, one might suppose that DYS650=18 might have occurred early in Branch A+D and the
value for P1c and P7b could be back mutations. The value DYS650=19 for Branches B (P26a and PT3a), C (P28a), and I (P19a)
could then be ancestral. Further testing in connection with this marker is underway.
Currently, we have that Branch C (P28a, P28b, P30a) is defined by DYS385b=13. This also brings in P39a. Howecer, as well as
the Branch C defining marker DYS385b=13, P39a has DYS456=17 which also appears quite early in Branch D. Also, this
individual P39a (Branch C or perhaps D) shares the value DYS449=29 with P26a (Branch B).
P43a (Branch D) shares DYS570=12 with P30a (Branch C).

In the following 37-marker Network diagram, P39a (perhaps branch C or D) and P49a are left uncoloured pending
further investigation. The branches are denoted: yellow (A); grey (B); green (C); purple (D); blue (I) and white in
particular for P49a (II).

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This automated survey shown above is for just a part of the DNA evidence. Even so, it shows a moderate degree of
separation between the branches apart from branch C being intermingled within branch D. Including more markers
adds to the evidence though fewer DNA participants have tested for more and more of the standard Y-STR
markers.

The automated survey in the 67-marker MEGA6 diagram below shows the branches reasonably well separated.
Starting from the bottom of the diagram, there is branch I (P19a and PT1a/b); branch B (P25a, P26a, P20a, PT3a);
branch II (P49a); branch A (P1a); branch D (P7b and P29a); and branch C (P28a, P30a, P39a). However, P36a is
not clearly associated in this diagram with branch D which we currently believe is better identified at the
111-marker level (not withstanding that we have fewer results with that many markers).

The scale at the bottom of the above diagram indicates a genetic distance of 0.5 in going from left to right. The
label PMH, near the bottom left, indicates one possible estimate of the ancestral Y-DNA signature of the main
English Plant family.

The results of some further analyses of the branching are described below.

Current state of the Art (July 2018). The prospects for making progress with the branching of the descent lines
in the main Plant family are now good, as both the Plant project and the available DNA tests have advanced. As
well as the above-mentioned Y-STRs, more-reliable Y-SNPs are now being identified to help confirm the major
branching. Some Plants have upgraded to the FTDNA BigY test, which can be expected increasingly to help.

When a specific Y-SNP is associated with a branch, others can test for this single SNP using the testing company
YSEQ. In turn, better results for the major branches can lead on to progressively further identification of the
sub-branching. Once the major features are identified, DNA testing of a new volunteer's place in the descent tree
becomes more straightforward and useful. The current state of this art is indicated in the following diagram.

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SNP details Distinct 112-Y500 STRs

So far, the following individuals have upgraded to the BigY test thereby pioneering the way to cheaper and more
effective DNA testing: Branch A, P1a; Branch B, P26a and PT3a; Branch C, P28a; Branch D, P5a, P29a, P40a and
P43a; Branch I, P19a.

BigY500 testing forms a basis for further testing of other individuals in the same branch. For example, the following
diagram shows the outcome of testing further individuals in the same branch as P1a: in this case, YSEQ testing of
P48a, P33a, and P1c was carried out.

Thus, in the blue boxes, the mutation of the Y-STR marker DYS650 for example, from the value 19 to 18,
apparently occurred early in Super-Branch A+D followed by a back-mutation to 19 in the descent of the Plant
volunteer P1c. The possibility of back mutations such as this for the Y-STR DYS markers underlines the value of
more stable Y-SNP markers such as R-Y22430 for the apparent Super-Branch A+D. However, the rare micro-allele
value DYS710=33.2 for Branch A seems likely to be sufficiently distinctive to have occurred only once so that it can
be reliably placed as shown. In the white boxes, the William Plant designated Wm(1) for example is described in
more detail in a number of places, including Figure 17.6 of Chapter 17 which is available in Journal 17 on the Plant
website at the location shown in red. More generally, some relevant documents for the Branch A genealogy in
particular are available here

Some documentary notes concerning the SuperBranch A+D.

The Plant volunteers P5a and P29a have ancestry in the Cheshire Main Homeland and the Y-DNA results
show that they are indeed linked together at the top of Branch D before others in this this branch slit
off into a separate sub-branch.

As well as in the main Plant homeland, many of those tested to be in Branch D have ancestry at Market

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Harbourough in Leicestershire. They might have migrated into Leicestershire as late as around 1700
though perhaps earlier. For example, there was a drover called Edmund Plant of Hurdesfield in Cheshire
who was being sued for debt in Leicestershire as early as 1453, presumably in connection with his
activities away from Cheshire as a drover.

Turning to Branch A, all those tested so far have ancestry around Sheffield and it seems that they could
well have arrived in NE Derbyshire, near Sheffield, around 1700. A detailed discussion of this link around
1700, direct from the main Plant homeland to around 30 miles away at Duckmanton (and hence to the
ensuing documentary genealogy for Branch A near Sheffield) is given here. That said, a possibly
unrelated migration part way along this route seems evident much earlier. Some Plants were apparently
on their way by 1538, when Ralph Gell of Wirksworth had provided Christopher Plant with a cottage
(now the Old House Museum in Bakewell) for him to act as his tythe collector. It is possible that this
Christopher Plant maintained a connection back to the main Plant homeland in as much as there is a
1591 will for a Christopher Plant of Leek (with no other Christopher being known). Some other nearby
Plants, though not necessarily closely related, include ones at Bakewell and Great Longstone both just
17 miles from Duckmanton – these include: Anna Plant married in 1616 at Bakewell; Richard Plant
married 1640 Great Longstone; there is also for example a 1545 will for Hugh Plant of Wirksworth,
around 12 miles to the south of Bakewell.

Migration maps for some Main Plant Family branches scattered amongst other Plants

To be slightly updated.

The evident fourteenth-century homeland of the main Plant family is indicated by the black star on the following
map. Documentary evidence for the earliest known Plant ancestor of each Y-DNA tested man is not adequately
available until several centuries after this main Plant family first formed. The details of the Plants' first surname
bearers are largely shrouded in mystery. A clear documentary ancestral male line, for living Plant men, typically
reaches back only through around a couple centuries or so. Before then, there might be records for several Williams
or Johns, leading to a lack of certainty about which belonged to which branch of the Main Plant Family descent tree.
The growing body of Y-DNA evidence can provide further indications, as outlined below.

In the following two maps, all the circles and triangles belong to the Main Plant Family, with high certainty, whereas
the squares are not Y-DNA matches to this main family.

By the times that the earliest known male-line ancestor of a Plant man is known to have lived, with some certainty,
that ancestor had typically migrated. Some had gone far whereas others were still local. As already indicated, in the
case of the Main Plant Family, that known ancestor had likely migrated from a location near the black star that is
included in the maps below. For example, the earliest known ancestors of PT1a (Uncertain branch I) and P7b
(Branch D) are in the USA: hence they do not appear in the following two maps. Such a distant migration can
sometimes lead to a lesser concentration, with apparently less confusion concerning many similarly named Plants in
the same region. However, the Y-DNA evidence can still help by providing information to identify a living man's
ancestral Plant branch or family in England. Careful checking by DNA is advisable, even when there are only a few
Plants in a distant region, because they might not all be from the same Plant family or branch. Some examples are
outlined below.

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See also close-up map of main homeland below.

The DNA data indicate that geographic proximity does not always correspond to a close family relationship between
the Plants in a particular geographical region. For example, there is evident migration of the main Plant family
across the Irish sea. The ancestors of PT3a and P25a in Ireland evidently belong to Branch B (grey circles) of the
Main Plant Family, whereas P28a and P28b have a rather different ancestral male line: to wit, a branch that has
separated from others to become Branch C (green circles). The closest geographical proximity in Ireland is evidently
between Plants of these two different branches: P28a/b, which belong to Branch C, are not far from PT3a of Branch
B. Relying on geographical proximity, for assuming a close family connection between these quite close Irish
neighbours, would hence have been misleading in this case.

Although they are found in quite well separated places in Ireland, the earliest known ancestors of PT3a and P25a
are both linked through Branch B (grey circles) to P20a and P26a in England (see the close-up map below for the
details of these two Plants towards the south of the main Plant homeland in south Staffordshire). These two grey
circles are not far from the ancestry (grey triangle) of P49a (Uncertain branch II) and also not far from P19a who
evidently belongs to a different early branch (Uncertain branch I) as is denoted by his blue triangle. Further north,
the earliest known ancestry of Branch C (green circles) is in the main homeland (P30a and P39a), near Stoke on
Trent, as well as having reached into Ireland (P28a and P28b).

On the other hand, the yellow circles in both the above and the following map show that the DNA-tested Plants
whose earliest-known male-line ancestors were near Sheffield (P23a, P1a, P1c, P33a) were not only geographical
neighbours of one other but are also sufficiently genetically linked to belong to the computed Branch A of the main
Plant family's ancestral descent tree. P1b is shown as a yellow triangle, indicating that it belongs to the main Plant
family but not sufficiently many DNA markers have been measured to confirm that it belongs to the same branch,
Branch A, though that is expected from the genealogical documentation. Taken together, this suggests that a
particular branch (Branch A) of the main Plant family found its way, presumably from near the black star of the
main ancestral homeland, across the Dark Peak to reach NE Derbyshire and Sheffield around or before 1700. This
was already suspected for the genealogically-linked P1a, P1b and P1c but not necessarily for P23a or P33a. The
more recent addition, P33a, has since been considered to have a similar genealogical descent to that of P1a.

See also wider view of British Isles above.

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The ancestors of Branch D men (pinkish-mauve circles) are quite widely spread, being near the black star in
England (P29a) as well as to its north and south (P43a and P40a); and also having spread to the south east of
Leicestershire (P2a, P36a). The ancestral line of P40a apparently descended through the ancestry of the others
(P2a, P2b, P36a) and it is possible, but not certain, that the ancestry of all of these men was ealier at the location
shown for P40a (at Swynnerton in north Staffordshire). The documentary evidence indicates that P2b belongs to
the same branch though only a few of his Y-DNA markers have been measured, just enough to confirm that he
belongs to some unknown branch of the Main Plant Family (hence he is denoted by a yellow triangle).

All of the branches A, B, C, D, I and II belong to the Main Plant Family as do also those men tested and
represented by yellow triangles. The yellow triangles belong to undetermined branches because an insufficient
number of their DNA markers have been measured. On the other hand, the so-called Uncertain branches, I and II,
have had sufficiently many markers measured, as many as would normally be expected to be needed to determine
their branch. These two Uncertain branches have not been identified as belonging to branches A, B, C or D though,
technically, that might perhaps still be possible because of a back mutation from a defining marker of Branches B or
C though, much less likely, a back mutation from the super-branch A+D.

In order to reach its large population, the Main Plant Family can be expected to have had many early branches,
descended from not-so-very-distantly related early cousins within this single main family. Some of these early
branches might not have proliferated much beyond the confines of their early locations. However the Uncertain
Branch I might have migrated early from the black star at the northern-most tip of Staffordshire to the vicinity of
Birmingham. Such an early migration south seems possible in so far as there is a record of a Plant by 1401 at
Overton not far from the blue triangle in the above map (for more detail, see the map showing early locations in
both north and south Staffordshire). Turning to the Uncertain Branch II, it appears that it might have belonged to a
Sheriff Hales family branch in Shropshire by around 1640, whose location is indicated by the grey triangle labelled
P49a. The ancestral line of P49a then apparently returned from there back to Leek in the main Plant ancestral
homeland (black star) by 1679 and his line was still there in 1719. It should be added however that, since many
early records for Leek parish are missing (as evidenced here), it is in general difficult to know whether unknown
lines, in fact, had remained in Leek parish throughout the early centuries of this main Plant family.

Other tested Plants have been found not to match to the Main Plant Family, nor do they match one another. These
are represented in the maps by white squares. Nor do the coloured squares match the Main Plant Family. As
already indicated, P9a and P18a (green squares) belong to a genetically distinct Plant family with ancestry in SE
Lincolnshire which likely had a separate medieval origin there (assuming that it did not have an early NPE from the
Main Plant Family). A second such family (grey squares) belongs to P44a and P50a. Though only 12 Y-DNA markers
have been measured for P50a, these two Plants appear to belong to the same family as one another, though not to
the Main Plant Family. Though well separated geographically, P50a has ancestry back to a mariner based in London
whereas P44a has traced back his ancestry apparently to Appleby in NE Leicestershire.

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The L617 haplogoup of the main Plant family

The following diagram combines data assembled by John Marsh with 37 marker Y-STR data for the main Plant
family. Though the details of Network diagrams are sensitive to the chosen markers and to who is included (see
above) it shows some main family groupings for some initially tested individuals who are known to belong to the
R1b-L617+ haplogroup.

In the above diagram, the label T1 corresponds to four individuals from the surnames Teague, Westmoreland,
Spink and Marsh and it can be seen that this closely clusters with other individuals from the surname Marsh (labels
prefixed M); the other nearby circle T2 is for Tyndal. The labels prefixed P are for Plant, R is for Rogers and O is for
Oreel (which is found in northern France and Flanders). The R1bMod circle represents the R1b modal DNA signature
which can be used to approximate the DNA signature of a much earlier ancestor from whom individuals in the
R1b-L617+ sub-clade have descended. The Plant cluster is well separated to the left of the diagram and its
ancentral line evidently diverged from those others in this diagram perhaps around three thousand years ago.

Increasingly many L617+ individuals are currently being identified beyond those in the above diagram. The
following MEGA6 diagram shows some individuals who have been identified as L617+. Tight groupings, such as
Marsh-Westmoreland-Teague are likely to be resilient whereas looser groupings, such as Plant-Warren-Coursey-
Dunstan, are more likely to be revised as more data become available.

Living individuals in the parent clades of R1b-L617+ are found mostly in Iberia. In particular, individuals in the
parent clade R1b-DF27+, perhaps originating a few hundred years before R1b-L617+, are found mostly around the
Pyrennees. Though we cannot be certain, it is reasonable to suppose that these locations may be near where these
clades first formed and that most of their descendants have not migrated far from their ancestral origins, near the
Pyrenees.

Those so far found for L617+ might well represent a biased dataset. It might so far be noted that they are mostly
for surnames further to the north. It seems that the ancestors of these individuals had migrated northwards
between around 3000 to 1000 years ago.

In the above diagram, there are surnames for Poland and Lithuania (Sobolewski and Puras), ones from evidently
around the Netherlands (Oreel and Strydom) and Normandy (Coursey) as well as several English surnames. There
is also one for Iberia (Ortiz) though he does not have the additional Y-SNP mutation FGC14591+.

For the English surnames, there might have been an early arrival of a shared ancestral line from western Europe
which then branched out in England before the formation of these English surnames. Alternatively, the ancestral
lines of some of these surname descents might have arrived separately in England at different dates between the
Bronze Age and late medieval times.

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The deep ancestral descent of the male line leading down to the main Plant family is discussed further elsewhere in
the website.

Matching Diagram for Plante

Similarly as was outlined above for Plant, the following is a 12-marker Network diagram for the French Canadian
Plante family. So far, all those tested with this spelling live in North America. Their locations are shown in this map
though, as shown in another map, untested men with the Plante name live also in SW France, with a few also
elsewhere. In the Network diagram below, it is clear that the green circles do not match with the main Plante
family (yellow circles). All men with the Plante name that have been tested so far are genetically distinct from all
those tested with the Plant(t) name.

Some statistical considerations

Y-DNA test results are often clear cut; but, in some cases, it is appropriate to consider their statistical basis:

Matches amongst surnames relevant to Plantagenet

Genetic age (TMRCA) of the main English Plant family

Summary of Results for Plant-like names so far

A characteristic Y-line DNA signature has been found for 38 of the 67 Plant (and Plantt) volunteers tested so far.
Different results have been obtained for 1 volunteer called Plants and for 1 called Plenty and for 11 volunteers
called Plante (though 8 of the 12 called Plante, including one more called LaPlante, match one another). Largely
consistent results with at least half of the volunteers matching, such as has been found so far for Plant (and
separately for Plante), can be considered to be expectable provided that one supposes each name, Plant or Plante,
descended mostly from its own main single family. The Canadian Plante family is of different male-line stock from
the main English Plant family. Either might be fantastically imagined to have descended from the fictionally-
supposed 7th century Plantard family in France; or, fiction aside, from Eimeric de la Planta (alias de Plant') in Anjou
in 1202. Alternatively, the main Plant family could be just an English family from around 1200-1400

Other evidence, taken with these Y-DNA findings, suggests that the name of the main English Plant family may
have originated as that of perhaps polygynous children in the Welsh Marches in the 13th or 14th centuries and
have the Welsh meaning `[many] children'. Alternatively, the surname might have been ascribed to several related
men with the topolgical meaning `living near the newly planted (i.e. established) vaccary (of the Black Prince)'
which is where the name is first found in its main homeland of Cheshire/Staffordshie in England. Yet another
possibility is that the name might have been associated with the placename le Plantis in Normandy which is
consistent with a Longspee-Audley hypothesis for the name's arrival in its main homeland. Leaving aside such
conjecture, this single medieval family has more certainly grown to an unusual extent. Uncertainties concerning the
origins of the Plant and Plante families are not helped by the fact that, for example, no Plante in France has yet
been Y-DNA tested to try to investigate further the belief that the main Canadian Plante family came from France.
Also, though the main Plant family is generally regarded as English, it has an ancestral clade R1b-DF27 which is
found mostly in the same region as the Plante name in SW France; slow progress is being made in investigating
this further.

Though research is ongoing, some major branches have been tentatively identified for the main Plant family. Since
these branches evidently split early, the details are difficult to ascertain. However, geographical considerations
suggest, for example, that `Branch A' might be associated with the sixteenth-century (Tudor) Christopher Plant of
the Bakewell Old House Museum (Derbyshire, England). Some of the other branches include early links to America.
Though medieval peasants were generally tied to their local plot of land, it seems there was mobility that could
have been as early as a fifteenth-century Sir John Plant of Dublin in Ireland, who seemingly also had a link to the
main Plant homeland of Cheshire in England. The possibilty of distant travel can be hightlighted further by a
thought that Sir John Plant in Dublin, head of the household of the Primate of Ireland, could have had links to a
faltering English rule in France. More particularly, a tentative Branch D of the main family includes a Y-DNA
indication of ancestral migration to the USA in the seventeenth century.

The characteristic Y-DNA signature for the main Plant family has been found to agree with one for Plantt. Plantt
appears in early records in England and it is sometimes written Plantt . This might be fancifully imagined to point to
a possibility that Plant was an abbreviation of a French surname such as Plantinet (rare) or even Plantagenet (see
also further details about Plantt). The Plantagenets can also be associated with the surnames Somerset, Cornwall and
Warren/Waring-like names (see also evidence for a Plant-Warenne affinity) and the Plants had early proximities to the Warren
Earls in particular as well as, for example, the Lancastrians. The nineteenth-century claim that the Plants are
illegimate descendants of the Plantagenets, much doubted since the twentieth century, has been disconfirmed by
Y-DNA. In the course of investigating this, it emerged that, unlike Plant(t), Warren and Waring are multiple-
ancestor surnames, perhaps mostly descended from various unrelated individuals with the common Norman

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personal name Warin. Neither has there been any Y-DNA match to the surnames Corwall, Somerset nor to the
skeleton of Richard III. Any possible connection to the Plantagenet name is hence more likely cultural, perhaps
relating to contemporary belief in the nutritive, augmentative and generative powers of the plant soul, which could
have been important in contemporary belief at, for example, the aforementioned vaccary of the Black Prince.

Grossly inconsistent results, unlike those found so far for Plant(t), could have been expected if there had been
many false paternity events down the centuries or if there had originally been many different Plant families that
had grown to similar extents. In as much as the evidence indicates otherwise, the DNA results so far do not confirm
such suppositions as ones that there were many different Plant families who happened to be called Plant simply
because they were (a) all `gardeners' or (b) all influenced into calling themselves Plant out of respect for the
Plantagenet name. It is possible of course that they descend largely from one family that was so influenced, with
most other Plant lines having died out or grown little. Our computer simulations suggest that there is probably just
a handful of surviving Plant families, with in particular one dominant one that has grown abnormally, in keeping
with the Y-DNA results. Another possibility that can not yet be entirely ruled out is that the English Plant name was
sanitised from Plente (meaning abundant or fertile). There is only a single Y-DNA result so far for the surname
Plenty, which may have derived from the early spelling Plente, and this does not match any similar name tested so
far.

Further Y-line testing of Plant-like names, such as for the Plante name in Gascony (SW France), or the Plantard
name in Brittany (NW France), or the noble Planta/Von Planta family of Switzerland, as well as many with the name
Planta in the Phillipines and South America, might shed further light in due course.

The Plant project was begun in late 2001 and initial accounts of its implications for the Plant and Plantagenet
names have been published as:

John S Plant (2005) Modern methods and a controversial surname: Plant, Nomina, Vol. 28, pp. 115-33;
John S Plant (2007) The tardy adoption of the Plantagenet surname, Nomina, Vol. 30, pp. 57-84;
John S Plant (2009) Surname studies with genetics: a brief review including an outline of the Meates and
Plant studies, DNA Section, Guild of One Name Studies;
John S. Plant (July 2010), Understanding the Royal name Plantagenet -- how DNA helps, DNA Section, Guild
of One-Name Studies (23 pages); and, (Oct 2010), illustrated summary version, Journal of One-Name
Studies, Volume 10, Issue 8, pp. 14-15;
John S. Plant and Richard E. Plant (April 2012) The Plant Controversy, Journal of One-Name Studies, Volume
11, Issue 2, pp. 8-9; in response to Surnames, DNA & Family History, book review (Jan 2012), Journal of
One-Name Studies, Volume 11, Issue 1, p. 34;
John S Plant and Richard E Plant (July 2013) Populous Single-Origin Families: DNA and other findings, Journal
of One-Name Studies, Volume 11, Issue 7, pp. 10-11.
John S Plant and Richard E Plant (Jan 2014) Getting The Most from a Surname Study: Semantics, DNA and
Computer Modelling, DNA Section, Guild of On-Name Studies (third edition) (69 pages); development of first
edition (40 pages) of May 2012 and second edition (63 pages) of June 2013;
John S Plant and Richard E Plant (Jan 2014) Populous Single-Origin Families: Computer Modelling, Journal of
One-Name Studies, Volume 11, Issue 9, pp. 10-12.
John S Plant and Richard E Plant (June 2014) English Surnames: DNA, plural origins and emigration, DNA
Section, Guild of One-Name Studies (39 pages). Abridged version, Journal of One-Name Studies, Volume 11,
Issue 12, pp. 16-18 (Oct 2014).
John S Plant and Richard E Plant (2015, Jan 15) English surnames: Plural Origins and Emigration Surname
DNA Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.14487/sdna.001652 Retrieved February 1, 2015 from
http://www.surnamedna.com
John S Plant and Richard E Plant (Jun 2015) Surname Simulations, DNA, and Large-Descent Families, Journal
of One-Name Studies, Volume 12, Issue 3, pp. 18-20.
John S Plant and Richard E Plant (Jan 2016) Using the NETWORK Package to Display Your Family Connections,
Journal of One-Name Studies, Volume 12, Issue 5, pp. 24-25. Also, long version (Oct 2015) on Guild website.
John S Plant and Richard E Plant (April 2017) DNA hints of deep roots for the main Plant family, Journal of
One-Name Studies, Volume 12, Issue 10, pp. 14-17.

Further advice for participants

The test involves the volunteer simply taking a swab of cells from the inside of his mouth. A summary of the results
may be published here, with the personal names of each testee being kept anonymous.

The Plant Family History Group has a project with the FamilyTree-DNA (FT-DNA) Testing Laboratory. The standard
FT-DNA test measures 12 markers for 59 US dollars, though 25 markers can be measured instead for 109 US
dollars or 37 markers for 149 US dollars or 67 markers for 248 US dollars. You can take the 12-marker test and
then subsequently upgrade to more markers, only if appropriate. That test will tell you if you belong to the
abnormally large main Plant family, for example. Then we are always happy to advise on the merits of any further
testing, beyond the basic Y-DNA12 test, in any given particular case.

If you are interested in participating in the Plant DNA Testing programme, you can either:

proceed straight to ordering a testing kit, by completing the on-line form obtained by clicking here; or,
contact me, the project coordinator, Dr John S Plant.

It would be helpful to the project if you could supply me with the earliest known male-to-male Plant ancestor of the
intended testee and that ancestor's historical location.

You may send your message with questions and/or comments to me (JSP) by whatever method you prefer..

(email: john.plant@one-name.org or by postal address: Dr J.S.Plant, 7 Ontario Close, Trentham, Stoke-

on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 8TG, England).

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Plant Name Distribution Page

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