The Speidel Family DNA Project is a venture into the exciting and relatively new area of
Genetic Genealogy. Using a painless cheek swab, male Speidel family members
can help reconstruct the Speidel Family tree.
A 12 marker Y-Chromosome test is available through FamilyTreeDNA at a group rate of
only $99 per test kit (compared to $159 for non-group members). The 12 marker test will
allow us to determine, with a 90% probability, if a common male ancestor exists within
the last 48 generations. The 12 marker test can later be upgraded to a 25 or 37 marker
test to narrow the number of generations to a common ancestor down to a 50% probability
within 5 generation and 90% probability within 16 generations.
With results from only three members we have identified a link between two lines that
were not previously known to be related!
Members #2 and #3 show an exact 12 for 12 marker match
which points to a 91.41% chance that they share a common ancestor within the last 600 years.
This match is particularly interesting because one line is located in Germany while the other
line has been in the United States for at least 150 years.
View the results at:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/speidel/
If you are a male with the surname Speidel or one of the several variations, you can help by
joining the project, taking the test and sharing your information with the group.
If you are a female with the (maiden) surname Speidel or one of the several variations,
you can help by promoting the project to your father, a brother or a male cousin.
Why only males?
The DNA testing is performed on the Y-Chromosome and only males carry the Y-Chromosome.
The chromosome is passed from father to son only. A chart that might help explain this can be
found at:
http://www.ftdna.com/tc.html
The Primary Goal of this project is to link together branches of the family that cannot be
linked otherwise due to lack of documented records.
A Secondary Goal of this project is to determine the number of unique Speidel lines that exist.
Do all branches descend from a common Speidel ancestor or were there several founding fathers?
Where can you find more information?
How do you join the project?
Please
e-mail me and I will send you a link that allows you to order your kit
from FamilyTreeDNA at the group discount rate. Our project page
is:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/speidel/ If your surname is spelled differently
than those listed on the project page, please let me know and I will update the page.
