The Culpepper Family DNA Project

Confirm your distant Culpepper ancestry and
help improve the accuracy and reliability
of the Culpepper Family Tree

Overview. Each of us carries DNA that is a combination of genes passed from both our mother and father, giving us traits that range from eye color and height to athleticism and disease susceptibility. An exception to this gene mixture is the Y chromosome, which is passed directly from father to son, unchanged, from generation to generation.

Unchanged, that is, unless a mutation—a random, naturally occurring, usually harmless change—occurs. The mutation, known as a marker, acts as a beacon; it can be mapped through generations because it will be passed down from the man in whom it occurred to his sons, their sons, and every male in his family for many thousands of years. On average, mutations in any given marker used in genealogical DNA testing are estimated to occur only once every 500 generations.

These mutations establish genetic signatures, called haplotypes, that define particular branches within a family tree. The haplotypes of tested individuals can be used to confirm, or alter as necessary, the structure of family trees which in the past had to be based on paper-based historical research, family tradition and logical inferences that could be drawn from them.

Project Background and Goals. Warren Culpepper and Lew Griffin, the publishers of Culpepper Connections, launched the Culpepper Family DNA project in December 2006. Utilizing the leading genealogical-genetic-testing company, Family Tree DNA, our goals are as follows:

1. To confirm, or modify, as appropriate, the structure of the Culpepper Family Tree, giving Culpepper / Culpeper / Colepeper family members the most accurate and reliable information possible on their lineage and how they are related to others who share their surname.

2. To secure a sufficient number of project members to confirm our ancestral theories on every major branch of the family, including at least one project member from (a) each of the branches headed by the great-great-grandsons of the American Culpepper progenitor: Henry Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, VA, and (b) any Caucasian branch headed by someone born before 1880 and whose ancestry is unknown.

3. To protect the privacy of each and every DNA project member. The test results and identities of project members are shown only on password protected web pages, and only if they have granted permission for their names and results to be revealed to others who are close matches. Under no circumstances will we reveal DNA details to those who are not project members.

Should You Join? Have you and your family enjoyed the family stories, old photographs, genealogies, and historical presentations at Culpepper Connections? If so, then joining the Culpepper DNA project will help us to improve the accuracy and usefulness of the Culpepper family tree and website for you and your family. It is a way  to leave a lasting legacy to Culpepper family history, and to say thank you to the many researchers who have contributed to its content.

Qualifications for Free Testing. Free Y-DNA tests are currently available with the following qualifications.

1. You must be a Caucasian male Culpepper, Culpeper, or Colepeper who is in the Culpepper Family Tree and not have a known non-Culpepper in your paternal line. If you are female, you need to find a male Culpepper relative (father, brother, nephew, uncle or cousin) to take the test. If you are a Culpepper male who is not in the family tree, then give us your family information so we can add you.

2. There must not be a descendant of your branch of the family who has already been tested in our project. However, if a close relative was tested and did not match other Culpeppers, then you can still qualify. To see if we are interested in testing your branch, find your individual page in the family tree and then start working backwards to your father, grandfather, etc. Look for a direct ancestor born between 1740 and 1890 with a note near the top of his page that says "DNA Testing Needed"

3. There is a fund that has been raised to support free testing for the Culpepper DNA project. However, it is fast being depleted, so if you think you would like to be tested someday, contact us now while funds are still available to support free testing

4. If free testing is not available for your line, but you are a male Culpepper, then you are eligible to join our project and pay for the testing yourself ($99 for a basic 12 marker test; $269 for a full 67-marker test.)

Testing Process. When you join the project, a small packet will be sent to you by the testing lab. You swab the inside of your cheeks a few times, put the swab in a tiny tube they supply, drop it in the pre-paid return envelope, and you're done.

Your sample will first be tested on the most basic test (12 Y-DNA markers). Results are usually available in six weeks. Then, if at least 11 of your 12 markers are a match with one or more of our other project members (about nine out of every ten members match), we may elect to upgrade your test to a more comprehensive level (37 or 67 Y-DNA markers). Such an upgrade will also be at no charge and no additional DNA sample will be required. Upgrade results are generally available in another six weeks.

Probably the most common cause for the occasional non-matches is having a distant ancestor who was adopted, and the adoption being unknown by his modern-day descendants. If your results are not similar to other Culpeppers, you can decide for yourself whether to  upgrade the test at your own expense to see if you match some other surname.

Of course, the vast majority who join our project will confirm that they really are one of the primary line of Culpeppers. In the process, the subtle details of their Y-DNA test will strengthen and improve the accuracy and reliability of the Culpepper family tree and our knowledge of how we are related to each other.

How to Join. Send to warren@culpepper.com the following: (1) your full name, (2) mailing address, (3) phone number and (4) either your Family Tree ID# or the full name of your father. After verifying your eligibility, we will have a test kit sent to you.

Project Results. To learn what we have discovered so far in this project, see our detailed description of our project's results to date, including the branches identified: Project Results (Narrative)

Ancient Ancestral Journey. To learn about the 60,000 year history and migration of our Culpepper ancestors from Africa to the Middle East to the Balkans to Europe,  go to Culpepper Ancient Ancestral Journey.

Contribute. If you would like to contribute financially, making it possible for more Culpeppers to join, go to Contribute to the Culpepper General Fund for DNA Testing.

Y-DNA Glossary of Terms. For a better understanding of DNA terminology, see DNA Glossary.

Frequently Asked Questions. To put your mind at ease about such questions as: (1) Can an insurance company or court subpoena my DNA test to use against me for insurance or legal purposes? or (2) Could my DNA results reveal any medical conditions?... see Frequently Asked Questions

Culpepper Project Questions. Address specific questions about the Culpepper Family DNA project to its Project Administrator: Warren Culpepper warren@culpepper.com.