Question: Do the various Durrenberger family lines, and variants of that surname, share a common ancestor?

This question can be answered through your active participation in the Durrenberger Surname DNA Project. We may be able to determine whether the various Durrenberger family lines are related and descend from a common ancestor. 

The Durrenberger surname is found in various parts of Europe, the United States, Canada and other parts of the world. Did migration patterns result in the dispersion of the family or are they separate and distinct family lines?

With the remarkable advances in DNA testing we may begin to answer this question. A Surname Project has been set up at FamilyTreeDNA for the Durrenberger Family. We are using Y-DNA testing which tests males only.  The Y chromosome is passed from father to son unchanged except for minor mutations for 500 generations.

With your permission, test results will be posted on this website and compared to others in the project. Your privacy will be maintained and only your kit number and family of descent will be disclosed, not your name, unless you give your permission. This would allow other family members to contact you to compare genealogy records and tie your family trees together. To learn more about the Privacy Statement of FamilyTreeDNA click the link at the left.

As a member of the Durrenbeger DNA Project you will receive special pricing for the DNA test kit and results. Normally the Y-DNA12 (12 Marker Test) is priced at $159 but for project participants it is $99.  The more complete Y-DNA25 (25 Marker Test) is normally $229 but for project participants it is $169. The more markers that are tested, the more precise the results will be as indicated by the explanation of the Most Recent Common Ancestor below.

Understanding the "Most Recent Common Ancestor" (MRCA)

If you submit a sample for testing and you find that you match exactly with another person, how many generations ago did you have a common ancestor?

Here are the times back to the Most Recent Common Ancestor when ALL the markers match. For example, with 37/37 (all 37 markers match), there is a 50% probability that the MRCA was no longer than 5 generations, and a 90% probability that the MRCA was within the last 16 generations. Compare these with 25 and 12 -- with 25 markers, there is a 50% probability that the MRCA was within the last 7 generations, while with 12 markers, there is a 50% probability that the MRCA was within the last 14.5 generations. 

Probability for Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA)

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