1. Verify existing paper genealogies by testing relatives of different branches of earliest known ancestors. Assist participants with “brick wall” ancestors to perhaps identify which Dowd branch they are related to or descended from.

2. To identify all of the distinct genetic groups for people with one of the variant spellings of the surname.

3. We would like to determine whether there exists an identifiable DNA signature for the traditional founder of the surname (Ó Dubhda in County Mayo and County Sligo), and whether there is a relationship to other families or septs descended from the Ui Fiachrach, as stated in the traditional Irish genealogies.