DNA testing for genealogy has been very popular, lately, as a tool to delve further into ones family tree. In 2011, I had my mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA tested, as well as, autosomal testing through FamilytreeDNA.com.
Mitochondrial testing is useful in tracing one’s maternal line to its origin. Mitochondrial information is found in our cells and passed from mother to child. This information doesn’t change making it possible to trace our maternal lines.
In this chart, the maternal information is passed from a mother to a son and daughter. The daughter can pass the mitochondrial information to her son and daughter but the son does not. In other words, for me to get mtDNA information for my mother’s maternal line, my brothers and I could have taken the mtDNA test. My daughter and my son can take the test to get the same information but by brother’s children can’t because they could pass the mtDNA information on to their children.
Ydna testing is done to trace male inheritance. Only males can take this test as Y chromosomes are only passed from father to son. I can’t get ydna information of my father’s lineage but my brother can.
When these tests are done, you are given a haplogroup designation. This map gives us an idea of the migration and evolution of different mitochondrial lineages beginning with “mitochondrial Eve” from whom all modern humans are believed to be descended from on the maternal lines. Eve is believed to have been born 200,000 years ago in East Africa. While she wasn’t the only female living at the time, all other female lines failed to produce continuous descendants with their mitochondrial DNA. 
Over time, Eve’s offspring began to migrate outside of this part of Africa. With time particular mutations happened within the mtDNA resulting in subgroups. With these subgroups, it’s possible to trace your maternal lines to different parts of the world.
My mtDNA haplogroup is L3b1a. The first genetic mutation of Eve is L0, then L1, L2, and L3. Because I did the full sequence of my DNA I have extra information on my maternal lineage which primarily West African with my coding region (another part of the DNA tested) matches me with indigenous Berbers of Morocco and Egypt.
FTDNA provides you with information about matches on the mtDNA test. In my case, where L3b1a goes back at least 20,000, my matches may be too distantly related to find our exact connection but it gives me more clues on my lineage. Most of my matches are Bantus in places like Sierra Leone, Camaroon, Chad and I even have matches in Syria.
FTDNA offers autosomal testing through their FamilyFinder test that theoretically gives you your ethnic breakdown according to your chromosomes. This information comes from both your mother and father and should reflect the past 125 years or 5-6 generations back. For some population groups, there are filters that help distinguish matches that appear close genetically but in actuality are more distant on paper. Where there are generations cousins marrying cousins as in the case of royal families, etc, there is the possibility that the results reflect information much further than 125 years. In my tree, I have many 3rd and 4th cousins marrying so I’m pretty sure that my Afghani line wasn’t very recent. 
Of my matches on FamilyFinder, some are of Cape Verdean origin, while some people are of Eastern European and Jewish origins. How I match Hungarian, Polish and Ukranians has been a bit tricky but what’s interesting is that we all descend from the same person since we all match on the very same spot on the same chromosome (19). I have African American matches, one of who has only been able to trace one line to an enslaved person around 1860 in South Carolina. The thought that his ancestor was possibly family to someone in my tree is intriguing in that it may be a way to connect to my enslaved ancestors.
Exploring my DNA has been very interesting, to say the least. It’s helped to answer many questions, expand my family tree and to create even more questions. My hope is that questions about “what is a Cape Verdean” can be answered in terms of its history and what groups of people were instrumental in its creation. But most of all, rather than defining Cape Verde in terms of its uniqueness and setting it apart from the rest of the world, it should strengthen our humanity. At the end of the day, we are all connected.
The Creola Genealogist 
Hi Cousin!! 🙂 I am also a L3b1a–with the same South Carolina Roots from the mid to early 1800’s (Chaney Birch, Chesterfield, SC.) I am going to guesstimate with the other island matches, Puerto Rico/Cuba–the slavery drop off point was the Island. On another Lb31a blog, a guy hooked up with someone in Argentina with the same Lb31a —including Haiti/Dominica, St Vincent, Barbuda, etc. Cape Verde and the Canary Islands also matched to present day Lb31a (FamilyTreetDNA.com). My DNA included Ethiopia, all of Northern Africa, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Western Africa (Senegal, and 6 tribes from Ghana. On my mother’s father side, my great grandfather is Cape Verdean. Waiting on my Uncle to swab his mouth.
I am trying to just touch basis with everyone as I think when we piece our stories together–it will all start to make sense!
Look forward to hearing form you! Or a response since it’s been a year!
Hi cousin! Yes, I we definitely have connections with people in the West Indies and central/South America because of the slave trade. Many of the enslaved people transported to those areas may have come through Cape Verde in the earlier days of the trade. Also, Cape Verde is but so big and it’s very true what they say… All CVs are cousins, lol!
Maternal Line: L3b1a . I’m a cousin too! I have just started my quest to find out my ancestry. As far as I know my mother’s family is mainly from Maine, but really what I know is barely anything at all at this point. A lot of people not talking in my family.
How interesting I am L3b1a and also have ties to Spain through my great grand mother/paternal.
And to Cape Verde. But also to N. Africa and the Arabs of Morocco which technically are not Arab but another racial group altogether that reside in Algeria and Morocco. Deep testing also revealed Asian roots from the Sindh in India and Pastun people in Afghanistan no doubt this might have been one person. This is exciting and interesting to study.
You all have done some great digging. I enjoy what you did and are reporting to us. Thank you. Bill Pires
Thank you so much, Mr Pires!
Greetings and salutations to those of the L3B1A
I too share this genetic marker making me I guess a cousin I have so many questions I hope there’s another male on here who shares on the father side the EP252 my lineage digging took me back to our family coming in through Hawthorne California during the time of Khalifa anybody else share the same marker please hit me up
Lastofmykindzaael@gmail.com
Iam also L3b1a. I am from Puerto Rico. On my father’s side Im European but on my mother’s side I have ancestors from Venezuela and Mallorca Spain.
Hello everyone. I just recently found out through Family Tree DNA that I too am L3b1a. I did the mtDNA Full Sequence Test. My family history in America has connections to South Carolina, Marion County. I am very interested in learning more about this haplogroup.
My GGGreat grandma, my maternal was from Chesterfield, SC. We could be real close in generations
Hi hapshetsupworld. What are surnames from that area? Mine is Carmichael. I’m trying to see where they could be a connection.
I am Lb31A..I would like to know more about it’s origin
I am also L3b1a! My family is from Mississippi but everyone is spread out across the south now. I have dna mainly from West Africa and a small amount of European. I am a descendant of slaves and am trying to find more knowledge about my lineage and history. It’s very cool to see other people who share the same haplogroup as me.
Greetings I am also L3b1a from Myrtle Beach, SC. It was shown that I have origins in Ivory Coast & Ghana, Togo& Benin, Nigeria, Guinea & Sierra Leone, Senegal, Gambia & Guinea-Bissau, Liberia & Ivory Coast, Northern Congo Basin, West Lake Victoria Basin, Southern Africa, West Slavic Amerindian- Central & South Mexico, Scotland, Ireland, Mali and Asia. I have done deeper research with documents and family history pass down linking to the lost tribes of Israelite. Also, having ancestors entering America by the way of California during Queen Califia era. There are many more discoveries that I have found about my family but it is too much to put on here. For the ones who are starting out on your journey you are going to love it and it is best to start now while everyone still on Earth to pass down to the next generations. Just remember to never give up and don’t take anyone word for it unless there is proof and research for yourself.
L3b1a here! My 3rd GreatGrandma born in Chesterfield SC, moved at age 97 by her daughter to Marshallville GA. Found there is a mutation 13 on the end of L3b1a– citing Ghanaian origins.
Forgot: FULANI TRIBE–matches the western and North African movement of this DNA origin, including the Sephardic Jew, Even Ethiopia.
I see that there is a connection to the Carolinas which is interesting.