Intro to Sheldon DNA

We use DNA to help us

• Cluster Sheldons into their proper families
• Determine which Sheldon family and individual belongs to
• Aid those with Sheldon ancestry to connect with their kin
• Establish origins in England to Sheldon’s that have moved elsewhere

The Sheldon DNA Project

The Sheldon DNA Project  is hosted by FAMILY TREE DNA (FTDNA) and accepts atDNA from FTDNA’s Family Finder, Ancestry, MyHeritage, 23andMe, and LivingDNA. However, our main focus is the Y-chromosome which is passed down from father to son, to son, and so forth. The Y chromosome is unique and unlike atDNA in that it does not go through recombinations, so the YDNA 10 or 20 generations back is nearly identical to a man tested today. The Y chromosome only has small mutations every few generations so it is possible to create a tree of the Sheldon Y-chromosome through time for the various different Sheldon lineages. Y-DNA results of Sheldon surnamed men can show who shares a direct patrilineal ancestor and who does not. In combination with traditional genealogy, we have a new tool for closing the gaps when the paper trail goes dead. We can even use a simple Y-SNP test to determine which line a man belongs to in the absence of a firm paper trail. This allows us to help many Sheldon’s who do not know where they come from. Products like the Big-Y and Y-Elite have allowed us to connect previously unconnected Sheldon families. As you can see from this graphic the Sheldon DNA project has grown steadily since 2006.

Sheldon YDNA

Only men with the surname Sheldon are able to do the YDNA test for Sheldon purposes. We do however have many non-surnamed Sheldon descendants in our project! ALL men and women with Sheldon heritage can test their atDNA and matches to other Sheldons will often be found within 4th-5th cousins and sometimes as distant as tenth cousins. This can be useful to those trying to determine their relationship or who are unsure of where their Sheldon’s originated. Or those just trying to prove they are who they think they are. Both men and women can test their mtDNA however this is of limited use for Sheldon genealogy purposes but may be helpful to those with specific research interests on their mtDNA line. (This is always inherited through the mother and is the mother’s mother’s mother’s etc. line for both men and women). Y-DNA results of Sheldon surnamed men can show who shares a direct patrilineal ancestor and who does not. In combination with traditional genealogy, we have a new tool for closing the gaps when the paper trail goes dead. We can even use a simple Y-SNP test to determine which line a man belongs to in the absence of a firm paper trail. This allows us to help many Sheldons who do not know where they come from. Products like the Big-Y and Y-Elite have allowed us to connect previously unconnected Sheldon families. Both men and women can test their mtDNA however this is of limited use for Sheldon genealogy purposes but may be helpful to those with specific research interests on their mtDNA line. (This is always inherited through the mother and is the mother’s mother’s mother’s etc. line for both men and women).

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