A separate question: If you have someone submit results from an
illegitimate line, can the DNA help identify the true ancestral
surname?
Unless the DNA profile is very unusual, it's unlikely that DNA alone
will identify the most likely biological surname. However, armed
with the information that a person doesn't match the expected
surname, then you can supplement this information with traditional
genealogy to try to narrow the search.
For instance, if you can figure out from the DNA samples when the
"non-parental event" probably occurred, then start looking at the
neighbors of that family in census records and see if any of their
surnames match the DNA, or look for other clues to help you figure it
out.
We have one case in the Holder project where the DNA donor didn't
match the local Holder family of his ancestor's family at all, but is
a good match for a relatively unusual name in the same community. We
also have a donor whose name isn't Holder but who had evidence of an
adoption in the late 1800s. The DNA confirmed he is biologically a
Holder.
Can comparisons be done between surname projects?
Family Tree DNA gives you an option to see the best matches to your
sample regardless of surname, or restrict the matches to the same
surname. There's a database called Y-SEARCH where you can enter your
data and then compare it to anyone else who's also entered his,
regardless of surname. Family Tree DNA lets you upload your data
with just a mouse click.
You can also join more than one surname project if you need to.
--
Elizabeth Harris
ncgen(a)mindspring.com
Personal genealogy webpage:
http://www.duke.edu/web/chlamy
Winston-Salem NC area genealogy:
http://www.fmoran.com/
HOLDER DNA project:
http://www.mindspring.com/~holderdna/