FTDNA BACKGROUND PAGE (Updated 22 Nov 2018)

We are the Official Worldwide Fitzgerald DNA Project for ALL Fitzgeralds including surname variations.

Our objective is to use Y chromosome test samples to construct family groups and define lineages. These clusters are further refined using autosomal DNA test results and family trees provided by our members. We hope to match individuals who share common Fitzgerald ancestors and break through researchers’ brick walls.

We host two separate initiatives: (1) the FTDNA Fitzgerald Surname Project, (2) a Facebook group forum to discuss FTDNA results at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitzgeralddna

[1] We recommend MALE Fitzgeralds take FTDNA's Y-DNA 37 test or greater.  Higher levels of testing are valuable in delineating lineages within common haplogroups (such as R-M269) and large families. If you're surname isn't Fitzgerald, but suspect you might be one, take the Y-DNA 37 test. If you have maternal Fitzgerald ancestors, try to locate a male Fitzgerald relative, and ask that person to do a Y-DNA test! The same recommendation holds for female Fitzgeralds.

[2] We kindly request that Fitzgerald Project Members submit your direct line PEDIGREE to your most distant verified Fitzgerald ancestor. Email us with your pedigree to fitzgerald.ftdna@gmail.com.

Most Distant Fitzgerald Ancestor b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location

m. Spouse b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location

- Descendant #1 b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location

m. Spouse b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location

- Descendant #2 b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location

m. Spouse b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location

- Descendant #3 b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location

m. Spouse b. birth-date and location, d. death-date and location

As far down your family tree as you feel comfortable sharing.

We ask your explicit permission to add this to our webpage at https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/fitzgerald/about/results. Pedigrees are sorted by FITZGERALD Family Groupings and only searchable by FTDNA kit number. We won’t add your pedigree unless you agree when you send us your ancestry. Please include a URL to any online public family trees you maintain.

If you are unhappy with anything we've posted, let us know so we can make changes or updates. It isn’t our intent to violate anyone’s privacy.

[3] We wholeheartedly encourage ALL FITZGERALD descendants, male and female, to take autosomal DNA tests (such as FTDNA’s Family Finder). In addition, everyone should upload his or her autosomal test results to GEDmatch - a free service for comparing results among test takers from different companies.

[4] RECOMMENDED SETTINGS for your FTDNA Profile.

Look for the Account Settings gear icon under your name and kit number:

1) Fill in your PATERNAL Line Ancestry

- Step 1: Select the top tab “Genealogy”

- Step 2: Enter your verifiable, earliest known FITZGERALD ancestor in the space provided for Paternal ancestry

- Step 3: Remember to click “Save”

2) Optimize your PRIVACY

- Step 1: Select the top tab “Privacy & Sharing”

- Step 2: Check the box “Consent to Participate in Matching”

- Step 3: Set “Family Tree Sharing” to “My Matches”

- Step 4: Make sure you check the box “Opt In To Sharing” under “Project Sharing”

3) Optimize your PROJECT settings

- Step 1: Select the tab “Project Preferences”

- Step 2: You will see the FITZGERALD project name and a list of our administrators. Click on the yellow button “EDIT”

- Step 3: On the pop up screen, you are given a choice about the level of administrator access to your account. We recommend the selection “Limited” for all administrators. It is possible to select different levels of access for each of the administrators however. 

- Step 4: Don’t forget to click the green “Accept” button.

4) Please name a backup BENEFICIARY of your DNA test results!!!  

- Step 1: Select the tab “Account Information”, then choose “Beneficiary”

- Step 2: Fill in the form

OUR PROJECT IS HAPPY TO ACCEPT YOUR DONATIONS.

Contact us for further details.

https://www.familytreedna.com/group-general-fund-contribution.aspx?g=FITZGERALD