For various reasons (That I will discuss later), I have involved myself in FamilyTreeDNA to establish an avenue for anyone with the Procuniar/ier surname (or any of its variants), that have questions as to their “True Blood” connection to the Procuniar/ier surname.
My older sister Penny S. (Procuniar) Larson jump started this whole project!
Without duplicating the nomenclature of the FamilyTreeDNA website here on our website you can go to their website at: http://www.familytreedna.com/ and read to your hearts content why the Y-DNA tests “Confirm” paternal lineage and common ancestry on the male line & why testing for the female DNA is more complicated in tracing family in any surname.
I have set up a “Procunier Project” on the FamilyTreeDNA website that will make it easier for anyone considering taking a DNA test to prove or confirm their paternal lineage to log on and have a test kit sent to them. You can go the to FamilyTreeDNA website Projects Home Page at http://www.familytreedna.com/Surname.aspx then click on the Y-DNA Surname Projects area selecting the “P”; then arrowing down to the Procunier surname and clicking your mouse on “Procunier”. At this time (May 22, 2007) there are only two (2) family members that have requested a DNA test kit; myself and my father’s younger brother Samuel Procuniar. We both have taken the tests and are awaiting the results of that testing. May 22, 2007
Below are a few tips that FamilyTreeDNA suggest for our Procunier Surname Project:
Procuniar/ier FamilyTreeDNA “Project” objectives
The Y-chromosome is passed from father to son unchanged, except for the occasional mutation. Testing the Y-chromosome will provide you with a genetic finger print consisting of 12, 25, 37, or 67 numbers. By comparing this finger print to others with your surname, you can determine if they are related.
1. The objectives of Surname Projects vary. Here are a few examples:
Identify others who are related
Prove or disprove theories regarding ancestors
Solve brick walls in your research
Determine a location for further research
Validate existing research
Often a Surname Project has multiple objectives, and the objectives may even change over the life of the project.
Most Surname Projects start with the objective to identify others who are related, and through out the project the other objectives are achieved simply as a result of the project.
2. Select 12, 25, 37 or 67 markers
The next step for your surname project is to decide whether you test 12, 25, 37 or 67 markers. 12 markers are sufficient to determine whether or not two people are genetically related. In addition, the 12-marker project price of $99 is more affordable for participants, enabling you to recruit more participants.
The value of the 25, 37 or 67 marker test occurs when two participants are likely to be related based on the 12-marker test. When participants match with the 12-marker test, the test can be upgraded to 25, 37 or 67 markers. The objective of upgrading to additional markers is to further reduce the time frame of the common ancestor between the matching participants. The common ancestor is also referred to as the Most Recent Common Ancestor, or MRCA.
Typically, participants are very interested in upgrading their 12 marker test when a match occurs. Two individuals are considered related for the 12 marker test if they match 12/12, 11/12, and sometimes with 10/12. In the first two situations, an upgrade is recommended.
3. Jump start your project
The easiest way to jump start your Surname Project, and to get others interested in participating, is to find the first two participants. (We have already done this) Participants must be direct male descendents, since the Y-chromosome is passed from father to son. If you are a direct male descendent, you are 50% of the way to jump starting your surname project. You'll need to find just one other participant.
Most likely you have had contact with others with your surname during the course of your family history research. One course of action is to select a few of those contacts and write them a letter or email about your project, and ask them to participate as the genetic representative for their line or family.
When you get a second participant from this group you have achieved your jump start for your Surname Project, and you are ready to sign up more participants.
