It is clear from posts on this site that there are many Starr’s who can not assign themselves to a specific Starr line, and conversely there are multiple Starr lines that cannot be linked together. The newest trend in genealogy is Y-DNA testing which allows one to trace a surname back through the male line.

Although various reputable companies now offer such tests, one of the best is Family Tree DNA http://www.familytreedna.com/ . Among the many surname DNA projects underway at that site is the Starr Family DNA Project at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/STARR/ and its associated web page at http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/s/starr/ . You may want to consult a recent issue of the NGS News Magazine (Jan-Mar 2005) that has an article entitled, "Are there DNA tests in your future?"

Some of the factors one should know about Family Tree DNA are:

1) The results of your tests are kept private and confidential, but with a partial and anonymous public sharing so that a surname database can be established. It is within your discretion as to whether you want to be contacted by others, and you must first sign a waiver.

2) There are a host of options for testing, but the top three involve markers for the Y (or male) chromosome. With the least expensive, 12 marker test, if you have an exact match with another person, then you have a 90 percent probability of sharing a common ancestor within 23 generations. If you are one marker off in the results, the common ancestor is within 39 generations.

In the 25 marker test with an exact match, you have a 90 percent probability of sharing a common ancestor in the last 10 generations. One marker off, 16 generations.

In the full 37 marker test with an exact match, there is an 90 percent probability of sharing a common ancestor in the last five generations. One marker off, eight generations.

Clearly the higher resolution tests offer greater confidence for genealogical purposes. You may want to look at their chart on tests and accuracy: http://www.familytreedna.com/faq2.html

The tests will not tell you who your common ancestor is, but it will establish a timeline for probable family relationships.

When enough individuals have participated it will be possible to assign specific sets of genetic markers, called haplotypes, to the various Starr lines.

3) The DNA test that is relevant for individuals with a common surname is the so-called Y-DNA test which examines a number of specific sights on the Y-chromosome. Only males have the Y-chromosome, which, except for relatively rare mutations, is passed unchanged from father to son. Those of you with the surname Starr would be candidates for the test, although females would have to use a father, brother, or male cousin descended from a Starr uncle as a surrogate. The test is simple, painless, and does not reveal anything about medical susceptibility.

4) Test results are compared not just against those listed in a given surname project, but against everyone in Family Tree DNA's database. Matching results will be forwarded to participants on an ongoing basis. As participants grow over the coming months and years, so too do the matches. Therefore, the more people who participate in this testing program, the greater the chances of finding new kin and new discoveries in family histories.

For more information about Family Tree DNA, see their web site: http://www.familytreedna.com/. They have a very good FAQ’s page that answers many of the most common questions. I also called to speak to a representative about specific questions that I had and was very impressed with the answers that they provided.

Right now, there are not many Starr participants, so I would like to encourage you to consider joining in and sharing your genetic history. As an incentive, if you register through a surname project (like the Starr Family DNA Project through its “JOIN THIS GROUP” link at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/STARR/ ), the costs for the tests are significantly discounted.