At this time, the Project includes Pettys (and related names) who represent three of the most ancient genetic categories: E, I, and R (plus one member with the major haplogroup 'G') - meaning that the members of these different groups are extremely distantly related. In the Genetic Reports/Y-DNA Results charts, members of the Petty Project are grouped first by major (ancient) haplogoup, then within major haplogroups, by haplotypes (the genetic designation provided by FTDNA's low-level tests (Y-12 through Y-111). With sufficient numbers of Big Y testers, the results from this high-level test are able to refine the connections between those in each of the haplotype groups, allowing the possibility of specific relationships to be confirmed.

The 'E' category currently (Feb 2023) has seven representatives, the 'I' category has 38, and the 'R' category has 15. All but one of the members of the E category belong to the E-M35 haplotype - the one other being in the E-M78 haplotype. This category has no Big Y testers as yet. Almost three dozen of the members of the largest category (I) belong to the haplotype I-M253, with over two dozen of these having taken the Big Y test. Thanks to these Big Y testers, the I-M253 haplotype group is now revealing its genetic sub-structure, with three subclades of the I-Y24458 haplogroup being represented. The Petty line itself is mostly associated with the I-BY34474 subclade of I-Y24458, and represents an apparent New World clan of Pettys; multiple subclades of BY34474, as well as subclades of those haplogroups, have also been identified. The R category has 15 members, all but one of whom belong to the R-M269 haplotype. (The other haplotype represented is R-P25.) Seven of the R-M269 members have taken the Big Y test, with at least four of these being relatively closely related, and part of another apparent New World clan of Pettys. .

We look forward eagerly to having more Petty (and related names) descendants join us in this Project, and, if not already having done so, taking or upgrading to the Big Y test, as it is these results that will provide the genetic information that can lead to the discovery and confirmation of the greatest detail about the interconnections of those within each of the Project's haplotype groups.

Please send your request to join, including the information listed below, to rlpetty@mac.com. (Items of high sensitivity due to privacy concerns may be excluded.) Upon joining, please consider also making your Family Finder data available to this Project, or transferring autosomal results from another provider (Ancestry.com, 23 and Me, etc.) via a GEDCOM file.

1. Your full name, plus birth year and location.

2. Your earliest known paper-documented Patty ancestor, incl. full name and birth/death years and locations (if known).

3. A listing of your own known, presumed, or strongly suspected direct male lineage, including names and birth/death years and locations, from your earliest (known) Patty ancestor to yourself.