The Rix/Ricks/Rex Y-DNA Study
Updated 13th December 2011
Major discoveries have been made over the last few years combining conventional family history research with Y-DNA testing. Here is a summary of what has been found so far. The use of ">" denotes how the families migrated.
RIX
There are seven genetically separate lines of Rix that trace back to the county of Norfolk, England.
The most widespread line is the Rix Norfolk 5 group that includes Rix families from :-
- Brancaster, Norfolk > Massachusetts, USA
- Bylaugh > Swannington > Elsing, Norfolk
- East Dereham > Ashill > Watton, Norfolk
- East and West Rudham, Norfolk
- Scarning > Swanton Morley, Norfolk
- South Creake, Norfolk
- Sparham, Norfolk
- Whitechapel, London > Knysna, South Africa
- also, Kinder of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England
- all of these families are close Y-DNA matches
The Rix Norfolk 1 group descends from the Letton > Cranworth > Shipdham area of Norfolk, England.
The Rix Norfolk 2 group is a separate group, not related to the The Rix Norfolk 5 group, also descending from East Dereham, Norfolk, England.
The Rix Norfolk 3 group descends from Stoke Holy Cross, Norfolk, England.
The Rix Norfolk 4 group includes the Rix of Prince Edward Island, Canada and the Ricks of the Wootton Bassett > Purton area of Wiltshire, England. A test recently concluded to prove or disprove a theory that this group was from East Dereham has been disproved. At this stage it is not known which came first - Rix or Ricks.
The Rix Norfolk 6 group descends from Horsford, Norfolk, England.
The Rix Norfolk 7 group descends from Longham, Norfolk, England.
The Rix Essex group descends from William Palmer who married Henrietta Wade in Dagenham, Essex, England.
The Rix Denmark group descends from Kiel in Denmark. This refers to the one Danish test that has been conducted so far. There are other Rix families in Denmark that need to be tested.
RICKS
The Ricks 1 group probably descends from Ormesby, Norfolk > Virginia and Georgia, USA.
The Ricks 2 group also traces back on paper to Virginia, USA, but is genetically very different to the Ricks 1 group.
The Ricks 3 group traces back to Hanover, Germany.
The Rix - Reuckes group descends from Germany.
REX
The Rex group only has one line so far that descends from London, England > Canada.
The famous Rex line of Knysna, South Africa descends from a William Rix of Whitechapel, London, England; and is in fact part of the Rix Norfolk 5 group.
Where do you fit in?
To find out more or to order a test click here to visit the Rix project website at Family Tree DNA.
Trevor William Rix - Suffolk, England - Rix Family Alliance member 16 - Volunteer administrator of the Rix/Ricks/Rix Y-DNA study at Family Tree DNA - Family historian for over 45 years - trevor@trevorrix.co.uk - 01284 828115 (international +44 1284 828115)