Overview
The Austin-Austen DNA Project supports three DNA Projects: (1) Austin (Y-DNA) Project, (2) Austin Autosomal DNA (at-DNA) Project, and (3) Austin Mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) Project. As shown in the figure, each participant in the program supports one leg of a three-legged stool: AFAOA with its DNA support staff and its extensive Austin-Austen databases, you the researcher with your DNA data and results, and our commercial vendor Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), which provides DNA testing, data comparisons, and displays results. All projects require a single membership account with FTDNA which automatically enrolls you in the combined program. You can join the program even if you were tested by a commercial vendor other than FTDNA. Additional details are provided under each of our three projects. AFAOA does not administer the DNA testing or receive any funding or compensation from Family Tree DNA. Our projects are entirely voluntary and used solely for educational and research purposes, with the anonymized results made publicly available to advance genealogical and historical understanding.
As of March 2026, 588 members have taken 757 DNA tests: 421 Y-DNA, 196 at-DNA, and 140 mt-DNA tests. Males can take all three tests while females can take only the at-DNA and mtDNA tests. This would explain why the total number of completed tests exceeds our total number of members.
FTDNA Enrollment
If you are interested in joining the Austin-Austen Family Tree DNA Project, please click the button below, then fill out and submit the "Austin-Austen DNA Project Join Request" form. A project administrator will review your application and contact you.
Y-DNA Project
The Y-DNA project involves males who are direct Austin/Austen descendants. Woman cannot take test themselves, because they don't have Y-DNA, but they can have a brother, father, cousin, or uncle take the test for them. For more information, click the button below.
at-DNA Project
The autosomal DNA project involves both males and females whose direct Austin/Austen ancestor is no more than five generations back. For more information, click the button below. Tests from any of the major testing companies can be used for this project.
AFAOA does maintain a small annual budget to provide free 37-marker Y-DNA tests or to help defray the costs of upgrading to the expanded FTDNA Big Y-700 DNA test. These are limited in number and preference will be given to those individuals whose progenitor lines do not have any project participants yet. To inquire more about this contact our Y-DNA Project coordinator.
AFAOA Database
There is a huge benefit in coupling your Austin DNA testing with the contextual and genealogical information in AFAOA’s Database. This free genealogical database has been assembled over AFAOA’s decades of collaborative work on various lines of Austin surnames. You do not need to register or sign in to view the data and information that has been assembled over AFAOA’s decades of collaborative work on various lines of Austin surnames. Membership in AFAOA itself is strongly recommended* but not required to participate in the DNA program.
DNA Tutorial
Confused? Want to learn more about DNA, and its use in genealogy? Check out our eight-part tutorial produced by AFAOA President David Neithamer.