We encourage participation in this project from everyone with ancestors who lived in the original Orangeburgh District in South Carolina. The area includes the modern counties of Orangeburg, Lexington, Calhoun, Barnwell, Bamberg and parts of Aiken and Allendale. The old Orangeburgh District first experienced significant European settlement in the mid-1730's with the establishment of a series of inland townships. Settlers included substantial numbers of Swiss and later German immigrants as well as traders and other settlers from existing coastal towns in South Carolina and other English colonies to the north. This DNA group is a project of the Orangeburgh Genealogical Society (Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society), created to assist both OGS members and others in exploring their roots in this area.

The study incorporates the full range of DNA tests available through Family Tree DNA. Male line (yDNA), female line (mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA), and autosomal (Family Finder) studies are included. Family Tree DNA tutorials and other website information are helpful in understanding these tests.

This study has already confirmed and added substantially to our knowledge of Orangeburgh District families. As more people participate we expect to continue learning additional information. Possible outcomes include answering questions about unidentified female lines, adoptions, and related family groups. Participation in surname studies can be complemented by participation in this study.

The Orangeburgh Genealogical Society website at www.ogsgs.org reports yDNA (male lineage) and mtDNA (maternal lineage) haplogroup results and earliest known ancestor by surname and kit number. The Family Finder aspect of this project shows pedigree information to assist in reconstructing the relationships between project participants without disclosing recent generations that would permit identification of specific test subjects. 

For more information on this project, visit: http://www.ogsgs.org/dna/