1. European Immigrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Sites
2. European Immigrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Traditions
3. European Immigrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Society

This week, after much anticipation and excitement the new version of 23andme's Ancestry Painting was released! This new version, which replaced Ancestry Painting, is now known as Ancestry Composition. Ancestry Painting lacked populations which only used three main populations Asian (from China/Japan), European (which I think were US-European samples), and then African (using Yoruba samples from Africa). The issue with this was that many people for example that got Asian, couldn't differentiate between Native American Asian and East/South Asian. Ancestry Composition on the other hand has 22 populations which includes samples from all around world. Ancestry Composition is still in its infancy, seeing as it how just came out a few days ago, and there will be much to sort out and update. For example, currently Ancestry Composition can only separate West African and North African. This is unfortunate for many African gene-carrying individuals like myself who have no idea where specifically in Africa their genes came from. 23andme did state that the current African cluster will be broken down further but they are running tests to make sure everything will be in order. So without further ado, here is a Puerto Rican look into Ancestry Composition! [Note: results are still changing around, so these numbers and values are only applicable right now. Things may reflect differently later on.]

Puerto Rican genealogy inevitably leads to lots and lots of cousins. Also, it doesn't provide enough space to record as far back as I have gotten. Of course, a good notepad is necessary to write notes about leads such as: occupations, dates, rumors, new people and the like. Did you get the Eastern Europe and Russia DNA ethnicity in your ethnicity results? If you did, you are among almost 20 million Americans who can trace their ancestry back to Eastern Europe or Russia. This is a fascinating region made up of more than twenty countries and spanning more than 7,000 miles.

Italian Immigration to Puerto Rico Over 25 million Italians have emigrated between 1861 and 1960 with a migration boom between 1871 and 1915 when over 13,5 million emigrants left the country for European and overseas destinations.

My Ancestry Composition

So this is who I am; at least as of a few days ago! Percentages have gone up and down compared to the old Ancestry Painting. We see that my European is significantly lower than what it used to be (75%) and my other levels pretty much stayed the same. 16.1% of me is still unassigned which means that as more samples are collected, hopefully this 16% can find a home for itself amongst the colorful bars. As you can see there are a few tabs on top. The first one called 'Map View' allows you also to see 'Split View' and 'Chromosome View' which I'll show in a bit. Split view only works if you have tested either both or one of your parents and Chromosome View is similar in appearance to the old Ancestry Painting. Also you can see a tab called 'Global Resolution' which allows you to hone in more on the various populations which are included. Then you see my name, which you can choose to see other people you're sharing with then you see 'Standard Estimate'. If you click on that tab, you get 'Speculative Estimate', 'Standard Estimate', and 'Conservative Estimate'. I'm not too sure on what exactly the defining difference is between them but I'll show you images of Standard and Speculative so you can see how they differ. Now, I'll show you a more in-depth Global Resolution:

My Ancestry Composition- Standard Estimate

Here you can see various populations which can be found in my DNA. There are some interesting and some expected ones. With European you can see that I'm further broken down into Southern and Northern European, and then from there even more. So 20.1% is Iberian which is very expected and 0.5% Italian which is also sorta expected. Then I get 0.2% British and French, which is interesting since in AncestryDNA I get 13% British Isles. Also I want to point out the 'Nonspecific Southern European' and 'Nonspecific Northern European'. These mean that segments of my DNA can be found amongst these groups yet are widely distributed amongst them that they can't pinpoint exactly which subgroup it belongs to. So there could be more British in there somewhere amongst the 19.9% but isn't specific to just the British Isles. Interestingly enough I get Ashkenazi at 0.5%, I've seen cousins in my Ancestry Finder who claim Ashkenazi Jewish roots so I knew somewhere far back I'd have to have some too. It most likely comes from old Spanish Jewish roots or maybe a Eastern European ancestor which is also very possible. Then you can see I have 16.1% Sub-Saharan African which includes all of West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa- my ancestry from there most likely comes from Western Africa due to the slave trade. Next you can see 11.1% East Asian and Native American, with a 8.6% further divided into Native American- definitely real and most likely from my Taino ancestors (there were also Arawaks, Caribs and even Mayan from Mexico present in Puerto Rico (Mayan through labor trades), then a <0.1% East Asian which I'm guessing is just noise and then you can see 2.5% Nonspecific East Asian and Native American. Lastly, you can see 0.1% which arrives from Northern Africa. My Speculative Estimate tells a little bit of a different story!

My Ancestry Composition- Speculative Estimate

I tend to lean more to this estimate which to me hopefully fits more of my ancestry. I say this because with my Martiniquan ancestors, there should have been some French estimated into my percentages (of course, if no French ever mingled with my ancestors that could be possible as well, but in those times slaves were mistreated as well as raped). I'll let you glance at it, I don't want to make this post too long. You can see some numbers have gone up while others have gone done. But still, 100% me :) Next I'll show you the Split View option which I can see since I've test at least one parent.

My Ancestry Composition- Split View

So here you can see how I've inherited from my mother's and father's side. My mother's side gave me more unassigned as well as much more Sub-Saharan African yet less European. You can also see that the 0.1% North African I receive earlier in my Map View comes from my mother's side of the family. Interestingly, both sides gave me roughly 5-6% East Asian & Native American. Split view is an awesome option for those who might have tested only one parent or wants to figure out which side of the family gave them what. The next few shots will include different 'Chromosome View'snapshots.

My Ancestry Composition- Chromosome View

So I'll begin of course with my Standard Estimate of the Chromosome View. As you can there are a ton of nice colors flowing in and out throughout my chromosomes, this is my gene's artwork. Here you can see two bars for each chromosome, except the X which I received one of from my mother. The DNA has also been phased with smoothes out a lot of the colors allowing it to flow easier instead of looking like this (the old Ancestry Painting image with spliced chunks of colors):

My Ancestry Painting

Now I want to show you my Speculative Estimate with all the previous populations from the Map View. Here is how they change up my DNA colors:

My Ancestry Composition- Speculative Estimate

Here you can see all the further divided colors and what's cool about the new Ancestry Composition is that it's a bit interactive. Meaning that if I want to see where in your DNA a certain population appears you can click on the population and that color becomes isolated while the others fade a bit away allowing you to see those pieces of your genes. For example, I did it twice with my Ashkenazi genes as well as my French and German genes:

My Ancestry Composition- Ashkenazi Population

My Ancestry Composition- French/German Population

What's very interesting is that practically one of my pairs from Chromosome 19 is practically all French/German. Interestingly none of my other family members receive such a huge chunk. Also, you can see the spread out pieces of Ashkenazi genes, one of them on Chromosome 1. Interestingly enough, I match a German/Polish cousin who has Ashkenazi genes on that same chromosome and most likely on that same spot. (I'll probably dedicate another post to that match). Lastly I want to show you my grandfather's Chromosome View with Sub-Saharan African highlighted. He is who has received genes from his 2nd great grandparents from Martinique. You can see he has received a lot of long African segments due to his relatively close ancestry with slaves.

Abuelo's Ancestry Composition- Sub-Saharan African Population

You can also see he has French/German ancestry (I want to point out this is the Speculative View which I feel is more correct to my family history). I'm no expert on DNA and genes but I'm learning a lot from these results about my family and what I carry and hopefully one day pass to my children. You can see that there are a lot of populations/ areas of the world which contribute to who I am and hopefully one day I'll know more stories of my African ancestry as well as my Native and European ancestry. Hopefully soon enough Sub-Saraharan will be divided further but until then I'm happy so far with these results! I'll keep posting about interesting finds with the new Ancestry Composition!

Puerto Rico: La Isla Del Encanto

The use of genetic genealogy—in other words, DNA testing– has exploded in the past few years. Around the world, curious seekers are spitting into tubes and swabbing cheeks to help determine their heritage and find genetic cousins.

Recently, three family members on my husband’s side have had sections of their genomes tested. The DNA test results were a mix of ethnic diversity from around the world: Native. Middle Eastern. West Asia. African. So where do these wide varying people groups converge to create the persons who become my family members?

The DNA Testing Completed on Three Family Members:

I’ll call the first two family members on my husband’s side Family Members 1 and 2. The third person is the mother of these two, so she shall be referred her as ‘Mother.’

Family Member 1 (FM1) was given a 12-marker Y-DNA test via the testing company, FamilyTreeDNA. The results have been upgraded to the 67 marker level but are still pending. A Y-DNA test determines the findings on the direct paternal line only. The raw data from this test has also been uploaded to GEDMatch, a free service that allows for cross referencing of data uploaded from one of the three main testing companies to assist in finding genetic cousins.

Mother and Family Member 2 (FM2) were tested via Ancestry.com, using their autosomal DNA test, which tests random contributions from both maternal and paternal sides (and provides data on ancestors primarily four or five generations back; not deep ancestry). Results have been uploaded to FamilyTreeDNA and GEDMatch.

DNA Admixture Results:

The results have proven to be a powerful history lesson.

FM1: 79% European; 10% African; 7% New World; 2% Middle Eastern; 2% East Asian. 12 Marker Y-DNA ancestral origins: Bulgaria, England, Puerto Rico (1%), Romania, Spain.

FM2: 68% European (breaks down as: 35% Iberian Peninsula; 13% Italy/Greece; 6% Great Britain). 15% Africa. 12% Native American. 13% other regions (including 4% Middle East).

Mother: 74% European (43% Iberian Peninsula; 17% Italy/Greece; 14% trace regions); 14% Africa (6% North Africa); 9% Native American (including 2% West Asia).

Genetic Complexities of the Puerto Rican People:

Puerto Ricans are largely the descendants of native Taíno Indians, Europeans (primarily Spaniards), and African slaves. Five hundred plus years of migration to the island and significant intermingling between these people groups has produced one of the most multi-cultural and diversified people in the Americas.

According to the National Geographic Genographic Project, their reference population for Puerto Ricans breaks down as follows: 11% Native American, 31% Mediterranean, 21% Northern European, and 9% Southwest Asian, 25% sub-Saharan African.

Other studies have found similar results, with European ancestry strongest on the west side of the island and African ancestry strongest on the east side. Consistent levels of Taíno ancestry exist throughout the island.

Interestingly, however, more and more locals don’t relate to this genetic complexity. On the 2000 U.S. census only 4.2% of Puerto Ricans self-identified as “two or more races,” and 95.8% self-categorized into a single “race,” including over 80% self-identifying as “white.” In spite of this, it is estimated only about 25% of Puerto Ricans are of nearly pure European ancestry with little to no non-European admixture.

This family of three persons whom I tested falls into this documented average reasonably closely. The lower percentage of native and African DNA in FM1 reflects the testing of the paternal line only. FM2 and Mother have higher percentages coming up through the maternal line, likely due to intermingling of indigenous women with Spanish and African males long ago.

Development of Puerto Rican Ethnicity and How Our Family Results Fit Into History:

A review of the history of the island helps confirm where these admixtures originated.

The largest indigenous Caribbean people on the island were the Taíno Indians, who originated in South America. The Taíno called their paradise ‘Borikén’ or ‘Borinquen’ which means “the great land of the valiant and noble Lord” or “land of the great lords.” The word, “Boricua” is still used today in various forms to designate the people from Puerto Rico. Hunter-gatherers who lived in small villages organized in clans and led by a chief, they were a peaceful group who lived off the tropical crops as pineapples, cassava, and sweet potatoes they grew, supplemented by seafood.

The European heritage of Puerto Ricans then begins with Spanish immigration to Puerto Rico. In 1493, Christopher Columbus set sail on his second voyage to the Indies. Upon arrival on the island and claiming it for Spain, Columbus named it ‘San Juan Bautista,’ in honor of Saint John the Baptist. Puerto Rico was now on a path of becoming a Spanish colony for nearly 400 years; thus, the primary European genetic makeup of most Puerto Ricans is Spanish (including primarily Canarians as well as Asturians, Catalans, Galicians, Castilians, Andalusians, and Basques).

The Iberian Peninsula, the primary area of interest, is divided between four states: Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and France; as well as Gibraltar, a territory of the United Kingdom. The word Hispanic actually refers back to Roman Hispanis, which roughly comprised the Iberian Peninsula. Of course, today the term “Hispanic” refers to people of a country that speaks the Spanish language.

It was to be the introduction of European diseases such as smallpox and cruel mistreatment that began the devastation and ending of the Taíno population. The natives were enslaved by the Spanish, to be used to build forts and work in the gold mines. Within two decades, though, the Taínos would be virtually wiped out. Today, traces of their physical characteristics are found in Taíno descendants clustered in areas of Borinquen. They left lasting legacies such as the musical instrument, the maracas, town names on the island- Mayagüez, Utuado, Humacao, and Caguas – and foods, such as barbacoa. There are numerous trees and plants still called by their original Taíno names.

European Immigrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Sites

Before their demise, however, mixing of Spaniards and Taínos occurred. The Spaniards did not bring women on their first expeditions and took in Taíno women for their common-law wives. In fact, 1514 census records reveal that 40% of Spanish men on the island of Hispaniola had Taíno wives. Over time, mixed descendants of this group also intermarried with Africans, creating a tri-racial Creole culture.

Beginning in the early 1500s, needing a new unpaid workforce, the Spaniards began the importation of enslaved West African slaves to work the mines. It is important to note, however, that black history on the island initially began with the Spanish Conquistadors bringing African freemen called ‘libertos’ with them years earlier.

By 1570, the gold mines had been depleted so the production of ginger, coffee and sugar began as alternative crops. Sugarcane production is increased, thus greatly increasing the need for African slaves.

European Immigrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Traditions

From the very beginning, a large part of the identity and culture of the Puerto Rican peoples was tied to the African citizens now residing on the island. Africans have had an instrumental contribution to the art, music, religion, language, and heritage of the culture.

One fascinating example to me is in the Puerto Rican form of Spanish. The West Africans brought to the island spoke a Spanish creole called “bozal” which was a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, and Congo. The R and S sound did not exist in the African tongue and, still today, when Puerto Ricans speak, they drop the R and S sounds.

History so far accounts for the Native American, African, and Iberian Peninsula components of the admixtures here being reviewed.

But what about the next highest percentage in their admixture—Italy and Greece? How and when do these two countries come into the DNA picture? No one in the family tree of these three persons are known to have originated in Italy or Greece. However, it is known history that by the early 19^th century Spain had lost most of its possessions in the New World, excluding Cuba and Puerto Rico. To encourage the immigration of Catholics not of Spanish origin to settle its Caribbean colonies, the Spanish Crown issued the Royal Decree of Graces of 1815, a legal order granting free land to settlers, as well as other incentives. Soon, considerable immigration of French (especially from the island of Corsica), German, and Irish families began, to be followed by smaller groups of Chinese, Greek, Italian, Dutch as well as others.

Last, trace amounts of regional populations show up in the ancestral origins of these three test subjects, primarily Romania, Bulgaria, West Asia, and the Middle East. Some of these trace findings are just “noise”: too small of percentages to be verifiable as legitimate. But some of it is. Ancient migrations of people groups worked to disperse populations all over our globe. Possibly, the Middle Eastern contingency arrives from the spread of agriculture from the Middle East into Europe, which worked to also disperse Middle Eastern genetic patterns as these early agriculturists moved into Europe.

But what about Bulgaria and Romania? How do these countries show up in these test genomes? I don’t know; however, a couple of months ago a gentleman with a very Anglo, “white” sounding first, middle, and surname contacted me via email. I’ll call him by his actual given name, Thomas. I read the original email, noting in my head that two surnames he mentioned researching and having in his family tree were strong surnames in MY family tree (which is 99.7% Great Britain). So, I fully assumed that the email was referring to a connection between his DNA and mine: that he and I were genetic cousins.

I was wrong.

It turns out that it was Thomas and the Hispanic FM1 who were originating from the same haplogroup. Thomas has several matches on his genetic match list with the same Hispanic surname as FM1; primarily the name ‘Cordero.’ This gentleman has no idea where the Hispanic component arrives into his lineage and, to date, I don’t either.

Even more interesting was that the other DNA cousins that Thomas and FM1 matched were two Bulgarians! Shortly after the beginnings of our conversations, Thomas received an email from one of the men in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian ‘cousin’ noted that, though he too wasn’t sure how he is related to Thomas and FM1, “My ancestors (male line) lived next to a roman fort in old Dacia: Arutela.” He went on to suggest that the fort, built in 137-138 AD in Roman Dacia—regions of modern Romania–, had been stationed with Spanish soldiers. This just might be the answer as to where Romanian and Bulgarian trace amounts of DNA can be found in the bloodlines of FM1.

Either way, it’s all quite fascinating.

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European Immigrationpuerto Rican Genealogy Society

Notes: