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17
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Description
The Whillans DNA Project welcomes all participants (particularly if you have a Whillans homonym such as Wealleans, Wheelands, Whellens, Whillance, Whillans, Whillins, Whillas, Willans).
These surnames derive from the Borders region of Scotland & England. Whillans comes from Roxburghshire, Whillas comes from Berwickshire just to its north-east, Wealleans comes from just over the Borders in Northumberland, and Willans from Yorkshire.
Our project commenced in 2007, and its purpose has been to prove &/or disprove the suspected link between these surnames.
Participating is an opportunity to uncover information not provided in the paper records, which will help with your family history research. As two examples, we have shown that one line of Wealleans in Northumberland is derived from Whillans of Roxburghshire (thankfully supported by one monumental inscription), and Whellens is likewise derived from Whillans of Roxburghshire (though relevant paperwork is currently unlocated).
The surnames in this DNA Project are researched as part of the Whillans One-Name Study; information on this Study can be found at [http://www.www.one-name.org/profiles/whillans.htmls |Whillans One-Name Study]
The Y-DNA test tells you about your direct male line, which would be your father, his father, and back in time. If you are male and you have a surname which sounds like Whillans (eg Wealleans, Whillins, etc), you are very welcome to participate. If you are female, please find a male on your family line to participate.
We strongly encourage an order of a Y-DNA test for 37 markers, if possible. If you order less markers, you can upgrade later, though this costs a little more.
Postscript 1: As far as we know at this stage, none of the above surnames are related to Williams (a common mis-spelling of our surname), Willing [http://www.familytreedna.com/groups/willing/about/background |Willing] nor Whalen [http://www.familytreedna.com/public/whalen |Whalen].
Postscript 2: Both males and females may also be interested in learning about their direct female line, which would be their mother, their mother's mother, and back in time. However, results from this would have no value for the Whillans One-Name Study. If you proceeed with this, you could also order a mtDNA test, or if you want a genealogical time frame as well, the mtDNA Plus test.
Requirements
A Surname Project traces members of a family that share a common surname. They are of the most interest in cultures where surnames are passed on from father to son like the Y-Chromosome. This project is for males taking a Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test. Thus, the individual who tests must be a male who wants to check his direct paternal line (father's father's father's...) with a Y-DNA12, Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111 test and who has one of the surnames listed for the project. Females do not carry their father's Y-DNA. Females who would like to check their father's direct paternal line can have a male relative with his surname order a Y-DNA test. Females can also order an mtDNA test for themselves such as the mtDNAPlus test or the mtFullSequence test and participate in an mtDNA project. Both men and women may take our autosomal Family Finder test to discover recent relationships across all family lines.
Surnames In This Project
Wealands, Wealleans, Wheelands, Whellens, Whillance, Whillans, Whillas, Whillins, Willans