Family Finder at FTDNA

This notice from Family Tree DNA just landed in the inbox and may be of interest to my readers. This is the company we used to test my brother’s DNA and received a successful match. I highly recommend them.

Dear Family Tree DNA Customer,

List of Matches & Shared DNA

By now you may have already heard of our newest test, which has received substantial exposure in the press: the Family Finder test.

Since several people that have seen the news about this test have approached us for more information, allow me to briefly give you the key elements of the Family Finder test:

You may find relatives in any of your lines, and either males or females can take this test!

The Family Finder test matches you confidently with any cousin within four to five generations. There are dizzying possibilities!

The possibilities to find matches abound:

	Aunts & Uncles, Parents and Grandparents
	Half siblings and 1st cousins
	2nd, 3rd, and 4th cousins

When you take the Family Finder test, your results are compared against our Family Finder database. You will be able to:

sort your matches by degree of relationship

view their names and e-mail address for immediate communication

download your raw data

A new, unparalleled Ancestral Origins percentage test, based on Family Finder – at no additional charge

Special Note: The Family Finder test requires an untouched vial of DNA. If your kit does not have an extra vial on file, we will mail a collection kit for a new DNA extraction. After ordering you will be notified by email whether we are able to use a stored vial or will be mailing a new collection kit.

Serendipity DNA

Finding your Roots with DNA

If you have ever hit the proverbial brick wall in your genealogy research, you will relate to my story.

I’ve been trying for years to get our KERR family tree research out of Quebec and back to a specific place in Ireland (and ultimately back to the ancestral lands in Scotland).

My genealogy detective work at both the Quebec and Ireland ends has ranged from church records, contacts at the family history societies, searching databases to professional genealogists…just to mention a few avenues I’ve tried.

Yet another brick wall?

Nada, nothing. No concrete leads. I had a professional genealogist in Quebec tell me years ago that we might never find the connection! How discouraging is that???

But I didn’t give up. I approached my brother and said “It is your turn!”

“What?!” he replied, “You’re the family historian, not me! How can I possibly help?”

“You can donate your DNA for family tree testing for the KERR/CARR surname project.

That’s what you can do!”

DNA Surname Testing

I had been in contact with the coordinator at the KERR/CARR surname project and he recommended Family Tree DNA to do the testing. (CARR is one of the KERR surname variants). Only males carry the markers of interest and they are passed from father to son on the Y-chromosome.

We decided to go for the 37 marker testing. Family Tree DNA sent the kit, Bill did a saliva swab and sent the kit back for DNA testing.

It didn’t take all that long to get the results.

A DNA Match!

We found a match! For all 37* markers.

And get this…the person that matched my brother’s DNA had the exact same name, right down to the middle name.

How is that for serendipity! (or perhaps the result of common naming patterns followed by our Irish and Scottish ancestors).

And the best part. We now know more about the KERR family. This other Bill Kerr’s roots extend back to the mid 1800s in England. Finally a lead to work on…

We recently paid for an upgrade to 67 markers. (fishing for more fish so to speak). The match with my brother’s namesake was there again and the match extended all the way out to the 67 markers. We also found other matches.

This is very encouraging and I feel it will be with DNA that we will ultimately solve this brick wall. As more and more individuals submit their samples the migration patterns will be revealed and more connections will be found. I highly recommend DNA testing if your own genealogy research has run up against that proverbial brick wall.

Perhaps there are already connections at Family Tree DNA waiting for you!

Try a search and see!

My Surname

Happy Hunting,
Joan

P.S. if you have KERR family connections please contact me.