If you haven’t checked your AncestryDNA results recently, you’re in for a treat. The recent AncestryDNA update includes some big changes to its ethnicity estimates, and there’s something for everyone to explore. Here are six things you need to know to get the most out of this new tool for learning more about your ancestors.
1. Everyone has access to the updated reports. Like most new Ancestry features, this one was gradually rolled out to Ancestry users. That left some of us to watch and wait as our genealogy friends were able to test drive the new ethnicity estimates. The wait is over, and your results should be in. Here’s how to access them:
1. Sign in to your Ancestry account.
2. Click the green ‘Discover Your DNA Story' button on the left side of the screen. You may be prompted to answer some brief survey questions about how much you expect your results to change. Don’t worry, it won’t take long.
3. You’ll see a screen called ‘Updated Estimate'. This is where you’ll see your new results, along with a line below indicating whether this is an increase or decrease from your previous estimates. New estimates will be labeled with a green ‘NEW' banner, and the items removed altogether from your estimate will be listed at the bottom.
2. There’s lots of new data. Ancestry recently announced that they have more than 10 million people in their DNA database. That large population allowed them to use 16,000 reference samples to develop their new ethnicity estimates (up from 3,000 reference samples from the previous estimates). This has allowed for refinements of the existing estimates, as well as the addition of new regions. Here’s a list of the changes to the old regions:
We’ve also seen lots of people lose old estimates that didn’t make sense. In particular, I’ve noticed that a number of clients with European Jewish ancestry had a Europe South estimate that is now gone. Fewer people are reporting Finland/Northwest Russia (unless, of course, they have ancestors who came from that area). In general, most users are seeing less “noise”—those one-to-three percent amounts of a particular ethnicity that didn’t make sense given what they knew about their families. I’ll miss my own 2% Iberian Peninsula, but as a person with far northern European ancestry, it didn’t really fit in my family tree.
3. The regions with solid dots next to them have ranges of probability. If you’re seeing an ethnicity that doesn’t quite make sense to you, click on it. You’ll see a range of probability that your ancestors actually came from that region. My own Scandinavian ancestry was updated to mostly Norwegian, which matches what I know about my many ancestors from Norway. I was a bit surprised to see 4% Swedish ancestry as well. Did a Swede sneak into my family tree? When I click on that “Sweden” listing, I see this range:
This makes more sense. That 4% Swedish is Ancestry’s best guess, but the range of probability is 0% to 6%. This is telling me that I may or may not have a sneaky Swede in my tree. I’ll keep an eye out, but I won’t lose sleep over this.
4. Don’t neglect the maps. When we think of the countries our ancestors came from, we tend to picture their home countries as they appeared on the maps we see today. It’s important to note that DNA doesn’t necessarily respect modern political boundaries. That means that some countries have more DNA overlap than others, so a region might be named for one country, but include bits of others as well. In fact, when I looked at the map associated with the Sweden DNA region, I discovered that it includes quite a bit of Norway.
I have deep roots in the part of Norway covered by this map. I might still find that sneaky Swede, but either way, this map does accurately reflect what I already know about my ancestors. Similarly, I wondered why my German-speaking Hungarian ancestors weren’t showing up, but the map for Germanic Europe clearly covers nearly all of modern Hungary. They’re in there, but you have to look closely at the maps to see them.
We’ve found that this is especially important when looking at the region Ancestry calls England, Wales and Northwest Europe. Many users see “England,” and say, “But I’m not that English!” A closer look at the map for this region reveals that it includes much of France, a huge chunk of Germany and Denmark, and all of Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Even a bit of northern Italy is included in this group. If you think about the history of this part of Europe, it makes sense that there would be some DNA overlap. People in these areas have been interacting for thousands of years, and it stands to reason that some of these interactions involved DNA.
5. You can use some ethnic regions to sort your cousins. This isn’t a new feature, but it’s one a lot of AncestryDNA users miss. Your main regions will have a solid dot next to them. For the ones with a dotted line around that dot, you have a special option.
If you see these dotted-line dots, go to your main cousin match page, and click the ‘Regions' button at the top of the list (it’s to the right of ‘Hints', ‘New', ‘Starred', and your parent(s) who have tested). You’ll see a drop-down menu that allows you to choose a region, and see only cousin matches who are in that same region with you.
This tool can be extremely helpful. I have Eastern Norwegian ancestry on my paternal side, and Central Norwegian ancestry from my mother. All of these ancestors have generic names like Nels Nelsen or Ole Olsen, but sorting by region has helped me separate the two different sets of cousins. We often use this tool in unknown parentage cases, where we may not have enough information to otherwise identify maternal versus paternal matches. Try it, and see if it helps you make sense of those matches you haven’t been able to place yet.
6. They’re called estimates for a reason. Updates like this can be exciting, but you might find that they still don’t quite match what you know about your family. We are all fortunate to be pioneers in this new era, but it’s important to remember that being a pioneer is never a sure thing. I took my first DNA test in 2006, and it told me I was Italian and Greek, which would have come as a big surprise to my Norwegian and British ancestors. This technology is evolving, and it will continue to evolve. It’s likely that some parts of your estimate will ring true, and others will be a bit of a headscratcher. Remember that the best tool for learning more about your ancestors isn’t on the ethnicity page; it’s your cousin match list. Your best strategy is to enjoy the fun of the maps and pie charts, and then click over the match list and get to work.
Take a look at your own updated AncestryDNA ethnicity estimates, and let us know what you’ve seen. Are they more or less in line with your known family tree? Have you seen any surprises?
Our resident DNA experts would be happy to help you analyze and make sense of the results you get from any of the major DNA testing companies. Give us a call or drop us an email and let us know how we can help you!
NOTE: Legacy Tree Genealogists is not affiliated with AncestryDNA, or any other company offering DNA testing.
Let me know when you can separate Irish, Scottish, and Welsh.
Hi Daniel. We can assist with research all over the world! It is important to note that we are not associated with Ancestry.com, but can analyze DNA data from all of the major testing companies and use the results in conjunction with records research to extend our clients’ family history. If you’d like to request a free consultation, you may do so here.
Do any of the DNA companies test for Sephardic Jew. There are hints from old traditions that my ancestors practiced that point in that direction.
I’m not seeing the updated regions you mention in this article. My updated DNA results still say Asia South. The only thing that changed was that my trace regions all switched to Asia South. And the map doesn’t cover the part of Asia South my family is actually from!
I do not know if this is kind of comment you deal with.
My problem presently deals with my great, great Grandfather, Samuel Taylor, who was born in Durham County, England 1747
For two years I have been trying to find just where he was born
\What area (Community ), town, village. What year he immigrated to New Brunswick, Canada, I do not know his religious denomination. I can not find him on ship passenger Lists. He lived for years in Sackville, New Brunswick Canada
We can certainly help you break down this “brick wall”! To get started, you can request a free consultation here: https://legacytree.com/contact-us.
I belong to Ancestry. Am I able to get the updates there?
Yep, follow the instructions in the article to login to your account and view the updates!
I went to my site and could not find anything on the left side about updating my DNA
Ancestry chose my regions as Acadian & Maritime. I want to find connections in my Scottish and/or Irish side instead. Is there a way I can have that as a region as well? How does Ancestry choose my regions?
My ancestry,com update did not match up with what I know. I lost 48% Southern Europe (and I know my Dad is Italian from Basilicata as his parents and grandparents. I suddenly became 36% French ( no of no French in our background- and I’ve checked with other family mermbers)) and the Italian came out 15%. The rest matched up with mom’s nationality. Scots Irish with a touch Norway thrown in. Go figure!
My ancestry,com update did not match up with what I know. I lost 48% Southern Europe (and I know my Dad is Italian from Basilicata as his parents and grandparents. I suddenly became 36% French ( no of no French in our background- and I’ve checked with other family mermbers)) and the Italian came out 15%. The rest matched up with mom’s nationality. Scots Irish with a touch Norway thrown in. Go figure!
was disappointed in the Ancestry update. I went from 48% Southern Italian to 15% with 36% French. Here’s my problem , my dad, his parents and grandparents and gr grandparents all came from the southern provinces of Italy. I have no research to show anyone French. My mother’s side didn’t change that much. 23 and me give me 7% French and 28% Italian and another 9.6 Southern European. Go figure!
i had my dna tested from anstesy daughter had 23 and me. 23 and me gave me more on my dna. daughter need to know about her dads dna then mine. we were looking for her dads for the indians side of his family. we did not find any indian blood at all. it was a shock for me since all his life her thought he had charrakee blood and there wasnt any at all. i had some shocks on my side that didnt know at all that kind of blew my mine.
Hi Patricia,
Sometimes family histories can seem confusing, but one of our researchers who specialize in DNA can not only answer that question but also provide the next steps to help you learn more about your family. To get started, please complete this form to request a free quote, and a member of our Client Solutions Team will reach out to you.
I lost the Iberian portion with 5% Sephardic Jew. Does this definitely mean I have none in me? My tesr through FTDNA has me listed 5% Sephardic Jew. This is so confusing. Ughh
Rose, you are not alone–many people are confused by the varying ethnicity estimates between companies. Check out this article from our blog: https://www.legacytree.com/blog/going-beyond-ethnicity-estimates-in-dna-testing.
If you need additional assistance, reach out for a free consultation: https://legacytree.com/contact-us.
My first results were a bit all over the place (calling all Southern Europe and Iberian Peninsula!), but my updated results are pretty much exactly in line with my known family tree research, to wit:
My dad’s half of the family are basically all English, as far back as records go (no seriously, we took the tree right back to 1560 and it was all in N England!), apart from one branch which would make me 1/16th Scottish on his side. My mum’s half of the family are basically exactly 50/50 English/Scottish. Overall then, my results should be something like 75% English, 25% Scottish (with a tiny margin of error…maybe 70/30)
My current updated results…
English: 75%
Scottish: 21%
Norweigan: 4%!
Well, a lot of Eastern Scots did intermingle with the Vikings in the 10th and 11th centuries, so…
It’s now months later but thank you for confirming here what I keep telling my husband about the “estimates”. Just pay attention to your cousin match list instead of the ethnic chart.
Example: My Iberian (was small) but got deleted. However, I’m finding that I have many many many matches with Portuguese/Spanish ethnicity. I’ve even noticed the same surnames keep showing up from those areas.
Never a dull day with AncestryDNA.
The most recent update messed up quite a bit. The prior estimate was almost a perfect match with my paper tree. Now, the updated estimate has some estimates that have no known source in my known extensive tree. Examples…I have 0 known French ancestry yet now it says 23% while my known German – which should be about 38% is now 23%. I think they have trouble distinguishing between German and French. I have Italian
– Calabrian and Sicilian ancestry yet now it adds Sardinian….no known connection to Sardinia.
My update leaves out any trace elements and I have 52% Irish/Scottish but with areas of three Irish counties which agree with what I know of my mother’s background, 45% English/ Welsh North West Europe and my father was from the South of England so that seems understandable but there is 3% Norwegian and I wonder if that is Viking or more recent?
I have still not found where my ancsetory has come from. I am new at this and having trouble finding all the information.
It can seem overwhelming at first. Try breaking your research efforts into “mini goals” to make progress more achievable. If you’d like research assistance, we’re always here to help. You can request a free quote here.. Good luck!
I still have 25 countries as of today! It went down from 30 countries!
All that flavor!!! Hahahahaha!
What is the average country count you see from…..ancestry.com….DNA test??
Love your site!
Excellent point that the map is very important, agreed!
For example, the portion that encompasses, “England”, extends from the Orkney Isles all the way to the southern edge of Switzerland. The are between these points are all considered one in terms of genetic ancestry.
I am Jewish on my mother’s side and from what we know we are Sephardic and Ashkenazi. At first the results seemed right, because I had 50% European Jewish and 4% Southern Italian. This seemed to make sense; however after the update then the Italian was absorbed into 54% European Jewish. What is interesting too is that every week my new matches seem to have African ancestry on my mom’s side, but its mostly West African. Typically these people have a large percent of Jewish DNA and are part of my shared community of European Jewish. Does this mean anything? Do I have black ancestry in my family that I am not aware of?
Try uploading to My Heritage, FT DNA and GEDmatch for comparison results.
Great suggestion, Jon! You can read more about “casting a wide DNA net” here: https://www.legacytree.com/blog/7-tips-casting-a-wide-dna-net
Hi Jon, I didn’t even know this service was available. Thanks! I will try this.
I started with Ancestry in 2016, I’ve gone from 61% English to 69% English in 2018 to 45% English and 35% Scottish in 2020. However, none of my research has turned up any Scottish ancestors. Their Tru-lines info is useless, none of my great grandfather’s family is there. I can’t figure out why some names were included, as far as I can discern, they have no connection to me. In my opinion, Ancestry’s credibility has taken a drastic nose dive. I rarely look at it any longer because hasn’t been much help.
my mother is a Scot from the highlands. We had one great grandmother from Galway. In the update I went from close to 50% Scottish to more Irish than Scottish. Go Figure.
I have maintained a membership with Ancestry.com since 2008 except for one six-month period with the last three years that I let it lapse. When I returned I have been shocked at how much corruption has occurred within my tree. Full relatives have turned into halves and changes have been made, apparently by other members that have no connection with my line. They appear to be by some who have no idea how to connect families. I finally writing my own family history to leave to my descendants but it takes a tremendous amount of research to be sure of connections. Finally, regarding tribal memberships, there are many with a low percentage of Native American in their DNA but some of their families, like mine, may have had strong Cherokee beginnings but family members branched off due to their white complexions and eventually were not recognized as native though they continued through the years to maintain their connections to the tribe. It is very difficult to follow but it can be done.
Unless you gave someone access to your tree on Ancestry no one an change anything on your tree.
I have just received my dna report from ancestry.com. Hugely disappointing. It only really pinpoints my immediate family background. England and North West Europe, but it doesn’t tell me where in Europe. It doesn’t even tell me where in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, although the percentages are listed from there. All it does is tell me about mine and my parents birth place, Lancashire. My sister’s dna results vary in percentages from mine, and also lists her as having Sweden and Norway. Mine has 0% from those regions. How is that possible? We are from the same line. I do know we have Norwegion ancestry on my Dad’s side, but it hasn’t come up at all in mine, but it has in my sisters.
Hi Yvonne,
DNA results can often be confusing for a variety of reasons – and you might need a DNA specialist to interpret them and provide the next steps to help you learn more about your family. Please contact us by filling out the form on our Get in Touch page. We can point you in the right direction and give you a free estimate if research is needed.
the first time i had my dna done i used ancestory and my daughter used 23 an me. i had mine done again with 23 and me. the 23 and me told me more but it didnt tell me if my grandma was american indian.. heck it even didnt show the indian in my hubbys dna. but on 23 and me showed me things that i didnt know i even know now that was great to know
Hi Patricia,
I believe one of our researchers who specialize in DNA could certainly help you figure this out. They would pull data together and combine that with other DNA resources to fill in some of the blanks for you. Please contact us by filling out the form on our Get in Touch page. We can give you a free estimate if research is needed.
Awesome Article……………!!Thanks for sharing the content…
Thank you for your comment, Kimaya!
There were ancient migrations from North Ireland to Scotland. Maybe this will help. https://archive.archaeology.org/0107/abstracts/scotland.html