·         The purpose of this page is to discuss our DNA results and to provide ideas on ways to improve the project (such as the most wanted list below).

·         Feel free to discuss this project on the The Stroud, Strode, Strowd DNA Project Family Forum (link in menu bar across top of project page)

·         To place an order for a DNA test at Family Tree DNA, click the Order Test link in the menu bar across the top of the page

Participating in the Stroud/Strode/Strowd DNA Project provides:

·         A report on the participant's genetic DNA, which is very close (and sometimes identical) to the earliest known ancestor

·         A classification of the participant's "deep" ancestry, which gives insight into the prehistoric origins of your surname ancestors

·         A sense of camaraderie with all who participate in the Family Project, which is particularly strong for those who share a genetic ancestry

·         Stimulation to family research and sharing of information

·         A wider sense of identity and relationship, as we begin to realize how much we are a World Family.

·         A chance to compare your genetic ancestry with those of the Surname and the Spelling variations

·         Locates the genetic matches that do not share your common surname

Most Wanted

We need DNA results for males who have a proven direct ancestry back to a Stroud/Strode/Strowd of the eighteenth century or earlier.   This will help those persons with unproven ancestries who are trying to associate themselves with a specific line.  If you qualify or have other lines you want to add to the most wanted list, please contact me: Susan Milligan

·         Any male Stroud living in or with a proven connection back to England or other parts of the old world

·         Richard Stroud b. c. 1745 of Connecticut USA

·         Barnard Stroud b. late 1600’s of New Jersey USA

·         Thomas Stroud b. mid 1700’s of New York USA

·         Any of the Chester County, Pennsylvania USA Strodes

·         Charles T Stroud b. c. 1781 of New York and Ohio USA

·         Any of the large group of Strouds who settled in southern Indiana USA during the early 1800’s

·         Any of the large group of Strouds who settled in southern Illinois USA during the early 1800’s

·         James Stroud b. c. 1765 of Greenbrier County, Virginia USA

·         John Stroud b. c. 1789 of  Mason County, Kentucky, USA

·         Early Strouds of North or South Carolina USA

·         Strouds of Fayette or Washington Co. PA or Jefferson Co. OH late 1700’s/early 1800’s

Results Discussion

All of the participants included in the study so far are from the United States. Many of them believe their families originated in England, while at least one (S-7) believes his family may be German. Testing has revealed that these Strouds are not part of one big family. The Strouds who have already tested fall into more than one haplogroup. These haplogroups split apart long before the time surnames became established.  We have established three lineages, as described below.  The only other possible connection is between testers S-1 and S-7, who have about a 50% chance of having a common ancestor since the time surnames became established.

18^th Century Massachusetts lineage

We have had a success story in establishing a connection between Joel Stroud of Ohio and Iowa USA and William Stroud of Massachusetts USA (S-9, S-10, S-11). This relationship was previously suggested by a paper trail with a few breaks.  

Stroud/Burton lineage

Recent DNA testing of males with at least three different surnames has proven that there was a common ancestral link to all three.  This link has most likely occurred within the last three to four hundred years.  Historical research is ongoing and no firm conclusion can be drawn at this time regarding the identity of the common ancestor.  At present, it is thought that Archibald Stroud’s (S-12 on the results chart) biological father was a Burton.  There was a Burton descendent who was in Mecklenburg Co., VA  during this time frame.  He most likely carried the Hatcher DNA pattern.  If true, then DNA tests of Archibald’s maternal grandfather, John Stroud through his offspring would not match those of Archibald.

(update 10/27/09 – a descendant of John Stroud of Mecklenberg Co. VA (S-17) has been tested and does not match descendants of the Stroud/Burton lineage)

Southeast USA I2b lineage (added 10/27/09)

DNA testing has brought together a group of researchers who had no earlier idea that they were connected.  The following has been submitted by the primary researcher for DNA tester S-8:

Our Southeast USA DNA group comprises the families of Samuel Stroud (S-8) and Merrit Stroud (S-18), who had no known association prior to DNA testing.  Circumstantial evidence suggests Merrit may be a descendant of William Stroud (son of John and Hannah Stroud of Prince George County, Virginia) through his son, Peter.  Another Stroud, who reports that he is descended from William Stroud through son William Jr., appears to be a match to this DNA profile.  However, since he has taken a different version of the DNA test, we can only establish a match to Merrit and Samuel Stroud on 27 of 28 markers.   Our group also includes eight test subjects with the surname Griffin, and a handful of other surnames.  Several of the Griffins are from a family that settled in the Union County, North Carolina area in the late 1700s.  Two of our Griffins trace their ancestry back to William Griffin, born 1740 in Prince George Co., Virginia, son of Richard and Mary (Green) Griffin.  William Griffin married Elizabeth Stroud, a granddaughter of William Stroud.  How these families fit together has yet to be determined.  Additional tests from descendants of John and Hannah Stroud and of Richard and Mary Griffin will be needed to illuminate the origins of this complex family.