The Hairston DNA Project has been organized for all who wish to work together to find their common heritage through DNA testing and sharing of information. The project is open to every male with any variant of the surname Hairston. Y-DNA tests are currently available for 12, 25, 37, 67, 111, or Big Y-700 markers. As a minimum we recommend the Y-37 test, as it traces the paternal ancestry of males for genealogical purposes. For a complete description of the various tests, please refer to the Family Tree DNA Learning Center https://learn.familytreedna.com/test-types/y-chromosome-dna-y-dna-str-test-will-learn/. A Y-DNA test looks at male inherited Y-Chromosome DNA. As the Y-Chromosome is passed on from a father to his sons, it is only found in males. Y-DNA testing can then be used to trace clearly a direct paternal line. A direct paternal line would be your father, your father’s father, your father’s-father’s father, and so back in time. You must be a male to take this test and you should have one of the surnames included below. If you believe there is a Hairston (or another variant) in your direct male line, although you have a different surname, you are welcome to participate. If you are female, please find a male in your family tree to participate. If you have taken a mtDNA test or Family Finder test and Hairston (or another variant) is anywhere in your direct pedigree line, you are also welcomed to participate. Surname Variations: Hairston (America), Hairstaines (Scotland), Hairstains (Scotland), Hairstanes (Scotland), Hairstone (Ireland, Scotland, America), Harestones (Ireland and Scotland), Harestanes (Scotland), Hareston, Harestone, Hariston, Harston, Harstone (America), Hastings (America and Scotland). There are many spelling variations not listed. Our thanks to Robert Ervin Hairston Jr. for his website hairston.org.