The Fentress Surname Project is formed to investigate, using Y-chromosome testing, the relationships among various Fentress surname families that originated or remain in England or Scotland. Its results are to be used as an aid to family historians and genealogists in understanding the origins and histories of these Fentress families in America and elsewhere. The spelling variations anticipated by this project include those of the earliest records including Fentris as well as those known to have been adopted such as Ventress, Fenters, and Venters. Because of the potential surname overlap with surnames of German origin prospective participants such as Fenters and Venters should also consider the German origin surname projects of Venter and Fender.