A Historical Enigma

The Smolenyak surname is genealogically significant. Although its bearers are now dispersed globally, our lineage can be traced back to the same secluded village of Ostur?a in Slovakia. Records from the local Greek Catholic Church indicate that members of the Smolenyak family resided in just four households over several generations.

By examining church, land, and census documents, we were able to follow these households as far back as the 1740s. Given their close proximity, we believed they must share a common ancestor. The presence of only one Smolenyak listed in the 1715 military conscription records further reinforced this belief.

However, our research hit a wall. Despite hopes for new records from Ostur?a, we remained cautious, especially since the church had burned down in 1796. Between 1890 and 1909, family members from these four households emigrated to the United States, sparking curiosity about potential familial ties. How could we resolve this genealogical puzzle?

The Breakthrough with DNA Testing

Just as we reached this deadlock, DNA testing became accessible to the public for a fee of $200–300 per test. This situation represented an ideal opportunity for a Y chromosome study, as the Y chromosome is passed from father to son. Such testing is commonly employed in genealogy to determine if individuals with the same surname share a common ancestry.

We planned to gather samples from all four Smolenyak lines. Matching results would validate our hypothesis of a shared ancestor. If only some matched, we could refocus our research efforts accordingly. However, the idea that none would match was too absurd to consider.

With support from our Ostur?a Family Association, we chose Family Tree DNA in Houston, Texas, which offered testing with 12 markers. At that time, this was the most reliable option available. The company also maintained a database to notify us of any future matches, enhancing our ability to uncover new connections.

The next step involved convincing men from the four lines to participate in the mouth swab test. Despite concerns about privacy, the established relationships within our village facilitated cooperation.

Awaiting Results

We submitted the samples and anxiously awaited results for seven weeks. When the envelopes finally arrived, we braced ourselves. To our shock, none of the samples matched — in fact, they were significantly different. For two lines to share a common ancestor, we would expect at least ten of the 12 markers to align, but that was not the case.

While awaiting the initial results, we had submitted additional samples from two specific households. These came back as perfect matches, confirming the testing's reliability.

The implications were clear: each Smolenyak line descended from distinct ancestors. This didn't preclude the possibility of connections between specific households, as earlier research indicated a blood relationship between houses 88 and 96 in the mid-1700s, albeit through a non-Smolenyak branch.

Explaining the Discrepancies

Several theories emerged to explain these unexpected results:

1. Unknown Father Theory: It’s possible that unacknowledged fathers existed within our lines. A man’s Y chromosome could be disrupted if his wife had an affair and passed off another man's child as her husband's. Such an event, though rare, could have occurred over centuries.
2. Surname Origin Theory: The surname Smolenyak might have arisen from occupational or descriptive roots in Ostur?a. If multiple men received this surname without any familial connection, our families could have completely different origins despite sharing a surname.
3. Surname Evolution Theory: Blended families may have contributed to surname confusion. In cases of remarriage, children might have adopted surnames from stepfathers, leading to genetic mismatches.
4. Naming Practices: To distinguish between people with the same surname, modifiers would sometimes be added. This could lead to further genetic mismatches over time.

Future Directions

While we could accept the surname origin theory as a viable explanation, we were not ready to abandon the other theories. We identified a blended family situation around 1800 concerning household 103 and the Vanecsko surname. By tracing modern descendants of Vanecsko and testing their DNA, we may further clarify the lineage of household 103.

We also initiated a village-wide study, seeking volunteers with Ostur?a roots to undergo testing. Given our ancestors' historical isolation, we speculated there might be unique genetic patterns, potentially revealing unexpected connections.

So far, only five of the approximately 50 surnames from Ostur?a have been tested, but we’ve already encountered some surprises. One surname, Bizub, showed a near match with a Smolenyak line, suggesting a common ancestor. Another intriguing finding indicated a seemingly Greek Catholic family may have Jewish origins, prompting further investigation.

We plan to continue our specific and broader village testing efforts, collecting more data to enhance our understanding of our roots. This journey into genetic genealogy has established us as pioneers in this field, especially since the National Geographic Genographic Project only began in 2005.

Closer to the Truth

Traditional genealogical research often leads to unexpected revelations, and the same applies to DNA testing. If four distinct Smolenyak groups, living so close together, lack a common ancestor, how many others operate under misconceptions about shared heritage?

Fortunately, DNA testing has become a valuable tool in our quest for understanding. Numerous surname studies have already been conducted or are in progress, and many participants will likely face similar surprises. In my case, having married a fellow Smolenyak from a different line provides a quirky sense of relief — despite the lack of direct connection, we already knew our link was centuries removed.

Ultimately, I’m grateful not to have spent my life believing in a nonexistent common ancestor. Now, I’m eager to explore how to leverage this newfound knowledge, streamline our research efforts, and uncover the true story of our origins. Time to gather more DNA samples!