FAQ
Q: Can I join the project before I have any test results?
A: Yes. You can purchase a test and at the same time join our project. If you are not signed in to a kit the "Join" button on this page will take you to the order page.
Q: I tested on AncestryDNA (or MyHeritage or 23andMe); I hear I can transfer my DNA data file here for free, and get a Family Finder match list for free. Is that true?
A: Yes! First step is to download your DNA data file from the other vendor to your computer. Then, on the FamilyTreeDNA home page (https://www.familytreedna.com/) in the header select Upload DNA Data. If you already have a kit on FamilyTreeDNA and you want your Family Finder match list in your kit with your other test or tests so you can use the Advanced Matches tool, first sign in to your kit, then select Upload DNA Data. If you're not sure what you want, email any Arnold project admin for advice.
Q: Should I put my autosomal DNA test on the same kit with my Y-DNA test, or on a separate kit?
A: Generally we recommend putting all one person's DNA tests (Y-DNA, mtDNA, autosomal aka Family Finder) together on one kit. However, if you have tested autosomal DNA with more than one vendor, or you tested autosomal DNA many years ago, you have a tactical decision to make. Consult any member of the project admin team for advice.
Q: If I have siblings or first cousins in my Arnold line and they have tested on AncestryDNA (MyHeritage, 23andMe), is there merit to transferring their data to FamilyTreeDNA and the Arnold project? Would that info just be redundant to data on my own kit? Could their data help fill in gaps to get to my brick wall answer?
A: Yes, there is a lot of merit. No, it probably would not be redundant. Yes, it could fill in key gaps. Because these other vendor DNA tests are autosomal, your siblings and cousins almost certainly have Arnold line chromosome segments that you do not have. Almost certainly, they also have informative matches you do not have. Please invite them all to come on over!
Q: What are these codes in the subgroup headers: 9HB2-Z3M, G98X-6KS, KN8L-T42, L2YJ-WQF, LB7P-91K, LZ4V-8YR, etc?
A: These are ancestor profile IDs (PIDs) from the public FamilySearch Family Tree (FSFT). Like FamilyTreeDNA, FSFT is a collaborative one-tree concept. FSFT is vast and there is no cost to use it!
Q: If I know the PID of my patrilineal earliest known ancestor (EKA), can I add it to my paternal ancestor name on my kit?
A: Yes, please do!
Q: What does a surname project do, exactly?
A: We share and compare our DNA test results and our public trees to find where we all connect. FamilyTreeDNA project members cannot see any more information than we can see from our own kit, but our admin team can see all project members' match lists and while still keeping all private information strictly private can serve as go-betweens. As of 2025 we have over 500 DNA-tested members and we've found over 70 separate Arnold lineages. Y-DNA testing really helps to focus our historical records research. Knowing which subgroup our family fits in tells us where we need to research and also where we do not need to research.
Q: I have another question . . . ?
A: Feel free to post on our project Activity Feed or email any member of our admin team. Our admin team email addresses are on the left of this page, under the envelope icons by our names.