The Cantrell Project is a surname study that includes all variations of Cantrell, Cantrall, Cantrill, and related spellings. The primary goal is to better understand individual family groups by identifying Y-DNA haplotree branches of Cantrell lineages, including related surnames and non-paternal events.

Getting Started: Where to Begin

If you’re new to this site, here are some suggestions to help you get started. Using the navigation menu on the left, explore the following sections:

• DNA Results → Group Time Tree (Y-DNA)
• DNA Results → Y-DNA Results Overview

Help Interpreting Results

Visit the Cantrell DNA Group Project on WikiTree.

To date, eight Cantrell Y-DNA Family Groups (Y-FG) have been identified, each patrilineally unrelated to the others. Additional lines may be identified as more Cantrell men take Y-DNA tests.

Y-DNA within genealogical timeframes refers to recent paternal ancestry, usually within the surname era (roughly the past several hundred years). Although surnames began in many regions during the 14th–16th centuries, it is difficult to establish a continuous and reliable paper trail that far back. The chart below illustrates distinct Y-DNA groups that are not related within genealogical timeframes.

On the Y-DNA Results Overview FTDNA page, EKAs are self-reported by individuals. Men from unrelated Y-DNA lines may therefore appear to share the same reported earliest known ancestor (EKA), which can sometimes lead to confusion.

For an explanation of the Y-DNA findings from the perspective of the project administrators and co-administrators, please see the Cantrell DNA Group Project on WikiTree.

Which Y-DNA Test Should I Take?

The Big Y-700 test provides full STR coverage and high-resolution SNP analysis, producing a detailed haplogroup assignment. These SNPs help identify where and when a surname line branched in the Y-DNA tree. Big Y-700 results can also estimate the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) between matches.

We encourage participants to take the Big Y-700 test to help determine their placement on the haplotree. However, standard STR tests are also useful to both individuals and the project. The Y-111 provides mid-level STR coverage, while the Y-37 provides basic STR coverage. All STR tests provide a predicted haplogroup, though often not within genealogical (surname-era) timeframes.

Regardless of which test you choose, you will be well on your way to advancing your genealogical research.

Already Have a Y-DNA Test?

Consider an upgrade. If you previously tested with FamilyTreeDNA, you may be able to upgrade using your existing sample to obtain higher-resolution results. For more information, contact a project administrator.

Thank you for participating in the Cantrell DNA Project!