Have you ever wondered about the origins of your surname—Schotter, Shetter, Shutter, or other spelling variations? The Shetter/Schotter Surname Project at Family Tree DNA is working with a group of families to explore possible genetic connections to our early German immigrant ancestors. Many of our known family lines trace back to Schotter-named individuals who immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania and Maryland in the 1700s. 

Through immigration records, we’ve identified two families of special interest:

• Johannes Schotter, who immigrated from Germany to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 26 September 1737

• Valentine Schotter, who arrived in Pennsylvania on 7 October 1743 aboard the St. Andrew with his family—wife Anna M. Klemmer; children Joh. Jacob, Andreas, Anna Barbara, Joh. Hennrich (22), Maria Magdalena, Catharina, and Anna Rosina 

Our Schotter, Shetter, and Shutter families later lived in York County, PA; Lancaster County, PA; and Frederick County, MD beginning in the mid-1700s. 

Our challenge—and our goal—is to determine whether all of these Schotter-connected families descend from the same German immigrant lines. The key to solving this mystery is Y-DNA. Y-DNA testing can provide valuable insights into our paternal line, revealing genetic connections that can help us trace our ancestry far back in time. It works by analyzing the Y-chromosome, which is passed down from father to son, and remains largely unchanged over generations. 

This is where you play an important role. The Y-DNA you carry today may very likely be the same Y-DNA that Johannes or Valentine Schotter carried when they arrived in Philadelphia. By comparing your Y-DNA with other males in the project, we can learn whether your family may descend from Johannes, Valentine, or another related Schotter line. 

In short, your participation could be the key to finally understanding how all of our Schotter families are connected. 

If you’re interested, we would be more than happy to provide additional details about the process and help you get started. Funding is available for Y-DNA testing. Please let us know if you have any questions or if you’d like more information. We look forward to hearing from you and hopefully collaborating on this journey into our family’s past!