Ok, so how does DNA testing help?
As you know surnames are generally passed down the male line from father to son, just like the male Y-Chromosome. This means that you also can use your Y-Line to investigate your paternal lines alongside the more traditional genealogical sources. By supplying a sample of your DNA which can then be compared with others, it can then be established whether a connection is present. The test result is a series of numbers, called a haplotype. By comparing your numbers to others with your surname you can determine with a high degree of probability if you share a common ancestor; the results do not tell you exactly how you are related. A single test is useless – it must be compared to others carrying the same surname and used in conjunction with traditional research (e.g., pedigree/ancestor chart, etc.). In addition to testing, we need information (e.g., pedigree chart) on each participant’s line of descent from the earliest known male ancestor. This helps to identify the various unconnected l
