FamilyTreeDNA · Lineage Research
Your patriot story has more chapters left to prove.
You’ve documented one patriot line. FamilyTreeDNA testing can help you find the next one by connecting you with relatives, clarifying family branches, and showing you where the records are worth following.
- Trusted by genealogists since 2000
- Home to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) Group Project
Where research stalls
One proven line is only the beginning
Common research obstacles
- Records that are missing or incomplete
- Repeated names across multiple families
- Families who moved without leaving a clear paper trail
- Multiple possible ancestors who fit the documented evidence
- Months spent on a line that may not connect
What DNA can do
How DNA supports your lineage research
DNA testing does not replace traditional records. Used alongside documentation, it can help you find the right trail before you invest time following the wrong one.
Find genetic relatives.
Identify cousins who may share family trees, surnames, records, or knowledge of branches missing from your own research.
Clarify surname lines.
Distinguish between men with the same or similar names, and determine whether a male relative is biologically connected to the line you are investigating.
Focus your efforts.
Avoid spending months on a branch that DNA evidence may help rule out before you commit to extensive records research.
Open new research paths.
Uncover family branches connected to possible patriot lines that your traditional research has not yet reached.
DNA cannot prove a DAR lineage on its own. Documented evidence is always required. DNA is a research tool—it helps you find the right trail, not walk it for you.
WHY FAMILYTREEDNA
Built for genealogists. Not just ethnicity estimates.
Choose your test
The right test for your research
Whether you are exploring matches across your family tree or testing a male-line relative for a specific surname, FamilyTreeDNA offers tools built for serious genealogy.
Family Finder
- Family Finder is our autosomal DNA test. It identifies genetic relatives across both your maternal and paternal lines, making it a strong starting point for DAR members who want to uncover new research clues across their broader family tree.
- Your matches may include cousins with family trees, surnames, records, or shared ancestral lines that point toward additional Patriot research.
Family Finder + Y-37
- Best starting point for most lineage researchers testing a male relative
- Y-37 follows the direct paternal line and provides surname-line insight
- Family Finder adds broader cousin matching across multiple family branches
- Helps determine whether the tester is biologically connected to the researched line
- Can uncover relatives with family trees, records, or family knowledge you may not have seen before
Y-37
- Y-37 follows the direct paternal line from father to son
- Especially useful for surname research
- Helps distinguish between men with the same or similar names
- Women can still use Y-DNA testing by ordering a kit for the right male-line relative
Advanced—Most complete option
Family Finder + Big Y-700
- Ideal for serious researchers with a strong documented pedigree
- Combines FamilyTreeDNA’s broadest autosomal matching with the deepest paternal-line analysis available
- Helps explore the direct paternal line in greater depth
- Can uncover additional family connections that may support future supplemental research
Big Y-700™
Advanced
- Big Y-700 is FamilyTreeDNA’s most advanced Y-DNA test
- Provides deeper paternal-line analysis
- Helps refine placement on the Y-DNA haplogroup tree
- Connects testers with more specific paternal-line matches
- Most useful for researchers with a strong documented pedigree testing a male-line descendant
Y-DNA explained
Why Y-DNA matters,
even if you do not carry it
A good Y-DNA match can be the clue that tells you exactly where to look next—and what not to waste time pursuing.
If you are researching your mother’s father’s father’s line, for example, you would look for a living male who descends through that same unbroken paternal line from the ancestor in question.
who to ask test
- Father
- Brother
- Paternal uncle
- Male cousin on the paternal side
- Any male who descends through an unbroken paternal line from the ancestor being researched
- The right tester depends entirely on which line you are investigating. A DNA coordinator or genetic genealogist can help you identify the best candidate if you are unsure.
Customer story
These [FamilyTreeDNA's] tests have provided a basis for validating oral histories, disproving some family myths, and fostering meaningful global connections with individuals who happen to be kin.
Already tested?
Tested elsewhere?
Transfer your results.
Pair for deeper research
Want to combine your transferred data with Y-DNA research?
Pair your autosomal results with a Y-37 or Big Y-700 test for a male-line relative.
After you test
Join the NSDAR Group Project at FamilyTreeDNA
What you can do in the project
- Connect with others researching Revolutionary-era family lines
- Compare DNA clues with traditional genealogy research
- Ask questions and learn from experienced project members
- Find potential collaborators for difficult branches or surname lines
- Use DNA matches as clues to guide your next records search
HOW IT WORKS TOGETHER
DNA supports your research.
Documentation proves your line.
DNA testing does not replace the documentation required for DAR applications or supplemental applications. Instead, it works alongside traditional records as a research tool—helping you identify promising lines, confirm or question biological connections, and focus your search before you invest time in the wrong branch.
The goal is not to replace the paper trail. The goal is to help you find the right one.
Frequently asked questions
Can DNA prove my DAR lineage?
No. DNA does not replace DAR’s documentation requirements. It can help guide your research and support traditional genealogy work, but documented evidence is always required for applications and supplemental lines.
I'm already a DAR member. Why should I test?
Many members continue researching supplemental lines after proving their first Patriot ancestor. DNA testing can help you uncover clues to additional family branches, connect with relatives, and identify new research paths that may lead to more documented Patriot lines.
Can women take a Y-DNA test?
Women do not carry Y-DNA, so they cannot take a Y-DNA test themselves. However, women can use Y-DNA testing in their research by asking the right male relative to test for the line being investigated.
What is the best test to start with?
For most DAR members, Family Finder is the easiest starting point — you can take it yourself and explore matches across many family lines. For male-line research, the Family Finder + Y-37 bundle is the recommended starting point. For advanced research with a well-documented pedigree, Big Y-700 goes further.
What if I already tested at another company?
If you tested with AncestryDNA, 23andMe, or MyHeritage, you may be able to transfer your autosomal DNA file to FamilyTreeDNA. This gives you access to additional matches and genealogy-focused tools without retesting.
Will DNA tell me which patriot ancestor I descend from?
Not on its own. DNA may help identify relatives, clarify family connections, and point you toward a possible line — but traditional genealogical research and documentation are still needed to confirm any new Patriot lineage.
Your next patriot discovery may begin with a DNA match.
Every proven line adds another chapter to your family’s place in American history. FamilyTreeDNA can help you uncover the cousins, clues, and connections that guide your next discovery.
Not sure where to start? Contact us.