Olmste(a)d DNA Surname Project

The Olmstead/Olmsted/Omsted surname Study group began in April 2003, in anticipation of the August 2003 Olmste(a)d Family Association Reunion in Fredericton, New Brunswick, as part of the Family Tree DNA worldwide study. The initial goal of the project was to determine if the Jabez Olmsted (c1690, Ware, MA) line is related to the Olmste(a)ds who arrived at Boston in 1632 aboard the Lyon. The project has been expanded to help all Olmste(a)ds determine their relationship to a specific line.

As of May 2009, there are 28 Olmste(a)d members in the project, representing five separate groups as defined by their unique 12 marker strings. Participants are being encouraged to step up their tests to the 37 marker level to further define family relationships. Of the 28 currently in the study, seven have tested to the 37 market level and two to the 25 level. Occasionally FTDNA offers special pricing for stepping up to a higher level; participants receive email notifications directly from FTDNA.

Currently, there are 9 members of the 1632 James & Richard lines.

One of the surprises from the DNA project is that two Jabez groups have emerged, one with 5 members and the other with 7. All 12 members all believed they were descendants of Jabez of Ware. The explanation maybe a "casual adoption" where a woman with young children marries an Olmsted who "adopts" the children and they loose the name that belongs to the biological father.

The Stephen Olmstead line of Pennsylvania has two members, both with known lineage. They are quite distant genetically from any of the New England Olmsteads (James, Richard, or Jabez lines); likewise the are apparently not related to any of the Umste(a)d lines from southern Pennsylvania.

There are five individuals who have joined the Olmste(a)d DNA group who do not fit into one of the above four groups and they do not match each other. One may be of Scandinavian extraction receiving the Olmste(a)d name on a "sounds like" basis upon entry into the US.

The administrator of the Olmste(a)d DNA Surname Project is Barbara Taylor. You can contact her at ofapres@aol.com.

To learn more about the worldwide DNA surname project by Family Tree DNA of Houston, TX, check out their site where you can access more than 5100 surname projects correlating the results of over 211,000 samples submitted, representing over 85,000 specific surname, since its inception in 2000. In the past eight years DNA testing for genealogical purposes has grown from "almost unknown" to today when it is a fast growing, widely accepted tool for genealogists. Family Tree DNA is a very reputable firm with staff scientists and strong academic links. They have the largest comparative database which allows privacy protection for participants but allowing them to elect to share their email address with others that have a close degree of matching for 12, 25, 37, or 52 marker tests.

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