Guthrie Family Groups
Quick Family Group Launcher
Already know your Guthrie Family Group? Go straight to it.
Each button opens the main research page for that genetically distinct Guthrie Family Group.
Find Your Way In
Not everyone arrives here already knowing a Family Group number. Start with what you know.
I Know My GFG
Use the Quick Family Group Launcher above or browse the descriptive group cards farther down this page.
Open the launcher ↑I Know My Earliest Guthrie Ancestor
Search Guthrie Genealogy or the Guthrie Research Tree using the ancestor’s name, spouse, dates, and principal locations.
Explore the Research Tree →I Don’t Know My Group Yet
Your lineage may already belong to an established GFG, have Inferred Guthrie Family Group Status, have Ungrouped Family Status, or simply need further research.
Understand the status terms →Search Guthrie Genealogy
Try the name of your earliest documented Guthrie ancestor. If the name is common, try the spouse instead.
What Is a Guthrie Family Group?
A Guthrie Family Group—or GFG—is a set of Guthrie lineages represented by matching Y-DNA results.
Direct Paternal Line
Y-DNA follows the father-to-son line being studied by the Guthrie DNA Project.
Genetic Grouping
Matching results identify lineages belonging to the same paternal genetic family.
Test the Paper Trail
Y-DNA can support or challenge a proposed paternal connection developed through documentary research.
Refine the Branches
Additional participants and advanced Y-DNA testing can reveal genetic branching within an established group.
Understanding Family Group Status
These three terms describe different evidentiary situations within the Guthrie DNA Project.
Guthrie Family Group
Guthrie lineages represented by matching Y-DNA results.
Each group is genetically unique and is formed by two or more matching project participants.
The group progenitor may be known, or several branch progenitors may share an unidentified common paternal-line ancestor.
Inferred Guthrie Family Group Status
The indicated branch is inferred to belong to an established GFG because of a verified paper trail.
The branch does not currently have a Y-DNA participant representing it in the project.
Its status remains inferred until Y-DNA testing verifies a matching genetic profile.
Ungrouped Family Status
A Guthrie lineage that is not currently represented by a Y-DNA candidate with a match to an established Guthrie Family Group.
The lineage also has no verified historical ties to one of those established groups.
An Ungrouped Guthrie Family may still have autosomal DNA participants or a Y-DNA participant whose results currently have no established GFG match.
Looking for an Ungrouped Guthrie Family?
The Ungrouped Family Status collection documents project-associated Guthrie families that have not been assigned to an established GFG. Entries are organized by earliest known Guthrie progenitor and may include family members, historical context, Research Tree links, and DNA participant lineages.
One Ungrouped Guthrie Family may be represented by several autosomal DNA participants or by Y-DNA results that currently have no established Guthrie Family Group match.
Explore Ungrouped Family Status →Explore the Established Guthrie Family Groups
These summaries are quick identifiers, not complete pedigrees. Select a card to open the group’s full research page, branches, DNA findings, and historical discussion.
Angus, Scotland · Virginia · Maryland
Includes the Guthries of Craigie and genetically matching American branches associated with Middlesex, Virginia and Worcester, Maryland.
Scotland · Northern Ireland · Canada · American Colonies
A large multi-branch Guthrie Family Group with numerous Scottish, Scotch-Irish, Canadian, and early American descendant lines.
Ayrshire, Scotland · PA · VA · MD · Canada · New Zealand
Includes descendants of Francis Guthrie Sr. and additional branches with Scottish and international roots.
Colonial Virginia
Centered on the lineage of Thomas Guthery and Sarah Oakes, with a distinct paternal genetic profile.
Virginia · North Carolina · South Carolina · Kentucky
Includes descendants associated with William Guthrie and Eleanor Harris Abbott and related Southern branches.
Scotland · Northern Ireland · England · Canada · USA
A geographically diverse group with several branches and an unidentified common paternal ancestor.
Scotland · United States · Australia
Multiple American and Australian branches whose shared paternal ancestry points back toward Scotland, particularly Ayrshire.
Virginia · Southern United States · Irish connections
Includes the Thomas Guthrie and Mary Cason lineage and a paternal genetic connection associated with the Vaughan/Vaughn surname.
Orkney, Scotland · Georgia · South Carolina
Includes descendants associated with Thomas Guthrie and Jean Duncan and related genetically matching branches.
Bull’s Gap · Eastern Tennessee
Descendants of Andrew S. Guthrie and Isabella Rader. Documentary history includes a known adoption into a Guthrie family.
Virginia · Tennessee · Georgia · Indiana
Includes the George Guthery and Mary Young lineage and matching paternal DNA associated with the Ballew/Ballou surname.
Scotland · Indiana · Ireland · Ohio
Includes Guthrie-Japp and Guthrie-McGibney branches with paternal DNA connections associated with the Benbow surname.
Ireland · New York · Carolinas · Tennessee · Georgia · Alabama
Several geographically distinct Guthrie branches sharing a paternal genetic profile associated with Gillespie surname matches.
New York · Pennsylvania · Ohio
Includes descendants associated with George Nelson Guthrie and a distinct paternal profile with Joyce/Joice surname matches.
Virginia / Pennsylvania · Adams & Brown Counties, Ohio
Includes the Joseph Guthrie lineage and another genetically matching Adams County, Ohio branch.
Dunbartonshire & Lanarkshire, Scotland · Australia · Canada
Descendant branches of Robert Guthrie and Janet Andrew whose shared paternal ancestry is confirmed by matching Y-DNA.
Menmuir & Cortachy · Angus, Scotland
An old Angus lineage associated with David Guthrie and Janet Stewart and including the family of Rev. Thomas Guthrie.
Mondooey · County Donegal, Ireland
A genetically distinct Irish Guthrie lineage descending from William Guthrie and his wife Mary of Mondooey.
Aberdeenshire & Inverness-shire, Scotland
Northern Scottish branches represented by genetically matching paternal lines rooted in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.
DNA & Research Tools
The Family Group pages are only one part of the project. Use these companion tools to compare the DNA, follow documented family lines, and investigate the evidence behind them.
Still Not Sure Where Your Guthries Belong?
Start with the earliest Guthrie ancestor you can document with reasonable confidence.
Gather the Identifying Details
Record the ancestor’s spouse, approximate dates, principal locations, children, and your documented line of descent. Those details help distinguish one Guthrie family from another.
Then Compare the Evidence
Search the Research Tree and Family Group pages. If the family is still unclear, contact Guthrie Genealogy with the lineage you have established so far.
One Surname. Many Paternal Lines.
The Guthrie DNA Project uses Y-DNA and documentary genealogy together to distinguish the families hidden behind a shared surname. Choose a Family Group, follow its branches, examine the evidence, and see where your Guthries fit.
My 4th great grandfather was John Shannon and he married Ann Guthrie in Orange County NC in 1784. I found that he had land in Caswell County NC before they moved to Robertson County Tn between 1790 and 1800. Ann’s father is supposed to be James Guthrie. I did find a James Guthrie having land in Orange County NC not far from a Hugh Shannon. My Uncle (Hugh D Shannon) tested with Family tree DNA back in 2009? but I didn’t see our branch listed on this site. My brickwall is John Shannon, i can’t find the correct John before NC. The DNA says that we connect with the Thomas and Agness Shannon families of PA. and then Va. but I can’t find the correct John in there. I found Guthries and Shannons in PA, but I don’t know if they are the correct ones.I have worked with two researchers in NC and been to visit NC two times. If I can really connect my group to PA, I see a trip to there in the future. Thanks for any help you might give! Paula Shannon
You share my direct ancestors, James and Elizabeth (MNU) Guthrie. Our line is Guthrie Family Group 2A – Branch A
Access my Ancestry tree (AnnGU3) for family documents and any details I have on the Shannons. I am at work today but can check for specifics later if you don’t have Ancestry access.
Guthrie Family Group 2 has branches (or at least a few twigs) in most of the colonies. Pennsylvania is one of the main areas of settlement for branches that came from both Scotland and Northern Ireland. My branch decided to do things a little differently. Instead of heading for Pennsylvania, James Guthrie arrived in the Baltimore, Maryland area. They were there by 1770 when his second son, Robert Guthrie, was born in that area. By 1781 the family had moved to Orange County, North Carolina and settled in the area of South Hyco Creek. James’ two sons, James and Robert, married a pair of sisters, Jane and Mary Smith. These couples, along with their sisters and their husbands all eventually moved out of North Carolina for parts of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. James and Robert lived in Robertson County near the Shannons, and later in Sumner County.
My sister and I have autosomal DNA matches to descendants of 6 of John and Ann (Guthrie) Shannon’s children.
I have also never successfully identified John Shannon’s parents.
Your uncle’s Y-DNA would not be applicable to the Guthrie project, but if he also had a Family Finder test done it would be eligible.
I am researching this line of Guthrie’s. I haven’t any DNA tests yet. The earliest ancestor is John Guthrie born 1764 in Scotland. He died 1856 in Giles, TN. His son was Thomas Yoner Guthrie born 1799 in TN. He died in 1875 in Madison Co., AL. His son was James Henry Guthrie born 1860 in AL. He died 1930 in Limestone Co., Al. He married Mary M. Butler in 1882 in Giles Co., TN. I will try and get a male Guthrie to submit his DNA
The John Guthrie you mentioned belongs to Guthrie Family Group 9: Descendants of Thomas Guthrie & Jean Duncan of Orkney, SCT, Georgia and South Carolina. It is possible that Thomas Yoner Guthrie is also a descendant as John had several sons of about the right age who remain unidentified in the records. We do have at least 2 descendants of TYG participating in our Autosomal DNA Project, but there is not enough genetic evidence to triangulate a positive group match. The closest autosomal matches are actually to GFG2A-Branch K: Descendants of Robert Guthrie & Elizabeth MNU of SC and GA, which is genetically unrelated to GFG9. If you can find a male Guthrie for YDNA testing that should provide the evidence needed to determine TYG’s origins.
I am stuck trying to trace my tree.
My great great grandfather was Charles Lewis Guthrie of Florida.
I’m stuck at Samuel Guthrie and wife Nancy Grieve (???possible name) born 1794 in South Carolina and died 1882 in Florida, having spent some time in Georgia area. According to Cenus records birthdate and place are correct.
Hi Sandra,
This is a case of mistaken identity that has been perpetuated across multiple online trees due to copying errors.
Many people have confused Samuel Guthrie, son of John Guthrie & Jean Norwood, whose wife Nancy’s maiden name is unknown, with the Samuel Guthrie who married Nancy Grieve. John is the son of Thomas Guthrie & Jean Duncan of Guthrie Family Group 9.
Your ancestor was born in SC, lived in GA and FLA. The line goes Thomas > John > Samuel > Abraham > Jasper > Charles Lewis.
The Samuel Guthrie who married Nancy Grieve was born in PA and moved to IA. They had sons named Lewis Rife and Charles William, so there may be some confusion for that reason. This family has been Y-DNA tested and matches Guthrie Family Group 2A.
I was trying to trace the site and follow things but I find nothing about a section of Guthrie’s in Michigan. From what I can track it get as far as Elisha f Guthrie from Ohio, but can’t track much before him.
Hi Steven,
If your ancestor is the Elisha Guthrie 1849OH-1921MI who married Mahala Dunlap, he belongs to Guthrie Family Group 2A – Branch F: Descendants of John Guthrie & Abigail Coe with the following line:
John Guthrie/Abigail Coe > Ephraim Guthrie/Thankful Stone > Ebenezer Guthrie/Abigail Herick > Phineas K Guthrie/Sarah Elizabeth Davis > Simeon Guthrie/Emily Farrington > Elisha Guthrie/Mahala Dunlap. We actually have a couple of YDNA Project Participants who descend from Simeon Guthrie already in the project whose YDNA (direct paternal line DNA) confirms they belong with GFG2A.
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/3406955/person/292109527396/facts
I am Thomas Guthrie D.D.’s great-great- grandson through his son Lord Guthrie, his grand-daughter Anne Robertson Gutrie (Mrs. J.B. Priestman) and his great-grand-daughter Jean Marjorie Guthrie Priestman (Mrs. John Baird-Smith
My family lineage starts from Roger Guthrie, Joseph Guthrie, Ira Guthrie, Joseph Guthrie, Reason M Guthrie, John H Guthrie, John Lee Guthrie, Robert Guthrie Sr., Thomas Guthrie Sr., H Guthrie(Gottray), to John William Guthrie.
Hi Karie — We actually have John Lee Guthrie (m. Elizabeth Sweat) listed as the son of John Guthrie and Jean Norwood, grandson of Thomas Guthrie and Jean Duncan of Guthrie Family Group 9. This is a different genetic group than Robert Guthrie who married Jane Norwood, from GFG13, who was not a son of Thomas Guthrie and Jean Duncan. I don’t know anything about H Guthrie or a John William Guthrie associated with Thomas’ ancestry, which is (as far as I know) undocumented. Tell me about them here, or email me at anngu3@icloud.com if you want to discuss in more detail.
My Guthrie ancestry goes back to Thomas Guthrie D.D. preacher and philanthropist whose statue is on Princess Street Edinburgh. His son Lord Charles Guthrie, my great-grandfather, was a judge in Edinburgh, father of 10 children, the last being my grandmother Anne Robertson Guthrie Priestman. I am proud of this ancestry.
Hi I am Esther Guthrie and I have a sister who lives in Bristol who I haven’t seen my dads name was called herbert guthrie and she live in hafcluffe when I was a baby she wouid be around 52