About us
The Spearin Surname Project is a collaborative effort to establish the origins of the Spearin family name (including variants) and to identify which family lines are most closely related to each other.
The goals of the project can be summarised as follows:
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To identify which members (and hence their family branches) are most closely related to each other (those that have similar genetic signatures can be grouped together into genetic families and can be considered to be related to each other genetically)
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To help members establish to which genetic family they belong (this may allow them to "piggyback" onto the established genealogies of other members in the group, for example the member who has the family bible and can trace his line back to the 1500's)
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To confirm paper-trail evidence & traditional genealogies (a positive match between two members who believe they are descended from the same common ancestor on the basis of traditional documentary evidence can help confirm that relationship)
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To help to focus further documentary research (members of a genetic family are closely related and should work with each other to try to identify the common ancestor)
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To identify the likely origin of each genetic family
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To study the evolution of the surname from its earliest origins to its present day forms
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To document and publish the results along the way so that others can derive the maximum benefit from the project
How to join
Joining our group is a simple procedure and Y-DNA testing can be done at a discounted rate through our project.
There are three simple options:
Firstly, if you are male and bear the Spearin surname (or one of its variants), and have already been Y-DNA tested via FTDNA, just click on the Join Request tab in the dark blue menu bar above, enter your Kit number and password under Option A, and click on Login. Your Y-DNA haplotype will automatically be uploaded onto the Y-DNA Results page. Simple!
Secondly, if you are male and Spearin, but your Y-DNA has been tested elsewhere, please contact us directly and we will arrange for your Y-DNA results to be incorporated into the Results page of the website (click here to send email). Simple!
Lastly, if you haven't been Y-DNA tested but you want to, here is what you need to do:
- Find a male relative who bears the Spearin name (or variant) ... that is if you don't!
- Take them through this Project website and discuss the pros and cons of the test with them.
- Order the 37-marker test kit at FTDNA
- Click on the Join Request tab in the dark blue menu bar above
- Click on Option B: Purchase A Test To Join This Project
- Just follow the instructions and fill out the form - simple!
- The test kit will arrive by post 7-10 days later
- Follow the instructions in the kit - in brief, you will need to gently scrape the inside of your cheeks with something that looks like a large cotton bud (Q tip). This will dislodge cheek cells (containing DNA, naturally) from inside your mouth. The top of the cotton bud then goes into a plastic tube supplied with the kit. Screw the cap back on and post it off to the lab.
- Then, 4-8 weeks later you will get an email with a user ID and passcode to access the website to view your results and compare it to the others in the group - does your family line go back to the 1500's? Take the test and find out.