Maness DNA Project

The global Maness DNA Project (Manis, Manes, Manus, Manas, Mainous, Maynus, etc.) aims to supplement genealogical research on Maness families with genetic evidence in hopes of further developing the Maness family tree.

At this time, definitive evidence is lacking for the origin(s) of the surname generally pronounced like Main´-us, with traditions in various family branches referring to Scotland, Wales, England, Ireland, Holland, or France as a possible place of origin. People who think they might bear any variation of this surname from any part of the world are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Maness DNA Project.

In the United States in the 1700s, families with this surname appear to have been concentrated mainly in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, but by the end of the next century the surname had spread far and wide in that country. The spelling of the name has not remained uniform, even amongst family lines known to have a common ancestor.

It is hoped that this project will tell us which family lines are related and give us a rough estimate of how many generations back they branched apart, confirming or refuting lineages with established paper trails and pointing the way for further research for other lineages. It is also hoped that eventually enough data will be collected to identify particular DNA signature variations for particular family lines, enabling us to place previously unlinked families into their respective branches of the Maness family tree. Finally, it is hoped that the project will yield scientific evidence shedding light on the surname’s origin (or origins).

Some specific goals of the project include answering the following questions:

From which ancient clan father (the haplogroup patriarch from thousands of years ago) does each branch of Manesses descend?
Do all major Maness family lines descend from a common Maness ancestor? If not, what DNA signatures characterize the different lines?
Can genetic matches be achieved with European families that might give us clues as to the original place(s) of origin and the original form(s) of the surname?
By comparing DNA results for people with well-documented pedigrees, can we trace any particular DNA changes (mutations) to particular Maness ancestors and thus enable others to identify their ancestors even when they lack a definite paper trail allowing them to trace back that far?

To find out more about the Project and its progress, click on the link buttons along the top of each web page or on the words at the bottom:

Results - FAQ - Wish List - Contact Us