About us
Welcome to the Parry DNA Project, which has been established to make use of the discoveries in the developing field of genetic genealogy to assist us with the research of this surname and its variants.
The surname is thought to originate in Wales, when the patronym ap Harri, meaning son of Harry, was taken up by families as a permanent surname and the ap attached itself to the name to become Parry. This process happened over a period of time, largely between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. With such an origin, it is clear there will be many separate family lines carrying the surname, all with different geographical origins. For reasons as yet unknown, there are concentrations of the surname across North Wales, and in the Welsh / English border area where Monmouthshire and Breconshire in Wales adjoin Herefordshire in England. The distribution of the surname is further complicated by the movement of people from their native Wales as, for some families, the name evolved into variant spellings such as Parrey, or Perry - surnames which might also have other origins.
The DNA Project is a worldwide project, which is being run in conjunction with the Parry one-name study, since the combination of the results from genetic genealogy with those of traditional family history research should prove more effective than either method alone. The significant research and information about the surname and associated family trees can be found at: http://www.parryone-namestudy.org.uk/
The most useful test for this surname study is the Y-DNA test. The Y-DNA test tells you about your direct male line, which would be your father, his father, and so on back in time, following the pattern of surname descent. You must be male to take this test, and you should have one of the surnames shown. However, if you believe there is a Parry or variant in your direct male line, even though you now have a different surname, you are also welcome to participate. If you are female, please find a male in your family to take the test.
We encourage males who order a Y DNA test to order 37 markers, if possible. If you order fewer markers, you can upgrade later, although this costs a little more.
Now that autosomal tests are available, it is possible to discover connections to descendants of all of your ancestors from approximately five generations back (great, great grandparents). Whilst not as useful for the project as the Y-DNA test, because of the random nature of the passage of DNA, this test does enable both females, and males whose relevant ancestor is not in their direct male line, to take part in the project. Family Finder testees with a relevant surname in their more recent ancestry are therefore welcome to join the project.
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. You would order a mtDNA test. For matches in a genealogical time frame, order the mtDNA Plus test.
The surname is thought to originate in Wales, when the patronym ap Harri, meaning son of Harry, was taken up by families as a permanent surname and the ap attached itself to the name to become Parry. This process happened over a period of time, largely between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. With such an origin, it is clear there will be many separate family lines carrying the surname, all with different geographical origins. For reasons as yet unknown, there are concentrations of the surname across North Wales, and in the Welsh / English border area where Monmouthshire and Breconshire in Wales adjoin Herefordshire in England. The distribution of the surname is further complicated by the movement of people from their native Wales as, for some families, the name evolved into variant spellings such as Parrey, or Perry - surnames which might also have other origins.
The DNA Project is a worldwide project, which is being run in conjunction with the Parry one-name study, since the combination of the results from genetic genealogy with those of traditional family history research should prove more effective than either method alone. The significant research and information about the surname and associated family trees can be found at: http://www.parryone-namestudy.org.uk/
The most useful test for this surname study is the Y-DNA test. The Y-DNA test tells you about your direct male line, which would be your father, his father, and so on back in time, following the pattern of surname descent. You must be male to take this test, and you should have one of the surnames shown. However, if you believe there is a Parry or variant in your direct male line, even though you now have a different surname, you are also welcome to participate. If you are female, please find a male in your family to take the test.
We encourage males who order a Y DNA test to order 37 markers, if possible. If you order fewer markers, you can upgrade later, although this costs a little more.
Now that autosomal tests are available, it is possible to discover connections to descendants of all of your ancestors from approximately five generations back (great, great grandparents). Whilst not as useful for the project as the Y-DNA test, because of the random nature of the passage of DNA, this test does enable both females, and males whose relevant ancestor is not in their direct male line, to take part in the project. Family Finder testees with a relevant surname in their more recent ancestry are therefore welcome to join the project.
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. You would order a mtDNA test. For matches in a genealogical time frame, order the mtDNA Plus test.