More and more family societies are using today’s technology
to prove and disprove family relationships through past centuries. Three MAY
researchers, J. Mark May, Enrique B. May, and Jim May, have undertaken a DNA
study of those named May, Mays, Mayes, or any other related surname variants.
These MAY researchers wish to analyze the Y chromosome of project
participants so that they can discover whether males with surname MAY (and their
female children) have a common ancestor. The Y chromosome passes from father
to son unchanged apart from random mutations, much like a surname. With proper
testing and analysis, families with surname MAY can potentially be linked by
a common ancestor over timescales of hundreds of years. Of course, it is very
possible that all the people named May do not share a single ancestor. Again,
the DNA analysis should be able to determine those relationships.
With only fourteen participants so far, the researchers have already
identified a couple of MAY lines. They are now seeking more test participants.
For more information about the MAY Surname DNA Project, look at: www.richmark.com/q/maytree/May-Reconstruction.html.
Dick Eastman Online
