Project Statistics
Total membership in the project is 459 of which 105 are matched in 35 distinct Y-DNA lines (Grouped) and 54 Burgess results remain (UnGrouped). Of the remaining 300 members 73 do not have a Burgess surname and 227 have not taken a Y-DNA test.
Introduction
The last 2 years have been very exciting for the project, FTDNA introduced the Big Y-700 which is the successor to the Big Y-500. The new test offers 20% more coverage and loads of additional markers. With these tests we have been able to identify two major and very old genetic signatures for Burgess families that date back centuries to the origin of the surname. One is found in Cheshire and the other has a connection to Sussex. The Sussex line is currently the older of the two. Details are below under the Ancestral Y-DNA Line groupings of James of Sussex and Ralph of Cheshire. Additionally we have obtained detailed information from 3 Big Y tests for the Colonel William of Anne Arundel line and 2 tests from the Thomas Burgess of Barnstable line. What we have learned is that we need 2 Big Y tests from a given line to bring out the resolving power of the testing. An example is the Edward of Pittsylvania line that has only one Big Y test and where the terminal marker is too old to be of any use on its own. As more tests come in, existing tests are refined as the matching process discovers markers unique to that family. The success of the Sussex line demonstrates this clearly. The Pittsylvania line would benefit greatly from another person in that group testing Big Y.
The project has seen a large influx of people taking autosomal tests like FamilyFinder, Ancestry, 23andMe. As a result, today half of the project membership is comprised of people who have not taken a Y-DNA test. This membership is welcome to the group but I would encourage participants to test Y-DNA within their Burgess families to help further the project goals. Many of our Burgess tests currently have no matches and would benefit from newcomers. The tests recommended are the Big Y-700 and the Y-111.
The remaining section of this report is organized around the clusters of families that share a genetic match. The headings centered in blue are links provided for convenience to the original ancestral files. Each section will have the latest news for that cluster.
Ancestral Y-DNA Lines
William Burgess of King George Co., Virginia
William Burgess of Bedford Co., Virginia
William Burgess of Albemarle Co., Virginia
Members: 27
Terminal SNP: ZZ12_1 under P312
Origin: TBD
Last tested in March 2019 for a P312 SNP pack confirming this group is under SNP ZZ12_1 which is a very old marker located in a palindrome section of Y-DNA. No new information on these 2 American families since finding the match between them in 2014. The common ancestor predates colonial times and is currently unknown. While this group is associated with the Western Atlantic Modal Haplotype and Nial of nine hostages in older references, the truth is we cannot say much about the origin. This group would benefit from Big Y testing between the families. Currently no outside matches to indicate a terminal SNP. The William line of King George County is well documented in the book by Michael R. Burgess - The House of Burgesses.
James Burgess of Sussex Co., England
John Burgess of New Haven Co., Connecticut
Joseph Burgess of Bergen Co., New Jersey
Members: 9
BIG Y SNPs: BY79427, M84807, BY122170 under P312
Origin: Sussex, England
In 2019 and 2020, 5 members of this cluster have tested Big Y. The members had been in the project for quite some time, lower level tests did not show all the matches between them. At Y-111 the Sussex line did not match the Connecticut line. But both the Connecticut and Sussex lines matched the New Jersey line at about 9 markers which is very distant and at the limit of what can be declared a match. Members from each line ordered Big Y tests and the mystery was solved. The results were unprecedented in the project. See the diagram below to show how the terminal SNPs and families are arranged, only the terminal. The Sussex line was indeed related to the Connecticut line but at a vast expanse of time spanning centuries. Probably within the first generations to carry surnames. That is not to say that other families in the project are not as old, we just have not found them yet. The TBD in the diagram below is a placeholder, many uncategorized SNPs exist that are not shown. It will be exciting to see additional branches come in from future tests. We need more input from the UK to determine if this genetic signature has any connection to Cheshire or if this family is a separate independent source of Burgesses. For now the origin will be cited as Sussex.
Edward Burgess of Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
James Burgess of Jackson Co., Tennessee
William Burgess of Montgomery Co., Maryland
Samuel H. Burgess of Calhoun Co., Florida
Austin Burgess of Laclede Co., Missouri
Edward Burgess of Monongalia Co., (West) Virginia
Members: 18
Big Y SNP: A274 under P312
Origin: TBD
This line has only one Big Y test result with a terminal SNP at A274. There are 48 private SNPs below this result meaning that the ancestor bearing A274 lived over 40-50 generations back. The Big Y tester is bears another surname and is descended from a Cooke. Another surname associated is Campbell but 6 markers off on a Y-67 test and not matching at Y-111. A third connection to a Dial at 67-markers from Dublin Ireland. Therefore at the present time we cannot say very much. A second Big Y test is required for this group.
Thomas Burgess Sr. of Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
John Burgess of Union Co., South Carolina
Members: 16
Terminal SNP: Z30600 under P312
Origin: TBD
The tester that has the Z30600 SNP has not given access to his test, this SNP is described as mainly found in testers originating from Scotland. At the Y-67 level there appears to be a connection with the Brown family. More testing is required for this line.
John Burgess of Aberdeenshire Co., Scotland
John Burgess of Kincardineshire Co., Scotland
Members: 2
Terminal SNP: S764 under P312
Origin: Scotland
Test results seem to indicate a connection with the Wright family who have tested Big Y and are at SNP BY148015 of Ohio. No other known connections at this time. More members of this family would be required to Test.
Peter Burgess of Cheshire Co., England
Members: 2
Big Y Terminal SNP: FGC17344 under U106
Origin: Cheshire, England
This line is known to originate from an NPE. The male ancestor Peter Burgess was born in 1753 to mother Elizabeth Burgess and the parish record indicates the supposed father to be a John Hughes. No genetic connection has been found to a Hughes or any other family to date. The only match in this line is a known 5th cousin. Who was SNP tested down to FGC7559 two levels above the terminal SNP. This line originated in Davenham, Cheshire England. The second tester may be upgraded to Big Y to isolate a SNP further below the current FGC17344. More matches are required to isolate the genetic origins.
Ralph Burges(s) of Cheshire Co., England
John Burgess (I) of Cheshire Co., England
William Burgess of Middlesex Co., Massachussetts
Samuel Burgess of Bucks Co., Pennsylvania
Joseph Burgess of Lancashire Co., England
Members: 14
Big Y Terminal SNP: JFS0039 under U106
Origin: Cheshire, England
Three members of this line have tested Big Y and confirmed this whole group is under JFS0039. Interestingly this line is adjacent to a Farley family that claim descendants from the De Falaise family of Norman origin that settled in England with William the conqueror. I favor the theory that they are part of the larger Farrell family and variants all known to be from Ireland. What is clear is that this Burgess line is a very old one in Cheshire. Cheshire has long been known to be a homeland for Burgess families with several ancient parishes filled with them. Notably Wilmslow, Macclesfield, Altrincham, Great Budworth and several others. This cluster of families is considered a founding instance of the surname. The JFS0039 SNP is very old and there are 9 SNPs below the current terminal SNP that is common to the three families. It would not be surprising to find future Big Y tests that subdivide this family further and this line could be potentially as old or older than the Sussex line.
Thomas Burgess of Barnstable Co. Massachussetts
Josiah Burgess of Monroe Co., New York
Benjamin Burgess of Saint John Co., New Brunswick, Canada
Thomas Burgess of York Co., Ontario, Canada
Members: 24
BIG Y Terminal SNP: FGC54227 under U106
Origin: TBD
This large cluster of Burgesses currently has 2 Big Y test results. The terminal SNP is very old with 14 SNPs below FGC54227. This group would benefit from a 3rd Big Y test to gain a more recent terminal SNP. There are claims that the Barnstable line came from Truro in Cornwall, England but no real evidence has been produced. A 17th century marriage record between a Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Waynes suggests Tanfield, Yorkshire as a place of origin. No genetic evidence currently exists to isolate a location in the UK.
William Burgess of Anne Arundel Co., Maryland
Members: 11
Big Y Termnal SNP: BY35953 under U106
Origin: Wiltshire?
This illustrious Burgess family is thought to come from Marlborough, Wiltshire from probate research done by Frederic Z. Saunders. To date we have 3 Big Y tests all of which are within 2 SNPs of each other indicating relationships no older than the 18th century. One of these is a Clark descended from a Clark male who married a Burgess. This family currently matches no other Burgess families. None of the 3 Big Y lines tested has a paper trail back to Col. William. While we know they are all related we cannot tell how. Big Y testing of an established paper trail line would help the other testers determine where they link up by showing who they are closest to genetically. We could then determine a signature for descendants of Edward vs those of Charles in the second generation. The STR data is conflicting and on rapidly mutating markers. Finding other Burgesses of Wiltshire descent to test is another goal.
Joel Burgess of Laurens Co., South Carolina
John R. Burgess of Clay Co., Alabama
Thomas Burgess of Scott Co., Kentucky
Members:
Big Y Terminal SNP: BY3322 under U106
Origin: TBD
Robert Burgar of Dunrossness Co., Scotland
Robert Burgar of London, England
John Burgar of London, England
John Burgar of Dunrossness Co., Scotland
Members: 2
Terminal SNP: Unknown Haplogroup R
Origin: Scotland