Project Goals
This DENNY/DENNEY DNA Surname Project will be a genetealogy surname project (combining genetics with genealogy) that is being created to determine the unique Y-DNA chromosome markers for various DENNY/DENNEY family groups around the world. This grouping may also include variant spellings such as DENNING, DENIS, DEMING, DENDY, DINEEN, DENNIE, DENN, DENNEHY, DENNEN, DENNE, DINNING, DENNIG, and DEMNY. (There are specific DNA surname groups for DENNIS and DENNING lines on Family Tree DNA.)
This project will determine if the descendants of various DENNY/DENNEY immigrants to the USA had common ancestors in England, Ireland, Scotland or elsewhere in Europe and eventually, if possible, determine their ancestral home villages or regions in Europe. We will also explore possible connections with existing DENNY/DENNEY lines in England and Ireland.
I recommend that you get at least a 25-marker paternal test and if you can afford it, go for the 37-marker paternal test. The more markers, the better the resolution between family lines who are more distantly related. You cannot join the Denny DNA Project website unless you have been tested on at least 25 markers.
A surname project such as this, traces members of a family that share a common surname. Since surnames are passed down from father to son like the Y-chromosome, this test is ONLY for DENNY/DENNEY males taking a Y-DNA test. Females do not carry their father’s Y-DNA and acquire a new surname by way of marriage, so the tested individual must be a DENNY/DENNEY male that wants to check his direct paternal line (father, grandfather, great grandfather…) with a paternal Y-DNA12, Y-DNA25, or Y-DNA37 marker test. Females who would like to check their direct paternal line can have a male relative (cousin, uncle, brother, father, etc.) with the DENNY/DENNEY surname order a paternal Y-DNA test. Females can also order an mtDNA test for themselves such as the mtDNA or the mtDNAPlus test and participate in an mtDNA project.