FamilyTreeDNA was first conceptualized in 2000 by Bennett Greenspan and began offering the first genetic genealogy tests to the public. The first Guthrie men to participate took Y-DNA tests. These 12-marker tests were considered the benchmark in paternal line genetic testing at that time. The Guthrie DNA Surname Project hadn’t really come into being yet. It was a collection of raw DNA results revealing that some men matched each other, while others did not. Over time it became clear that people of the Guthrie surname come from many genetically unique families, not just a single lineage stretching back to the Middle Ages. New genetic services were developed offering Autosomal DNA testing for both men and women, allowing everyone of Guthrie ancestry to join the project. Now, in September 2025, the project has officially reached 1,000 members at FTDNA. Overall project numbers have exceeded that level for some time when counting the members at Ancestry that do not have dual accounts, but it’s great to see “1000 members” posted on our project homepage. We have learned so much about our Guthrie origins and ancestry since FTDNA was founded twenty-five years ago. Fantastic discoveries are still out there waiting for new genetic clues to come along. Thank you to everyone who participates in the project.

Newest Member Lineages:
GFG4 – Thomas Guthrey c1717Va-1800VA & Sarah Oakes (Autosomal DNA Test)
GFG5 – William Guthrie 1722VA-1798KY & Eleanor Harris Abbott (Autosomal DNA Test)
GFG5 – William Guthrie 1722VA-1798KY & Eleanor Harris Abbott (Autosomal DNA Test)
GFG17 – David Guthrie 1759 Angus, SCT – 1841-51 SCT & Elspet Christie (Autosomal DNA Test)
Ungrouped – Archibald Meekins Guthrie 1848NC-1908NC & Amelia Ann McKeithan (Autosomal DNA Test)
Ungrouped – Joseph S Guthrie 1815ME – 1884MD & Anna Maria Marshall (Autosomal DNA Test)
Ungrouped – John Guthrie 1847IRE – 1926AUS & Elizabeth Carr (Autosomal DNA Test)

Pending Results:
New Guthrie with a Y37-marker test
Established Other Surname Match with a Big-Y 700 Upgrade (Matches GFG2)

Helpful Reminder:
Introduce yourself and provide a basic Guthrie ancestry when sending me an Ancestry DNA Sharing Invitation. That gives me a way to contact you with the results of your Guthrie Matches Chart and Guthrie Family Group Analysis. If your Ancestry profile does not allow use of their messaging system, I won’t be able to respond to your request. My email is anngu3@icloud.com.

BIG-Y Updates:

FTDNA had a backlog of Big-Y DNA Tests that have finally been posted.

GFG2A is the only one with a recent update.

• This is the largest of the genetic groups with 15 major branches A thru O.
• Branches participating in Big-Y Testing: A(2), B(2), C, D, H
• The man who is the most recent common ancestor for all of these branches was born about 1582.

Guthrie Genealogy: Website Updates

GFG5 – Branch H: Descendants of Thomas Guthrie & Mildred Howell

• Still working on this family. I got distracted by a side project and new member reviews.

WikiTree vs. Other Shared Family Trees Online

Finding a place to house your personal family tree is becoming increasingly expensive. Subscription services like Ancestry and MyHeritage have many excellent offerings, but many people prefer to post their trees in places that don’t detract from their budget. Other sites, like Family Search and WikiTree, give you a place to post your tree and work on family profiles without costing you a cent. The downside is that public profiles are for everyone to share, alter, update, and merge.

Years ago, I started my personal tree on Ancestry. When I got involved with the Guthrie DNA Project my research expanded to include Guthrie families everywhere. Now the tree is huge. Anyone with Ancestry access can view the info collected there. Unfortunately, that leaves out any project members who are unable to view it. This site is best used in combination with the tree in order to explore related lineages and their connections.

Just recently, FTDNA promoted their new affiliation with WikiTree.
Read: Connect your WikiTree to Family Tree DNA (FTDNA Blog)
Read: FamilyTreeDNA and WikiTree Collaboration – In Two Easy Steps!! (DNAeXplained)

This led me to check things out in more detail at WikiTree. Just like Family Search, it is a “world family tree” where everyone collaborates on the same profiles. Guidelines stress the expectation of maintaining a single profile for an individual person rather than creating multiple variations of the same person. Duplicates will be merged. There are also exacting standards for documenting sources for Pre-1700 profiles, so that everyone can follow the trail of evidence. Potentially, you can also document whether or not you have taken a DNA test, and determine whether your family connections are genetically proven.

In addition to my own direct ancestry, I have been adding to the profiles of some key players in each of our Guthrie Family Groups. My little “side project” to the family group updates here at Guthrie Genealogy. For example: GFG5 – Branch A: William Guthrie & Eleanor (Harris) Guthrie.

Even if you chose not to add the recent generations of your personal tree, it is worthwhile to create a public profile for the earliest generations and document the original sources that connect them.