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🧬 Welcome to the Ralston Project

Y-DNA testing helps distinguish unrelated Ralston lines and identify shared paternal ancestry that cannot be confirmed through records alone. Over time, these results help reconstruct the deeper history of the Ralston surname.

The Ralston Project welcomes participants with the surnames Ralston, Rolston, Roulston, Raulston, and related variants. Throughout this site, “Ralston” is used as an inclusive term for all such lines.

To contribute meaningfully, a male from your direct Ralston line should take a Y-DNA test.

🚦 New to the Project? Begin with these links,

ℹ️ New Members

Information about taking the Y-DNA test and setting up your account at FTDNA

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🧬 Y-DNA Q&A

Wonder which test to buy?
What Y-DNA can tell us?
What is a phylogenetic tree?

View Q&A

⚡ Is a Free Test Available?

The Ralston Project has a limited number of complementary Y-37 DNA test kits to qualified individuals.

Learn More

🤝 Ways You Can Contribute

Even if you are not yet ready to test or you are unable to test, you can still help the project grow:

Help spread awareness of the project and identify potential candidates for testing
Share family tree information that may help connect Ralston lineages
Sponsor or donate toward Y-DNA testing for participants who need assistance or for testing that advances the project as a whole

🔗 Helpful Resources

The following resources may help you better understand Y-DNA testing and haplogroups:

FAMILYTREEDNA Learning Center
FAMILYTREEDNA DISCOVER Haplogroup Age Estimation
Family Tree DNA Forums

🧬 DNA Helpers/Info

GEDmatch Tools for DNA and Genealogy Research
DNA Painter Map DNA Segments
The Shared cM Project Relationship probabilities based on shared DNA
DNAAdoption Find Your Roots Through DNA (not just for adoptees)
Genetic Affairs Unleash your DNA cousins
SAPP The Life of Trees (Or: Still Another Phylogeny Program) (also see David Vance's book, The Genealogist's Guide to Y-DNA Testing for Genetic Genealogy.}

📩 Questions?

If you are unsure whether your family line fits the project, or if you have questions about testing, please use the Contact Information page — we’re happy to assist.