SIRMON FAMILY GENEALOGY S*rm*n Family DNA Project DNA Project Home Page

The purpose of the Sirmon Family DNA Project is to use the science of DNA to trace the different family lines back to their origin. At the present time, the results of the participants have led us us to identify two independent S*rm*n families in the southwest of England. One is in the Gloucestershire and Worcestershire area and is refered to as the Severn Valley family. The other is found Oxfordshire area and is refered to as the Thames Valley family. A third group consists of participants who have not been connected to these two family groups. Different lines of these families are found in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Europe, South Africa, and the United States. As most family researchers know, the modern day spelling may appear with a variety of different vowels. The spellings include: Serman, Sermon, Sirman, Sirmon, Surman, or Surmon. Any of these variations may end in an "s." Other lines with similar spellings that are possibly related are also invited to join the project.

If you are interested in the project, you should read the document DNA Information in the window at the left. This document will provide you with general information about the DNA project.

A Y-DNA Surname Project in essence traces male members of a family that share a common surname. Since females don't carry their father's Y-DNA they are not eligible for the S*rm*n DNA Project. In order to be relevant to the S*rm*n Project, the tested individual must be a S*rm*n male who wants to check his paternal line (father's father's father's...). The test to be ordered is either the Y-DNA25 or Y-DNA37. We recommend that you order the Y-DNA37 test. Females should look for a brother or cousin to be tested.

There are two administrators for the S*rm*n DNA Project. One will generally work with participants from the UK, Australia, South Africa, Europe, and other locations. The other will generally work with participants from the United States, Canada, and other locations. We are using two administrators to help facilitate the efficient operation of the Project. Either of the administrators may assist you in the ordering of your kit and with additional information. You may click on the link for either of the administrators on the left to request information for ordering your kit from FTDNA.

You will need to submit a short history of your earliest known paper-trail ancestor. You may click on DNA Participants in the window on the left and view the information provided by other participants. You may email your information to either of the project administrators. You may reach them through the links shown in the window at the left.

When your results are known, you will receive an email from FTDNA and you will be asked to 'upload' your results to YSearch. Instructions will be included in the email. If you should have questions, contact one of the project administrators. The YSearch data base will allow you to make comparisons with all the results of those who have added their results to the data base. This will include the results of many different surname participants as well as those participating in the S*rm*n DNA Project.

The Project results are presented as follows: First, the results for the Severn Valley Family are presented. Second, the results for the Thames Valley Family are presented. Finally, the results for Other Family Haplotypes who do not match either the Severn Valley or the Thames Valley Families are presented. Haplotypes are projected for the Severn Valley Family and the Thames Valley Family and mutations from this projected haplotype are indicated. Also, probability calculations are presented to assist with determining the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA). Be aware that should you be interested in the lineage for any participant whose results you are viewing, you may move directly to the lineage page by clicking on the participant's kit #. You will note this organization in the window at the left under DNA Results. As the Project has additional participants and additional family haplotypes are identified, those results will be added to the Project presentation.

The documents under Introduction shown in the window at the left may be helpful in the interpretation of your results when comparing to other participants in the S*rm*n DNA Project.

If you did not order the 37-Marker test, you may want to do so after comparing your results with other participants in the Project. The 12-Marker test gives a 95% probability that the MRCA was no longer than 29 generations when your results match 12/12 with the family haplotype. When upgrading to the 37-Marker test and having a 37/37 match with the family haplotype, there is a 95% probability that the MRCA was no longer than 7 generations. Twenty-nine generations is most likely before the use of surnames and is of little value in determining family lineage for genealogy purposes. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you select the 37-Marker test.

Projects participants have made contributions to help with the development of particular family lines. Funds are currently available to pay for the kit of anyone who descends from John (1588). You should check with one of the project administrators to see what funds are available.

The Project is accepting contributions to assist with encouraging participants to tested. For more information, click on Contributions in the window at the left.

You may use the link in the window at the left to visit the website of The S*rm*n Family History Society