The Ellis project's aim is to document the Y chromosome of as many Ellis descendants as possible from the various lines throughout the world. This will help to determine the origins of these families.

DNA Genetics is the newest, most exiting way to find those missing links. Every genealogist, professional or amateur, knows that even the tiniest clue can be the key to unlocking generations of family history data.  Now we have yet another method to track down that elusive ancestor! Through DNA testing it is possible to determine if two people share a common ancestor.

If you would like to participate in the study, you must be male with the surname Ellis or have found a male with the last name of Ellis who is willing to participate. Be sure to use the link below so that your kit is assigned to the Ellis project and you receive the group discount we enjoy!

The minimum number of markers required is 37. There have been to many times that new members have joined with 12 or 25 markers only to find that they have to upgrade to 37 markers before we can get a good idea which group they belong to. Many of our members belong to a group called the "Western Atlantic Modal Haplotype" and it is neccessary to have more markers to differentiate families. FTDNA has an information page here.

Buy your kit here 

A word of caution. There is always the possibility that you may get unexpected test results. If you don't match a group you think you should there could be several reasons. One possibility is that your family actually is descended from a different group of Ellises than you thought. Another possibilty is that there has been a "non-paternity event" (NPE) at some time in the past. Non-paternity events have several different causes and it shouldn't be assumed that there was infidelity involved (although it is true, this can be one cause of a NPE). Adoptions and name changes were common in the past and often done without there ever being any legal documentation.

I am the co-ordinator of the Ellis Surname DNA Project. Basically I manage to project, screen prospective members, interpret results, keep the web page and results tables up to date. I am not paid and do not work for any DNA testing company. Feel free to email me if you have further questions. You can find additional information at FamilyTreeDNA©