Goals of the Dorling DNA Project:

· To discover the genetic sequence that identifies the main branches of the Dorling surname, namely, the branches of Bacton, Bury St Edmunds, West Stow, Epsom branches, Barton Mills/Herringswell, Dennington and Framsden.

 · To help confirm the findings of genealogical research into the Dorling surname and family trees. 

· To discover if any of the main branches are related to each other via a common ancestor and if so to estimate how many generations back to the common ancestor. 

· To discover how individuals and other smaller branches of Dorlings fit into the overall Dorling genealogy, either as distinct branches or as part of other Dorling branches.  e.g. if a Lowestoft descendent of Edwin Thomas 1864 is tested it would reveal if they belonged to the BSE branch, as believed, or another branch.

· To discover how individuals and other smaller branches with Dorling variant names e.g. Doily, Dorley, Dorland, Doyling, Dawling, Dauling, Dalling, fit into the overall Dorling genealogy, either as distinct branches or as part of other Dorling branches.

 · To provide the potential means of identifying the male ancestry of a branch originating from a female Dorling.