Genetic Genealogy
Finnell (Fennell) Surname DNA Project
The FINNELL DNA Surname Project in conjunction with the extensive genealogical research resources made available via the Arthur Louis Finnell publications and the Robert B. Noles database will help determine (and prove) which of the many FINNELL families in the U.S. and Great Britain are descendants of a common Great Britain (or other world location) FINNELL ancestor.
Surname genetic testing is the newest tool available to genealogists. The genetic
genealogy tests verify a man’s direct paternal ancestry in a quick and easy way. These tests save time, prevent mistakes and provide invaluable data for genealogists that can not be otherwise obtained.
The FINNELL Surname DNA Project is open to all persons with the FINNELL surname (all spellings) world-wide. This project is also open to anyone who believes they are (or could be) a direct male descendant of one of the FINNELL families, even if their surname is not FINNELL. This project is primarily a Y-Chromosome study (direct paternal line); however, those (men or women) interested the in mitochondrial DNA testing (direct maternal line) may join this project as well.
Membership in the Knowles/Knoles/Noles Family Association
is not required to join the FINNELL Surname DNA Project.Many surnames were changed during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries due to adoptions, out-of-wedlock births, family disagreements, etc. Under these circumstances, the Y-DNA for many descendants may not match other descendants with the same surname. Therefore, this project will assist FINNELL researchers on common or related families to work together to find their correct common ancestors, when that hasn’t been possible via the examination of the traditional paperwork trail.
You are hereby cordially invited to participate in this historic project. FINNELL family members requesting participation are requested to supply Robert B. Noles with their known genealogy.
Robert B. Noles, Finnell Surname DNA Project Group Administrator
SURNAME ORIGINS *
FENNELL (3,855) - 1. English: metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of fennel. Fennel was widely used in the Middle Ages as an herb for seasoning. This surname may also have been a topographical name for someone who lived near a place where the herb grew or was grown. 2. English: Identified as a derivative of Fitz Neal 'son of Neal', example: Fennells Wood, a place name recorded in 1391 as Fenelgrove and named for a Robert FitzNeel (1283). 3. Irish: Reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fionnghall 'descendant of Fionnghall', a person name composed of the elements fionn 'fair', 'white' + gal 'valor'.
* The origins for the surnames above are provided by: Dictionary of American Family Names, by Hanks. The DAFN surname entries are structured to provide the surname (with alternate spellings), a comparative frequency of the surname in the U.S., the source language and origin of the surname, original spelling, typology, etymology and, in some cases, an identification of forebears.
SPELLING or NAME VARIATIONS
Fennell, Finnell
SOUNDEX CODES
Fennell & Finnell (F - nl) = F - 540
F - 540 also codes for Finlay and Finley
GENEALOGICAL REFERENCES
LDS - International Genealogical Index
by Arthur Louis Finnell
FINNELL PROGENITORS
GENETIC TESTING RESULTS
WATCH THIS SPACE for FURTHER DETAILS
& the POSTING of RESULTS
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