New Mexico Genealogical Society

The project works with three types of DNA tests offered by FamilyTreeDNA:
 

• Y‑DNA – paternal line (men only)

• mtDNA – maternal line (men or women)

• Autosomal DNA (Family Finder) – broad family connections and cousin matching

Your research goal determines the best test:

• Y‑DNA for studying a paternal surname line

• mtDNA for exploring a maternal lineage

• Family Finder for cousin matches and broader family connections

Yes. Members may join the project with autosomal results. However, we strongly encourage testers to add Y‑DNA (for paternal lineage) and mtDNA (for maternal lineage), because these tests provide the unique lineage information needed for deep New Mexico‑focused research; information that autosomal testing alone cannot provide.

Autosomal results from AncestryDNA and 23andMe can be transferred into FamilyTreeDNA. Only FTDNA provides full Y‑DNA and mtDNA testing, and a new test must be purchased from FTDNA for those tests.

A haplogroup is a genetic branch that reflects deep paternal or maternal ancestry. Y‑DNA and mtDNA tests assign haplogroups and their sub‑branches, which help identify ancient origins and more recent lineage patterns.

Multiple surnames can appear within the same paternal or maternal lineage due to:
 

• Historical naming traditions

• Adoptions

• Maternal surname inheritance

• Undocumented or non‑paternal events

• Surname changes over generations

These events create surname diversity within a shared genetic line.

The project uses DNA to study:

​

• Shared ancestry

• Lineage clusters

• Haplogroup Identification and Surname patterns

• Historical connections among New Mexico families

We do not provide medical interpretation or personal genetic conclusions.

All DNA data is governed by FamilyTreeDNA’s privacy settings and Group Project policies. All DNA data in the project is governed by FamilyTreeDNA’s Group Project policies and privacy settings. Project administrators prefer members to select Advanced Access, which allows us to add the Earliest Known Ancestor and the asterisk (*) used for lineage grouping. Advanced Access also enables administrators to upgrade certain kits when appropriate to support deeper New Mexico‑focused research.

The naming conventions back in early Spain, for example, allowed the first-born son to carry the family surname, and then the next male son possibly took the grandmother’s middle name, etc.  

By the time you get to today, hundreds of years have passed and there are numerous surnames associated with a DNA group.  That is why this project was created – combining test results and family genealogy will take us back in time to figure out who “owns” the DNA.   

Different surname matching can also be the result of adoptions, illegitimate births, as well as many other historical family groupings that were undocumented.