WEST Surname DNA Project

Family portrait by Benjamin WEST. This is a digital photo of a copy in the library in Swarthmore, PA. Subjects in the painting have been identified as: (left to right) Raphael Lamar WEST (son of Benjamin), Elizabeth Shewell (wife) holding baby Benjamin WEST Jr., Thomas WEST (half brother of Benjamin), John WEST (father of Benjamin), Benjamin WEST (1738-1820). We now have DNA representing this WEST line in our project.


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Y chromosome

UPDATES AND NEWS

      NEWS
            
             Contact the Project coordinator to place a message here.

   Latest Y-DNA results:
        — Haplogroups updated.
        — W178 matches WEST Family Group 19.
            
                

                                                             

SPECIAL OFFER:
Matching funds are available for a Y-DNA test for a direct male descendant of Paul West (1848-1936) who was an African American slave until emancipation in 1865. Paul's descendant's DNA closely matches the DNA of the Pugh 1 lineage participants. Paul was born in Virginia or North Carolina and lived and died in the Christian and Trigg counties area of Kentucky. He had two known sons, William "Bud" West (1870-1968) and Jackson West (1880-1963). Contact the project admin for further info.


Please let us know when you have a new email address.

If your test results are posted to the results page, please be sure we have info on your oldest WEST ancestor for the ancestors page. This helps others who have no male WEST for testing to find new linkages.

If you have something you want to highlight, such as genealogy breakthrough from your DNA test, or a web site that would be useful to others, send me an email.

Welcome to our Genealogy by DNA Project for the WEST Surname.
   This genealogy by DNA project is for everyone researching the WEST surname. Adding the science of genetics to our genealogy research is helping us break down those "brick walls" and solve puzzles when there is no paper trail. We are very excited about the potential of this technology to aid in our genealogy quest, and hope that many of you will join in this effort.

    With our first 165 participants we have been able to identify at least 66 unrelated WEST lines. Obviously we are a very diverse group. Our surname was adopted many times by people in different locations. As more WESTs participate in this project, the benefit to all WEST researchers increases.

Check our results page for the latest WEST DNA matches.


Project Status

Number of DNA participants   179
Test kits returned   169
Lab analysis complete   165
Number of Family groups identified by DNA     28

We are seeking to:

1. Find new relationships for those who have reached a brick wall in their genealogical paper trail.

2. Prove or disprove suspected relationships to other WEST lines.

3. Determine the countries of origin of the many WEST lines.

4. Develop a database that combines DNA results with traditional genealogy research.

In order to participate in this Y-chromosome DNA testing project, you must be a male with the WEST surname, or have a male WEST from your line who will participate.

If you would like to participate, or want more information, please contact me, Dennis West
dwest3atutk.edu   (replace at with the @ symbol to email me).
Many thanks to Bonnie Schrack for editorial and web assistance.
    Updated 13 June 2008.        counter