Frank, There are two DNA tests presently being used for most genealogical studies. The Y-DNA test being used for surname projects can only show a direct male lineage - from a man to his father > his father > his father > his father, etc. The reason this is true is because the material being tested is passed via the sperm from a man to his son, never to a daughter. You cannot take this kind of test to show any Carroll lineage, since your mother was a Carroll. If you took the Y-DNA test it would point backward from YOUR father, not from your mother's father. The Y-DNA test is being used for the Carroll Surname Project. The mtDNA test is used to show a direct female lineage. This test points backward to mother > her mother > her mother > her mother, etc. Since the surname changes with every generation, this test is not used today in genealogy as often as the Y-DNA test. A mother passes this kind of material from the egg to both her daughter and her son. However, if you took the mtDNA test, it would point to your mother, her MOTHER, etc. Both of the above lineages would be broken if there had been an adoption or other non-paternal event in the family. For example, a person might have the CARROLL surname but have his DNA not match others on the family tree, because his grandfather Carroll was born to an unwed Carroll mother. The DNA is passed by sperm, not by a name. Some people prefer not to share information about such events. No information we find changes who ALL our ancestors together helped us to become. Frank, I hope this helps answer your question. Try to find descendants of your Grandfather Carroll's brother to do the test for your entire Carroll family. There are many places online where you can get further information regarding DNA testing. FamilyTreeDNA, an independent company, was the lab chosen for the CARROLL project as well as over 4,000 other surname projects. The records from their analysis are available only to the donor or to those he matches - if he signs a consent form. (I'm not affiliated with that company, nor was I involved in setting up the Carroll Surname Project.) They have many pages of information available at their website for learning more about DNA testing. Try some of these following sites and click all the links from those. Lura CARROLL Southard http://www.familytreedna.com/ http://www.familytreedna.com/dna101.html http://www.familytreedna.com/videoaudio.html http://www.familytreedna.com/kit.html Not related to FTDNA, Dr. Charles Kerchner and many others have spent much time and effort to help us understand the biology and science behind this new field of genealogy. You can link to some of Dr. Kerchner's material at http://www.kerchner.com/dna-information.htm Be sure to check the first two and keep the glossary available as you try to understand DNA testing. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chip Frey" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 8:38 AM Subject: Re: [CARROLL] Explore my CARROLL Line : My grandfather was John Carroll of Connecticut. He had two daughters. Which : test can I take to find out where I fit in? : : : Frank : >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> : -----Original Message----- : From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On : Behalf Of Lura : Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:52 PM : To: [email protected] : Subject: Re: [CARROLL] Explore my CARROLL Line : : James, : : Has any man in your family with the CARROLL surname sent a DNA sample : to the Carroll DNA Project? : : We have found so far that at least 6 men are probably related to one : of the ten Carroll families which were living in the same community in : Sampson County, NC in 1790. Three of the men matched perfectly 37/37 : markers tested. This seems almost miraculous considering there had : been no contact in those families in 200 years. : : If no one in your family has been tested, can you locate a man with a : direct male lineage with no adoptions or other "non-paternal" event : back to your John Carroll, born 1660 who would be willing to do the : test? He would have the CARROLL (or Carrell or whatever) spelling. : If so, Kevin Carroll, the project administrator, [email protected] : can help answer any questions you may have or you can order the test : kit at : https://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.aspx?code=F25174&special=True : In the drop-down menu at the bottom, choose the preferred Y-DNA67 or : the Y-DNA37. The 12 and 25 marker tests don't really provide enough : information. : : Since you have such a well outlined family history, it would be : helpful to have the DNA so others could compare to see if they might : be part of your family. Who knows? Our Sampson County, NC and your : York County, SC Carrolls might be long lost cousins. : : Lura CARROLL Southard : [email protected] : ><> ><> ><> ><> : : ----- Original Message ----- : From: <[email protected]> : To: <[email protected]> : Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 7:33 PM : Subject: [CARROLL] Explore my CARROLL Line : : :: My CARROLL Line begins in Scotland: read on at... :: :: _http://members.aol.com/bgandy007/genealgy/carrdesc.html_ :: (http://members.aol.com/bgandy007/genealgy/carrdesc.html) :: :: James H. Downing :: [email protected]