For those of you out there who are at an absolute dead end as far as your OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY ancestry goes, it may be time to consider joining the OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY Surname DNA Project at OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY Surname DNA Project
All Y-DNA tests allow you to identify your ethnic and geographic origins, both recent and far distant on your direct male descending line. Among others, you will be able to check your Native-American or African Ancestry as well as for the Cohanim Ancestry.
The OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY Surname DNA Project has been organized for all who wish to work together to find their common heritage through DNA testing and sharing of information. All variant spellings are welcome. Since a Surname Project in essence traces members of a family that share a common surname, and females (a) don't carry their father's Y-DNA, and (b) acquire a new surname by the way of marriage, in order to be relevant to the Surname Project, the tested individual MUST be a male that wants to check his parernal line (father's father's father's...). The test to be ordered is Y-DNA37, and females should look for a brother or cousin with that surname to be tested. Females can also order a test for themselves, which will be the mtDNA or mtDNAPlus, but the results of these tests cannot be tied to the Surname Project.
Following is a description of the Y-DNA37 Marker Test. As a part of the OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY Surname DNA Project, these tests are offered to you by "Family Tree DNA" at a group rate:
The Y-DNA37 Marker Test is currently $189.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). Although the Y-DNA37 Marker Test is one of the more expensive tests (vs Y-DNA12 and Y-DNA25), it dramatically increases your chances of finding a Most Recent Common Ancestor, and in the long run, it is less expensive than having to order additional tests at a later time, and all members tested to date have completed the Y-DNA37 Marker Test.
Y-DNA37 - 37 Marker Test: tests the Y chromosome for genetic matches between males. Results are placed in our Y-DNA database and when 2 people show the same identical or near identical results, we will inform both parties if you have both signed the FTDNA Release Form. A perfect match of 37 markers means a lesser number of generations before a Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) can be determined. The customer receives a Certificate & report generally describing Y-DNA sequencing and the meaning of probability between matches.
Many of you know that I have dedicated the last eight years of my life (on the Internet) bringing OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY researchers together, establishing and maintaining Internet resources, and now coordinating our efforts in the OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY DNA Project as a co-administrator of the Project.
Click here to see the current results of the Y-DNA tests: OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY Surname DNA Project Results. The sooner we get more people involved in the Y-DNA testing, the sooner more matches can be made! All of you know how long it has taken you to get to where you are now in your research, and you know just how expensive it has been for you so far. Of course, it could still take years for a match to your particular line to be made, but for some of us, this is our last hope of ever discovering the "truth" of our OSTERTAG/EASTERDAY ancestry.