About us
The Percival Surname DNA Project has been created to assist genealogists and historians in exploring the history of Percival ancestors, by locating and documenting the pedigrees, as well as the matching DNA sequences, of those Percival ancestors. We will be looking at their family ties, as well as their deep ancestral roots.
Surname Origin: The exact origin of the name is uncertain; however, the most likely source is the Celtic "Peredur" from the Old Welsh meaning "warrior of the cauldron". This name was borne by a Welsh legendary hero of the Middle Ages and the cognate Old Welsh "Pair-cyfall" means "warrior of the Chalice".
Surname Definition: The name is fancifully taken from the French elements "percer", to pierce or breach, plus "val", a valley, hence "pierce the valley", a nickname presumably given to a keen poacher or soldier remembered for his breach of a fortification.
If you wish to join the Percival Surname DNA Project, you may both join the project, and order your test kit, by using the “Join This Group” link at the left-hand side of this page.
The Percival Surname DNA Project is a dual DNA project, meaning that we have provisions for both the:
Y-DNA testing (paternal line)
mtDNA testing (maternal line)
Direct male line descendants should purchase a Y-DNA test kit (used to test only males).
Direct female line descendants should purchase an mtDNA test kit (used to test both males and females)
Autosomal testing is used to find relatives on any of your ancestral lines within the last 5 generations.
For the purposes of the DNA project we are using the Y-DNA test, which tells you about your direct male line, that is, your father, your father's father, your father's father's father, and so on back in time. To participate in the test you should therefore be a male with the Percival surname. If you believe there is a Percival or variant in your direct male line, although you have a different surname, you are also welcome to participate. If you are female, you will need to ask your brother, father, uncle, cousin or other male relative to take a test on your behalf. We are using the 37-marker test which is usually sufficient to confirm matches within a genealogical time frame. If you have already taken a Y-DNA12 or a Y-DNA25 test we recommend that you upgrade to the Y-DNA37.
The DNA tests used for genetic genealogy contain no personal information,and the tests are quite different from those used by forensic scientists in criminal investigations and by doctors to identify paternity. Furthermore, the test itself cannot identify a unique individual as close male members of the same family (brothers, uncles, cousins) will in all probability have identical results.
If you have already been tested at FTDNA, you may join the Percival Surname DNA Project at no additional expense. Just use the “Join” button on your Personal Pages at FTDNA. We are listed under the “P” in the “Surname Projects”.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, regarding the Percival Surname DNA Project, please feel free to contact the project’s group administrator.
Disclaimer
The Percival Surname DNA Project is an independent genealogical research study run by a volunteer project administrator. The group administrator receives no payment or incentives from Family Tree DNA or from any other organization or institution. There is no guarantee that every participant will match anyone in the DNA project or in the wider Family Tree DNA database.
The Percival Surname DNA Project is an independent genealogical research study run by a volunteer project administrator. The group administrator receives no payment or incentives from Family Tree DNA or from any other organization or institution. There is no guarantee that every participant will match anyone in the DNA project or in the wider Family Tree DNA database.