The Appleby DNA Project was set up in 2009, with the aim of using genetic genealogy to identify geographical clusters of Appleby lines that share a common genetic ancestor.

The first individuals that undertook DNA testing as part of the project did so out of their own personal interest in finding out more about their ancestry, and in the hope that another Appleby's test results would match theirs.  Since then, we have recruited a number of new volunteers and our results are very encouraging. But to gain the most benefit from a project like this, it is important to spend some time and effort in reconstructing all known family trees in order to target living male Appleby’s whose yDNA test results can provide absolute proof of all our genealogical research into written records.

By testing two males who are as distantly related as possible within the same family line (i.e. two distant male cousins whom we believe share a 2 x great grandfather) we can demonstrate conclusively whether or not the paper research for that line is correct or not.

As we build up a number of sets of yDNA results, we are discovering there are indeed links between DIFFERENT family lines – and eventually we should be able to establish more about the migration patterns of our Appleby ancestors, possibly back before written records were generally available.

For our many fellow researchers who are descended from Applebys who emigrated to the New World, yDNA testing could provide the answers about their ancestors’ origins in England that can be so difficult to find.

We still need more Appleby family historians to contribute details of their own family trees.  Gradually, I hope that we can include family trees that cover a good percentage of known Appleby/bee families.  This may throw up some overlaps (and indeed may also reveal inherent differences!) but as long as they have been researched using reliable sources, they can all contribute to our overall understanding of the spread of the Applebys across England from their early origins.

In order to build up even more trees, we need to collect BMD and census data in all areas known to be Appleby strongholds, and identify family groups within this data.  We are making good progress, but there is still some way to go .... all help in this mammoth project will be greatly appreciated!