Some topics of particular interest to newcomers to the group:-
- An article about Some Notable Plants;
- a discussion of the historical controversy On a possible connection to Plantagenet; and,
- fully detailed information about the DNA testing project.
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How to join
To join the Plant Y-DNA testing project:- click here to fill in an on-line form to request a testing kit along with simple instructions about how to return your cheek swab to the testing laboratory. A simple Y-DNA12 test could suffice, though it might be more advantageous in the longer term to extend your test to the Y-DNA37 level. This will provide you with a more distinct Y-DNA signature for your own particular Plant family branch. Once you have your results, you have them for ever and they can continue to enlighten you about your genetic descent amongst those with the Plant (or similar) surname; their value will likely keep increasing as more Plants come forward to take the test. I can offer advice, if you wish, on how to fill in the on-line form to obtain a testing kit. Instead of going direct to registering with the testing laboratory, you can click here to contact me, John Plant, both the Web Site author and the Y-DNA project coordinator for our surname. |
Clicking to the on-line form will put you in touch with the most popular laboratory for obtaining your Y-DNA results; they have a reputation for reliability and have largely cornered the market. They will send you simple instructions and an invoice with a testing kit; then you return your cheek swab to the testing laboratory. The laboratory will keep you informed about the progress of your results; and, when your results are ready, you can see how how they relate to those of others. If you wish, I can help you with this, helping to explain the significance of the results.
General findings so far: the Y-DNA results for the Plant project indicate that the Plants are mostly a single family and the name appears to have originated near Wales where the Welsh meaning is `children' or `offspring' which is believed to derive from a Latin meaning of planta: `shoot' or `offshoot'. It now seems that, although other meanings have been proposed, the Plant surname was coined for many, perhaps illegitimate, children of a family; many children from the outset could help to explain why there are more Plants than had been previously been predicted by computer simulations for a single-family surname.
Some wider implications: the revised meaning, `children', points to a medieval culture exemplified by the Welsh meaning and this can be carried through to some other similar early surnames or bynames such as Plantefolie, Plantefene, Plantebene and Planterose. Despite the possibility of a `gardener' interpretation for the latter two, all had bawdy insinuations relating to the Welsh meaning of planta; and, this innuendo seems to parody the contemporary royal surname Plantagenet which helps to explain why this royal nickname was so slow to appear in official documents.
Resulting publications: I have published formal accounts of these findings in academic papers for the surnames Plant and Plantagenet.
Or, you may obtain more information about Plant records from Keith Plant.
- Copies of Roots and Branches, the 34 journals published relative to the Plant name, are still available. Alternatively, copies of any articles included in the journals can be supplied. Contact Keith Plant for details.
- Information can also be provided on all the Census returns and GRO reference numbers investigated. Again, contact Keith Plant, usually there is no charge for this information provided enough information is available for a search to be made.
You may send your message to Keith by whatever method you prefer.
Mr. W. Keith Plant, 22 Chapel Croft, Chelford, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England SK11 9SU. Email: keithandmavisplant@uwclub.net
Another way is to complete the following form, which will send him your details and added comments or questions.
Plant Family History Group Homepage