Hello. This is my first time on this list. My husband's Tryk ancestors all came from southern Jutland in Denmark. We can date the first ones to use the surname to about 1750-1800. We have no idea where they got the name from, however. Recently, we've discovered that there are many people in Poland also named Tryk. So now we are trying to find out if there is any relationship or common ancestry. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions of ways we can pursue this, please let us know. Is there a Polish DNA project being carried on? Does anyone know what part of Poland Tryk ancestors may have come from? Any help would be most gratefully received. Sheila in Missouri

Sheila, Though I haven't done any research in the Scandinavian countries I do know that they kept wonderful archived records and LDS has most, if not all of them. Isn't there some sort of record (in Denmark) that indicates where the Tryk's came from if they weren't "original" to Denmark? Tryk is a Polish surname but it could also be a Danish surname. The only way to determine whether your family started or ended up in Poland is to continue to research back. At some point you might be able to determine where and how the surname began. It helps to know how, for instance, the Danes "picked" surnames. As for DNA projects, yes there is a Polish DNA "Genographic Project" set up. Certainly there is one for Danes as well. You should at least be able to find your "Recent Ancestral Origins" and your Haplogroup. As for connecting with living relatives using DNA testing, a lot depends on the information provided by other people who've had their DNA tested. It is important to do the paper research before DNA is tested. "Matches" are done according to the ancestral origins people have listed. If a person only knows that their great grandmother was born in the U.S. that's not helpful and it's misleading. It's very important to at least get back to a village place of birth in, say, Poland or Denmark. For someone to list "Unknown Origin" as an ancestor's place of birth is a waste of time and money and it's frustrating for the other "matches." Family Tree DNA is a reputable company. I know several people who've used this company. http://www.familytreedna.com/ It would be a good idea to read all they have on their web site and make sure you understand what can be done - a lot can not be determined. Example: if you go through with testing it's useless unless you have as many tests performed as possible. In the case of the male DNA that would be 67 markers. It can get expensive but it's a waste of time to have fewer markers tested. Then it will be important to "register" your results so that other people will be able to compare their results with yours. Often Polish genealogical societies will have someone from the DNA field speak at their conferences. Debbie D & S Tryk wrote: > Hello. This is my first time on this list. My husband's Tryk ancestors all came from southern Jutland in Denmark. We can date the first ones to use the surname to about 1750-1800. We have no idea where they got the name from, however. > Recently, we've discovered that there are many people in Poland also named Tryk. So now we are trying to find out if there is any relationship or common ancestry. > If anyone has any ideas or suggestions of ways we can pursue this, please let us know. Is there a Polish DNA project being carried on? Does anyone know what part of Poland Tryk ancestors may have come from? > Any help would be most gratefully received. > Sheila in Missouri >