About us
The Ralston Surname Project, encompassing all spelling variations, seeks to uncover the true origins and connections among the various branches of the Ralston family worldwide. For many years, it was widely believed that all "Ralstons" were related and descended solely from Scotland. However, our research has shown that several distinct and unrelated Ralston (and variant) lineages exist, with origins in Scotland, England, and Ireland.
Many Ralstons around the world can trace their ancestry to one of these regions. In particular, numerous Ralstons, Roulstons, Rolstons, and other variants in North America, Australia, and New Zealand may find that their ancestors spent generations in the northern counties of Ireland before emigrating. We are still actively researching the origins of this group outside of Ireland.
Though we’ve made significant progress, there is much more to uncover. Every new male participant who joins the project and submits at least a 37-marker test (with 111-marker or Big Y-700 tests being even more valuable) adds greatly to the project’s overall value, helping us discover new connections and gain deeper insights into our shared ancestry.