Romany DNA tests

[Blyth Spirit]

Hi,

I am  closely  descended   from Scottish  Border  Romanies  on  both  my  mother's  and  father's   sides of  my  family.
I  am  interested  in  taking  a  DNA  test  to  find  out  where   my  ancestors  came   from.
Does  anyone  have  any  advice  on  the  best  way  to  go  about  this.

Many  thanks,

Blyth  Spirit

[DevonCruwys]

I would suggest your best option is to test through Family Tree DNA, who are the market leaders in the field. They have a huge database and you would be able to test through one of the many Scottish projects to benefit from project pricing. I've compiled a list of all the British geographical projects on my blog:

http://cruwys.blogspot.com/2009/08/dna-projects-for-british-isles.html

If you can get to London then I would recommend that you go along to Who do you think you are? Live which is being held at Olympia at the end of February. Family Tree DNA are sponsoring the DNA workshop. There will be a range of speakers, and you will be able to ask any questions you might have. The kits are usually discounted for WDYTYA. You can read more here:

http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk/2010/the-event/dna

Kind regards

Debbie Kennett

[vince smith]

I did my test with FTDNA and am told by those better informed than myself that it is better to go with them because that is their area of expertise, as opposed to companies that specialise in family history and do DNA testing as a sideline.

Don Lock runs the Romnichal DNA project through FTDNA and anyone who tests with them can join Don's project.

Those who's results land them in the Y Haplo H group (many Gypsy/Travellers do), can also join this project that has many asian participants .

You can also join the Surname project that relates to your name, regardless of racial origin.

I would be fascinated to see if someone from a Border family is in the H category or one of the Northern European groups.

Already campbells and Baileys of Scottish Gypsy origin have found out that they belong to the Asian haplotype.

[Blyth Spirit]

Many  thanks  to  all  of  those  who  kindly  replied  to  my  enquiry.
I  have  had  a  look  at  the  FTDNA  site .  I  see  that  they  are  based  in the USA, do   they  have  offices  in  the  UK?
I  sadly  attended  the  funeral  yesterday  of  a  first  cousin  who  has  the   same  Romany  maternal descent  as  me. There  are  not  a lot  of us  left  now  from that  generation, only  two  now.
I  know  who  my  people   are  and  where  I  come  from  but  I  would  like to  see  it  established scientifically  before  I go  to  the  long  drom  in the sky!
Thanks  again,

Blyth  Spirit

[DevonCruwys]

FTDNA don't have an office in the UK. You can just order a test direct from the US - the kits normally take about a week or so to arrive. Once the sample is back in the lab you can follow the progress of the testing online. Make sure however that you order through a project. You can join multiple projects so you can be in a haplogroup project, a geographical project, a surname project and in the Romnichal project mentioned by Vince. The other advantage of FTDNA is that they store the samples for 25 years which none of the other companies. Further tests can then be ordered from your sample in the future as new tests come onto the market.

For support in the UK I would recommend you join ISOGG (the International Society of Genetic Genealogy). Membership is free and there is a mailing list for England, as well as lists for DNA Newbies and project admins. You can find the website here: http://www.isogg.org