Durrenberger DNA Project


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?

Family Tree DNAWith the remarkable advances in DNA testing we may begin to answer this question. A Durrenberger Surname Project has been set up at FamilyTreeDNA . 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. 

  • The Y-DNA12 (12 Marker Test) is priced at $99 for project participants.  
  • The Y-DNA37+mtDNA (37 Marker Test) is $119 for project participants. 
  • The more complete Y-DNA67 (67 Marker Test) is $248 for project participants.
Click to order your test kit or to view current pricing and options
Order Test Kit

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 2-3 generations, and a 90% probability that the MRCA was within the last 5 generations. 

Probability for Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA)

Number of matching markers

50% probability
that the Most Recent Common Ancestor was no longer than this number of generations

90% probability
that the Most Recent Common Ancestor was no longer than this number of generations

95% probability
that the Most Recent Common Ancestor was no longer than this number of generations

12 of 1272329
36 of 374810
37 of 372 to 357
66 of 67489
67 of 67246