I have written a lot previously about One-Name Studies (If you are new here, welcome! – you can read all the posts about researching surnames HERE).

A number of members of the Guild of One-Name Studies have an associated DNA project that runs alongside their study. I am no exception and have a study with Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) that runs alongside my Orlando One-Name Study. FTDNA are the only company that offers these types of projects, There are also projects based upon geographical regions – Polish and Italian for example and there are also projects that are aligned to those that have Jewish ancestry.

The Orlando project has the Guild logo along side the project name as the following image shows. The link to the Orlando Project can be found HERE

There is also a list of other projects where the surname appears, such as Malta and Prussia. The FTDNA Projects mainly focuses on Y-DNA which is passed from father to son. You can also undertake a Family Finder test, which I have done which instead of going back in a father to son method,it goes back and round, effectively its outreach is wider – Cousins etc.

There are also tests available from Ancestry and likewise I have tested there too. Whilst not everyone has a DNA project with their study,many members do. It enables members to reach out to others with an interest in a particular surname.

Try out Tip – Visit the FTDNA website and scroll half way down the the page to the search surname box. Insert your family surnames and see if there is a DNA Project available. Have you undertaken a DNA test? If not would you? If you are particularly interested in the surname of Orlando, I would be delighted to hear from you.