Reeb DNA Project

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Reeb DNA Project

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A DNA project for further study of the various Reeb family lineages is now underway. More volunteer males that carry the Reeb surname are needed for participation. Please contact Mike Reeb for further information.

 

Specifically we need participation from Reebs in Louisville, KY (Zutzendorf), England (Dambuch le Ville); USA, Rape, Rapp, Reph, etc. (Keskastel); Erie Co. NY (Standebuhl, Gr); Illinois (Roxheinn, Gr); Illinois (Dillenberg, Gr); California and Michigan (Varges, Romania), Marlenhein, Fr (Hohatzenheim, Fr) and others who want to know where they fit in

 

Reeb DNA Project

 Participants in the project can now have their MtDNA analyzed via the sample they provided in the original test. Individuals that may be interested should go to their personal page on Family Tree DNA website. Males inherit MtDNA from their mother but do not pass it on to their children. The genetic markers go from his mother to mother to mother etc. The analysis will identify your mother's haplogroup and take her back in time 15,000 years or more to one of the seven European clan mothers.

2007
  To date three different Reeb families have been proven through YDNA testing to be related and share a common progenitor.   The Keskastel, France Reeb family have many men who match exactly or have 1 or 2 marker mutations.  This testing coupled with thorough genealogical research confirms the relationship. 

 The Zutzendorf, France Reeb family has five men who match .  There have been no new additions to this group.
 

The Volga Russian Reeb's, whose origins have not been found in continental Europe, now have three men who match exactly.  One man lives in the United States and two in Argentina.  The lack of available  Russian church records makes for difficult if not impossible genealogical research. It is thought that these Reebs are originally from Alsace or Lorraine.
 
  Five participants did not match any of the above families.

The project has been a grand success so far. We have obtained proof of various family ties that only DNA testing could provide. We now know that descendants of the Keskastel area and Zutzendorf Reeb families have different progenitors and are not recently related.
     The number of participants from these families is sufficient and no more are needed to prove family relationships. Future participants from men in these two family groups will add to the data base and confirm or deny their relationship to the families established haplotypes.
     There has been no interest and or little participation from Reeb's representing families from other geographical areas in France, Germany and Hungary. The Dambach la Ville, France family had one participant who is the last known male in this line. The one participant from Argentina has a start on establishing his Reeb haplotype.
     Many questions remain concerning Reeb family relationships that only DNA can answer. In France and America we need participants from the Reb families from Moselle, France. Also from France the Reeb family who operates a hotel by that name in Marlenheim and have roots to Hohatzenheim, Alsace. There are others from France and a dozen or more with roots in Germany and Hungary. We have a long way to go in this DNA study to meet the objectives of identifying family relationships, most recent common ancestors and advancing Reb-Reeb genealogy.
     Like the US Marines we need a few good Reeb men to take the DNA mouth swab test. You can contact me or sign yourself up Family Tree DNA www.FamilyTreeDNA.com and receive reduced group rates. The Reeb group study is open ended meaning there is no time restraints on enrollment

  Reeb males from across the U.S. and elsewhere have taken the simple mouth-swab DNA test. All but two have complete genealogies dating back 350 years or more. All are ethnically Germanic and except for one, trace back to Alsace, France. Their surnames are Reeb or an early American derivation (Rape, etc.) based on the German pronunciation. DNA test results have been posted by FTDNA for ten participants.
   Each participant has or will receive an analysis of his 25-marker (loci) of the Y chromosome, which is presented in numbers. The numbers for each marker represent the units of repeating DNA segments. All 25 represent his DNA code.
   When all the markers match exactly with another male, they are related and have a common progenitor. Those sharing exact matches on all ‘loci’ form a haplotype. A participant who matches 11 out of 12 or 24 of 25 is also related and becomes part of a haplogroup. Where genealogical evidence exists, the one marker off is considered a mutation. Mutations can occur at any time and vary between families. When no genealogical evidence of relationship exists it means a more distant family tie, perhaps back before man took a surname.
   Surprise and disappointment best describes my emotions on receiving initial DNA test results. I was of the opinion the Reebs had a common progenitor. DNA has proven that theory wrong. One participant with genealogical records did not match with any of the others. This means he represents an entirely different Reeb family or there was an irregular birth or adoption involved. Another man’s initial analysis fit the above category, but his kit is being re-analyzed due to a lab problem.
   We now know that the Vosges Mtns of France separate two different Reeb families and possibly a third. On the west side is the Keskastel area clan and on the east side are the Zutzendorf and Dambach le Ville area families. There is only one participant for the latter place, so a haplotype for the family is not assured. For that matter, a few more test results are needed to establish the haplotype of the Keskastel and Zutzendorf people.
   This DNA information indicates that two, possibly three different families took the surname Reb-Reeb about 750 years ago. Perhaps there should be no surprise when one considers the abundance and importance of the “Nobel vine” in Alsace.

 Where from Here
Additional DNA testing will answer the several lingering questions concerning the Reeb families:

1.Zutzendorf Reeb
   Are the two Reeb families of Zutzendorf directly related? Is the untested family related to the Keskastel group or are they an entirely different Reeb family? Genealogical records cannot answer this question. Recruitment of this family is underway.

 2. Dambuch le ville Reeb
  
Does this single participants DNA analysis represent the haplotype of that Reeb family? We need at least one more and preferably two participants to confirm the results.

 3. Keskastel Reeb
   Can the USA genealogical records on descendants of Peter, Gustavus, Nicolaus and Michael be re-confirmed? Can more test results make it possible to sort our most recent common ancestors? Church and notary records tied to DNA should provide a probable answer.

4. German Reeb Families
Are the German Reeb families directly related to any of the French Families?

5. Austro Hungarian and Russian Reeb
   Are these families directly related to any of the French or German Reb or Reebs? We have one participant with Russian roots and none from Hungary.
    
     All the above point to the need to obtain more participants. The Reeb Group DNA project is open ended. View our firms Family tree DNA website on the Internet for more information. http://www.familytreedna.com

Michael C. Reeb,
Reeb Group Project Co-coordinator

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