MINNIS Surname FamilyTreeDNA Project Website Title- Background

Background

Most Minnis and surname variations have their origin in England and then to Scotland and Ulster. Others may be anglicized versions of Irish surnames in Northern Ireland. Descendants have moved on to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and back to England and Scotland from Ulster. As well there are entries to the USA from Russia, Norway, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Germany and others; many have gone to those countries as soldiers or tradesman. It is highly unlikely that only one person took the name of Minnis and is the ancestor of all with that name. Many may have taken the name in allegiance to their feudal leader who was already using it when surnames became the custom some 800 years ago. They each would start a family line and would continue as long as males who descended from them produced a son. Y-DNA will not only show this ancestry but will point out others of the same surname, not part of it.