The REYNOLDS DNA-GENEALOGY PROJECT is an ongoing project and is open to men and women with an interest in the REYNOLDS surname and its various spellings. Our first and most important objective is to identify and to link the numerous REYNOLDS families. Our second goal is to prove or disprove the various theories that abound regarding REYNOLDS family relationships. Current participants’ DNA results and pedigrees can be viewed here at this website.

Surname projects trace members of a family that share a common surname. Since surnames are passed from father to son each generation, like the Y-chromosome, the yDNA test is for males with the surname REYNOLDS. Females do not carry their father's yDNA and acquire a new surname by way of marriage, so the tested individual for the yDNA test must be a male who wants to check his direct paternal line with a yDNA 25, or a yDNA 36, or yDNA 67 marker test. A single test allows you to (1) verify if two males are related, (2) your suggested geographic origins, (3) if you are of Native American ancestry and (4) your deep ancestral origins.

Females who would like to check their direct paternal line may have a male REYNOLDS relative order a yDNA test. Females may also order an mtDNA test for themselves, such as the mtDNA or the mtDNA-Plus test and participate in our mtDNA project.

Both males and females may do the mtDNA test, since both inherit mtDNA from their mothers, though only females pass their mtDNA to the next generation. A single mtDNA test allows you to (1) verify if two females are related, (2) your suggested geographic origins, (3) if you are of Native American ancestry, and (4) your deep ancestral origins.

If you are not sure any of the categories apply to you, or you would like additional information, please contact: Reynolds DNA Team