Bob wrote: "If there are male direct line descendants, you can have a yDNA test done and possibly discover matches with the European ancestors." Yes, it's possible. Genetic genealogy can provide significant clues for focusing documentary genealogy research. It may take a while though and probably requires learning a different approach to genealogy. The Y-DNA test tracks only the direct paternal/filial line of descent, as the Y chromosome is passed down only from fathers to sons. Its advantage (and sometimes its curse) is that Y-DNA takes a very long view. I'm the admin for a different surname project (one of British Isles origin), and would like to offer a couple of pieces of advice if Jacquie decides to go this route. First, by-pass the cheaper 12-marker test in favor of at least 37 markers. (67 is better and a 111 marker test is now available.) The 12-marker test produces too many "false positives" and little way to prioritize them for follow-up; it's false economy. Next, be aware that few Europeans have participated in DNA testing (especially for genealogy) at the present time. It's been slow to catch on in Europe. This fact, essentially, limits the opportunities for matches to descendants of immigrants to America. And, the immigrants were a small sub-set of the total population. Jacquie won't have a problem with this next item: Be alert to the possibility of an "NPE" (non-parental event) in which the child's surname is not that of the biological father's. While we normally assume that surnames always follow the Y chromosome, my rough investigation shows it's only about 60% true. NPEs seem to occur in about 3% of births and they're cumulative through the generations. Finally, be patient. If one does not have matches initially, more people are getting tested every day and each one has the possibility of providing you a match. -rt_/)