Collaborative surname and DNA projects help connect distant cousins and build family clusters. Below you’ll find information about Irish surname projects on FamilyTreeDNA and other platforms. If you’re participating in or running a project relevant to Berks Irish members, we’d love to list it here!
What is a Surname Project?
A surname project is a collaborative effort by people sharing a common surname (or variant spellings) to compare their DNA results and identify family clusters. Most surname projects are hosted on FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA), which offers Y-DNA testing particularly useful for tracing the male line of a family.
By joining a surname project, you can compare your results with others who share your surname, potentially identifying common ancestors and breaking through brick walls in your research.
Finding Irish Surname Projects
To find a surname project for your Irish family name:
- Visit FamilyTreeDNA’s Project List and search for your surname
- Search for your surname + “DNA project” on Google
- Check the Irish Genealogical Society International for project listings
The Irish DNA Atlas
The Irish DNA Atlas, hosted by the Genealogical Society of Ireland, is a research project that has mapped the genetic landscape of Ireland by county. If you’ve taken a DNA test, comparing your results to the Irish DNA Atlas can help you identify which regions of Ireland your ancestry is most closely associated with — even if you don’t know the specific county your ancestors came from.
Projects of Interest to Berks Irish Members
Know of a surname or DNA project relevant to Berks Irish members? Contact us at info@berksirish.org and we’ll add it to this list!