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Goals and Objectives

The purpose of the Greathouse Surname Y-DNA Project is to provide an opportunity for males with the Greathouse surname to participate in a test of their Y-chromosome, to obtain their Y-DNA marker results, which can be compared for matches with other participants, in order to determine if a common ancestor is shared between two or more participants.

Female Greathouse descendants are encouraged to participate by having a male Greathouse relative submit a sample of their Y-DNA to the project.

Requirements

A Surname Project traces members of a family that share a common surname. Since surnames are passed down from father to son like the Y-chromosome, this test is for males taking a Y-DNA test. Females do not carry their father's Y-DNA and acquire a new surname by way of marriage, so the tested individual must be a male that wants to check his direct paternal line (father's father's father's...) with a Y-DNA12, Y-DNA37, or Y-DNA67 marker test. Females who would like to check their direct paternal line can have a male relative with this surname order a Y-DNA test. Females can also order an mtDNA test for themselves such as the mtDNA or the mtDNAPlus test and participate in an mtDNA project.

Y-DNA marker results may reveal that a participant may not be descended from the surname due to an unknown incidence of non-paternity which occurred somewhere in his ancestry due to a name change, adoption, infidelity, artificial insemination, etc.

If there is an exact match in all Y-chromosome markers tested, then we have a strong probability of a common ancestor. With good family history research and documentation, it may even be possible to determine who that common ancestor was.

Our goal for Phase I of the project is to have at least two participants from each of the major Greathouse family lines which have been thoroughly researched and documented. Phase II goals will be developed based on the results from Phase I.

Greathouse Ancestors by Y-DNA Haplogroup [based upon current Y-DNA results]

Haplogroup I1:

• Herman Groethausen 1670, represented by eight [8] participants.
  
• Harmon Greathouse 1764, represented by three [3] participants.
  
• Harmon Greathouse 1787, represented by one [1] participant.
  
• James Greathouse, b. abt. 1830, of Illinois, represented by one [1] participant.
  
• Jacob Greathouse of Georgia, represented by two [2] participants.
  
• John Greathouse & Catharina Haack, represented by by one [1] participant.
  
• John Greathouse & Elizabeth of Virginia, represented by one [1] participant.
  
• John Greathouse & Sarah McDade, represented by four [4] participants.
  
• Michael Greathouse & Snawder Sisters, represented by four [4] participants.
  
• Solomon Greathouse & Catherine Little, represented by one [1] participant.
• William Greathouse & Barbara Cale

Haplogroup R1b:

• Samuel Greathouse of Maryland [m. Susanah, daughter of John & Catharina Haack Greathouse], represented by two [2] participants.
  
• William Greathouse & Charlotte McClendon, represented by one [1] participant.
  

Haplogroup undetermined: [ancestors not represented by participants]

• David Greathouse 1770
  
• William Greathouse & Barbara Cale