Hi My name is Liz Jones and I have started a Denman DNA Surname Project at Family Tree DNA. I'd like to decalre upfront that I have no financial interest in the company. I have been researching the history of the Denman surname since 1999. Through my research I have become very interested in the history of the Denman name and its origins, as well as tracing my own Denman line. I know from the censuses that Nottinghamshire has one of the earliest mentions of the Denman surname. A Surname Project traces members of a family that share a common surname. The project started in 2010, and we now have at least one representative from the Nottinghamshire, Sussex and Somerset lines, expect to have many exciting discoveries. More participants are welcomed, as it is good to have at least two participants from each line to confirm the results. Participating is an opportunity to uncover information not provided in the paper records, which will help with your family history research. We will also discover which family trees are related. As the project progresses, the results for the various family trees will provide information about the evolution of the surname. Are all people with the surname Denman related? Are the Notts & Sussex Denmans related? Where did the name originate? Early indications from the DNA Project are that there are at least two points of origin for the Denman surname. The Y DNA test (a simple cheek swab test) tells you about your direct male line, which would be your father, his father, and back in time. You must be male and surnamed Denman to join this project, if you are female, you will need to find a direct line male Denman in your family tree to take the test and represent your tree, such as your father, brother, uncle or cousin. The reason you have to be a male surname-bearer to join a surname project is that Y-DNA is handed down from father to son in an unbroken line through each generation, along with their surname - the Y chromosome and surname travel down hand in hand through time - Y-DNA cannot pass through a woman. Tests ordered through this project are charged at the special group rate which provides a substantial saving on the standard price. By the way, I don’t work for Family Tree DNA, nor do I benefit financially – I just manage the Denman project in the hope that it will be of help to Denman researchers. In conjunction with this I have registered my study of the Denman surname with The Guild of One Name Studies, you can have a look at the study’s Profile Page here - http://www.one-name.org/profiles/denman.html. Further information is available here: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/denman/default.aspx(drop down menu from the ‘About This Group’ button on the blue bar), or if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me. Kind regards Liz Jones