From early 2001 to February 2007 the BEAL Surname Project (founded and administered by Col. Charles E. Beal) was inclusive of several surname variants; BEALL, BEALE, BEALS, BALE, and BELL. However, due to the comparatively larger population of Bell's in the world, BELL participants soon numbered about half of the Project total. With the steadily increasing BELL representation in the BEAL Surname Project a decision was made in late 2006 to 'spin-off' the BELL surname from the BEAL Surname Project and, concurrently, to form an independent BELL Y-DNA PROJECT.  Admins for the Bell Y-DNA Project:  Craig Nelson and Fay Clark.

** NOTE: Y-DNA testing is necessary for membership:  The Bell Y-DNA Project does not accept 'Join Requests' from those who have "ONLY" tested autosomalDNA (i.e., FTDNA FamilyFinder, AncestryDNA, etc.).  Many, if not most members, have taken autosomalDNA tests to complement and support their existing Y-testing as part of their Bell family research efforts; but not as the "ONLY" or "STAND ALONE" test.  AutosomalDNA testing, in and of  itself, meets neither the intent nor the primary objective of this Project.