Cousins DNA Project
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"Why DNA Testing For Genealogy"
WHY DNA testing for genealogy? Why not just look up the records and be done with it? The reasons I decided to take the plunge and forge ahead with DNA testing were many. First, I am trying to relate all Cousins and variant-spelled clans from around the world. After working in genealogy for over 10 year, it was clear to me that we might have to test our DNA in order to relate all of the clans together. Let's face it -- the paper trail runs cold or is nonexistent before a certain date in time.
My family Cousins lore says that the name Cousins was derived from the Old French ' Le cosin i.e. relation or kinsman. I wanted to know more just where my ancestors with the name of Cousins and variants came from. Are we all really related to the Mari - Saami - Udmurt ethnic groups, which are found in North Eastern Europe over 1,000 years ago. Who knows join the project and lets find out together. Would it not be amazing that in the future, after many people from around the world have had their DNA tested we could link together and discover the true roots of the Cousins family.
My Cousins families have said to be in County Wexford Ireland since the eleventh century. The earliest reference is to Henry Cosin under the years 1282-1283 in Hore's History of Old Ross. In 1312 Patrick Cosyn was Vicar of Bannow. I contacted DNA testing labs that do y-chromosome testing of males for genealogical purposes, I used http://www.familytreedna.com/
DNA analysis is an exciting new, high-tech method of determining genetic links between distantly related individuals and their ancestors. When I first heard about this new technique for doing genealogy, I immediately realized how valuable it could be in solving our Cousins lineage problems. It has the potential of showing direct genetic relationships between all the Cousins and related surnames worldwide.
The test is done on the male “Y” chromosome. The Y chromosome is passed from father to son unchanged, except for a mutation about every 500 generations in any one marker. That means a probable mutation in every 20 generations with 25 markers. Testing the Y chromosome will provide you with a genetic fingerprint consisting of 12, 25 or 37 numbers. By comparing this fingerprint to others with your surname, you can determine if you are related, and statistically how closely you are related. The objectives of any Surname Project can vary but in general the projects are used to:
Identify others who are related
Prove or disprove theories regarding ancestors
Solve brick walls in your research
Determine a location for further research.
Validate existing research
For this Cousins surname project, our objectives are:
Establish the relationship between the various Cousins related surnames worldwide.
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I have established a surname project at the Family Tree DNA site called "COUSINS DNA Project”, with me (Peter Cousins) as administrator. E-mail me at the of to sign up for this project and have your DNA tested by going to and look for Cousins in the name projects
NOTE:
1. Test is for "MALE ONLY". Females should get male family member to take test.
2. Test is for direct "Cousins & variant Surnames" only.
3. We ask that individual being tested assume the cost of test.
4. Test cannot reveal any medical information, genetic defects, etc. It only shows probable genetic relationships to other individuals who have taken the test.
The "Cousins " DNA project is for all surnames similar to Cousins. When you decide to become a part of this project, I will send you an invitation by e-mail from the Family Tree DNA website. You can use the link provided to order your kit at the special price for surname groups. Results will be posted on this website. It will take up to two months before results are received from any individual test. Although test results are published, participants names are not revealed. Furthermore, participants can choose to have their name and e-mail address listed on the laboratory's website when they have matches with others in the database, but that also requires specific permission.
The first thing you must do is to decide whether you test 12 marker, 25 marker or 37 marker test. 12 markers are sufficient to determine, within a wide range, whether or not two people are related. However, we recommend a minimum of 25 markers for our project because we only begin to see significant variations in the main Cousins related lineage at the 25 & 37-marker level.
When participants match in the 12 or 25 marker test, the test can be upgraded to 37 markers for a small additional fee. The objective of the upgrade to the 37-marker test is to reduce the time frame of the common ancestor between the matching participants. The common ancestor is more accurately referred to as the Most Recent Common Ancestor, or MRCA. Typically, participants are very interested in upgrading their 12-marker test to 25 or 37 markers when a match occurs. Two individuals are considered related for the 12 marker test if they match 12/12, 11/12, and sometimes with 10/12, but only at a very broad range of generations. In the first two situations at least, an upgrade to the 25 or 37 marker test is recommended.
Join "The Cousins DNA Project"
Contact me Peter Cousins
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