The Rumble-Rumbold DNA Project [file update 1.8.2011]

We have the first results from our study.

From the earliest census (1841 and 1851) we can see that there were Rumble name variants with many spellings, and the family was located in just a few counties. The are some substantial Rumble family trees posted on the ancestry web site. These represent Rumble groups in most of the relevant countries. The first DNA samples that we have been able to test and compare, came from Mark Rumble and Harold Rumble. Mark's earliest known ancestor is Thomas Rumble, born in 1791 in Middlesex, and Harold's earliest known ancestor, is John Rumble born in 1768, who lived in Chiswick, but probably moved there from East Woodhay in Berkshire. We also compared DNA from Mark's father, Joseph, and Ruth Rumble, whose earliest Rumble ancestors came from Essex, but this test produced no useful result. When we compared the Y chromosme from Mark and Harold, we found that there were nine differences in the markers that were tested and compared. This is really helpful, because if they had been the same, and we were closely related, then we would have no differences to trace through the various other family lines. As it is, with just a few more results, we should be able to work out what the Y chromosome of the earliest Rumble (after surnames started in around 1300) looked like. For the moment, it seems as though Mark and Harold are descended from a common ancestor at the very earliest origin of the surname, around the year 1300.

Well developed Rumble family trees are for groups located in Essex, Middlesex, Berkshire, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Yorkshire and Surrey.

In order to pursue the study and develop a DNA based family tree, we need to examine living descendants from some well documented family groups.

The next choices for these tests appear to be linked to the following individuals:

East Ilsley, Berkshire http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/12096838/person/-260864399 ; Thomas Rumble b. 1796, Hampshire +Kingston upon Hull,Yorkshire http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/187553/person/-2040024081 ; ex Lambeth, Middlesex England and Gun Plain, Michigan http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/72255/person/-853944347 ; Joseph Rumbol b. Lambeth 7.7.1813 http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/5303270/person/-125781252 ; John Rumball b.1766, Hertfordshire, married at Aldersgate, grandson bapt 1828 at Christchurch St Marylebone, various connections to Berkshire also. http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/9326643/person/-818822997

For those not already familiar with our family origins, see The Life of Thomas Rumble (b.1791, Middlesex)

For those who want the technical information see DNA results

Some helpful notes are provided by Terry White, joint project manager (whose mother is an Essex Rumble).