Prepared by Elisabeth Lindsay.
The DNA surname study, also known as a "surname project," is coalition of sorts in which those of a particular surname submit Y-DNA results for comparison with others, aimed identifying ancestral origins; recent common ancestors; and connecting with others of the same surname. Among its many uses, the DNA surname project can help those with a common name narrow the field of potential ancestors, regardless of spelling variations; it can also help researchers locate brick wall ancestors lost through the passage of time; and may also put researchers in contact with others who have more information on the paper trail of a particular ancestor. A number of GenWeekly articles are focused different aspects of surname research. For more information on DNA studies and their uses in genealogy, see the GenWeekly articles, Beyond the Paper Trail: Discovering Family History with Different DNA Tests and SNPs and Snails: What is your deep ancestry? ($).