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The Maybury DNA Project
Maybury . Mayberry . Maberry . Mabery . Mabrey . Mabry

Our project began in 2003 and now has more than 100 participants.

What is the purpose of the project?
  1. to find out if all Mayburys, Mayberrys, Mabrys, etc. have a common ancestor;

  2. to see if DNA can help us identify major branches of the family;

  3. to look for answers to questions that usual genealogical research cannot answer.
What have we learned so far?
  1. We have identified a unique DNA signature for the Maybury family.

    The Y chromosome (which only males have) contains a unique "family signature" which is passed down from father to son through many generations. We have identified this unique DNA signature for the Maybury (Mayberry, Mabry, Maberry, etc.) family.

  • We have learned that the "most recent common ancestor" of all Mayburys lived about 400-450 years ago.

    We now believe that most Mayburys, Mayberrys, etc. (except those described in paragraph 4 below) descend from a "common ancestor". The Y-DNA test makes it possible to calculate about how long ago the "Most Recent Common Ancestor" (MRCA) of our participants lived. While DNA testing alone cannot tell us the name of the common ancestor of all Mayburys -- it does tell us that he lived approximately 400-450 years ago.

  • By combining the results of DNA testing with conventional genealogical research, we believe that we have found the identity of our common ancestor.

    An analysis of "Maybury events" (births, marriages and burials) found in the parish registers of 16th century England has convinced us that our most recent common ancestor was, almost certainly, a skilled iron worker named John Maybury, who was born about 1540 and died in 1618 at Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire.

  • A few of our participants carry a DNA signature that does not match the usual signature of the Maybury family. Instead they carry a different family signature which was probably acquired through a "paternal event" or a family surname change sometime in the past.

    "A paternal event" is a euphemism that points to a family event sometime in the past by which the Maybury DNA signature on the Y chromosome was replaced by the signature of another family. This usually happens when a male child is either adopted into a Maybury family or born out-of-wedlock to a Maybury mother. That son carries with him the DNA signature from his own biological father - which he then passes on to all of his own male descendants. Alternatively a new DNA signature may have occured when another family adopted the Maybury (Mayberry, etc.) surname as its own.

    If a new DNA signature is brought into the family through adoption, etc., and the family continues to use the Maybury (Mayberry, etc.) name, the new signature becomes, in effect, a new Maybury DNA signature which is then passed on to all male descendants.

    The family of Frederick Mayberry of Bedford County, Virginia may be an example of such a "new Mayberry DNA signature". This would be true if it turns out that Frederick Mayberry (or perhaps his father) was born out-of-wedlock or adopted into a Mayberry family. On the other hand the same thing would be true if it turns out that Frederick Mayberry was born in Germany and changed his name to Mayberry when he came to America.
  • We have recently discovered "distinguishing markers" which can help to identify some branches of the Maybury family such as the Mayburys of County Kerry, Ireland; the Mayberrys of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland; and the descendants of Francis Maybury of Virginia.

    Mutations normally occur among some genetic markers. If those mutations occured many generations ago, they may provide "distinguishing markers" to help us identify larger branches of the family. Until very recently we did not see a pattern in these mutations because the changes seemed to be random. However, as the number of DNA samples increased we began to notice identifiable patterns related to particular branches of the family. As the number of our participants increases, we may be able to identify additional markers for other branches of the family.

  • The more participants we have in our DNA project, the more we learn. Thus we welcome new participants and hope to learn even more from their DNA.
    • What is required to participate in the Maybury DNA Project?
    • Participants in the project need to
      • have a variant of the Maybury surname (Maybery, Maberry, Mayberry, Mabry, Mabrey, etc.); and
      • must be male because only males have the Y chromosome on which the family signature is found.

    • The basic 12 marker test is not always sufficient to confirm the authenticity of the Maybury family DNA signature. Therefore, we use the Y-DNA37 test as the standard for our study. New participants receive a discount if they join the Maybury Project.

    • We prefer that new participants order their Y-DNA test from FamilyTree DNA, the premier company offering DNA testing for genealogical purposes. Other providers, such as Ancestry.com, may use a few different markers which makes it difficult to compare their results with the participants in our study. 90% of Y-DNA testing is done by FamilyTree DNA.

    • You will receive a simple test kit which will enable you to collect a DNA sample by swabing the inside your cheeks with a special brush. After you return the kit it usually requires about 5-6 weeks to process your DNA and produce a report.

    • Don Collins, administrator of the Maybury DNA Project, will be happy to answer your questions (his mother was a Mabry). He can also e-mail you a special link which will enable you to order your test kit, enroll in the Maybury Project, and receive a group discount on the cost of your DNA test.
    Where can I get more information?
    How can you help?

    The Maybury DNA Project is ongoing. As more participants join the project, we will learn more about several hard to identify branches of the Maybury and Mayberry families. Here's how you can help:






    February 2010