Start here: test your Y-DNA
The heart of this project is Y-DNA, the signature passed from father to son. If you are a man who carries the Cisneros name, or a variant such as Sisneros, a Y-DNA test is what places your paternal line on the tree. Tests are ordered through FamilyTreeDNA, which hosts our study.
- Order a Y-DNA test at FamilyTreeDNA. The Big Y-700 gives the most detail, while the Y-37 and Y-111 tests are solid, more affordable starting points.
- Join the Cisneros Surname Project. This is our group at FamilyTreeDNA, where results are compared and the lineages take shape. Joining is free and open to anyone with the name.
Understand what your results mean
New to haplogroups and paternal lines? These pages explain it in plain language, with pictures:
- The Cisneros Y-DNA study: how Y-DNA works, what a haplogroup is, and the lineages we have found so far.
- The origin of the Cisneros name: where the surname comes from and what it means.
- Frequently asked questions: quick answers to what people ask most.
- The ISOGG Wiki: a respected, volunteer-run reference for genetic genealogy terms, if you want to go deeper.
Research your family tree
DNA works best alongside a paper trail. These are good, widely used places to search for records of Cisneros ancestors:
- FamilySearch: a large, free collection of birth, marriage, and church records from around the world, including Spain, Mexico, and the United States.
- Parish and civil registers held by national and diocesan archives in Spain and Mexico are often the key to tracing a line back several centuries. If you hit a wall, write to us and we will point you in the right direction.
Get in touch
Not sure where to start, or which test to choose? That is exactly what this project is here for. Reach out and I will help you take the next step.
Ready to add your branch to the tree?
Join the Cisneros study