A university academic is launching an investigation into the ancestry of people from Bodmin Moor – and she wants your help.

Jodie Lampert, from the University of Leicester, is undertaking a PhD project focused on the history and genetics of the moor.

She is asking men with surnames that in many cases stretch back to the 1500s and beyond to take part.

She hopes her study will answer questions such as: ‘How did the moor affect contact between the surrounding communities, and between these communities and other parts of Cornwall? To what extent did Bodmin Moor prevent or foster communication between the people in the surrounding areas?’

Jodie is visiting the area in late September hoping to meet one man with each surname on a database she’s constructed using archives dating back to the 1500s and the 1881 census listing of each household on the moor.

People taking part will need to have grandparents born in or near Advent, Altarnun, Blisland, Cardinham, Davidstow, Linkinhorne, North Hill, St Breward, St Cleer, St Clether, St Neot or Warleggan.

Individuals won’t get to hear their test results, but will have the summary of the project and its conclusions.

All published results will be anonymous. Anybody interested in taking part should contact [email protected]

A full list of the surnames in which Jodie is interested is in this week’s Cornish Times, on sale now.