Your AncestryDNA results are in. Maybe you’ve always been interested in genealogy, or perhaps you received the test as a gift, and really have no idea what to expect. There is a learning curve to understand DNA test results, even for seasoned genealogists.
AncestryDNA’s test is an autosomal DNA test, which looks at chromosomes 1-22 and the X-chromosome and provides information about many relationships and ancestors from both paternal and maternal ancestral lines. This post focuses on AncestryDNA’s results, but several other companies which offer autosomal DNA testing, including MyHeritage, 23andMe, and Family Tree DNA, provide similar features.
Autosomal DNA results include ethnicity predictions, as well as a “match list” – a listing of other testers, or genetic cousins, with whom you share DNA. While the ethnicity prediction is the feature that prompts many people to test, the cousin matching features contain significant information about your biological family and their origins, and can provide much more information for genealogical research once you know how to navigate the results.
Getting Started
“What do I do with these results? I don’t recognize any of the names on my match list.”
This is a common sentiment upon first viewing one’s match list, and it can be disconcerting to not immediately see expected surnames. Before you start formulating “switched at birth” theories, take a few moments to learn about how to interpret these results.
Your main AncestryDNA page will look something like this. Click on the green “View All DNA Matches” button to view your match list.
If you have matches with predicted relationships closer than a 2nd cousin whose names you don’t recognize, you may have uncovered a surprise. Even then, don’t be too quick to judge, because your Close Family match with “surferdood456” may turn out to be Uncle Henry, who hasn’t mentioned his new hobby.
Identifying Relationship Possibilities
Your genetic cousin matches are listed from closest to most distant. Each company has a different algorithm for classification, but typically matches are sorted from highest to lowest number of centimorgans shared. Centimorgans (cM) are the unit of measurement used to describe the amount of DNA shared between two people. The more you share with a match, the more likely you are to be closely related. For each match on your match list, the total number of cM is given, along with a predicted relationship.
AncestryDNA has 7 different groups for predicted relationships: Parent/Child, Immediate Family (full siblings), Close Family (half siblings, grandparent/grandchild, aunt/uncle/niece/nephew), 1st cousin, 2nd cousin, 3rd cousin, 4th cousin, Distant Cousin.
The number of centimorgans shared with any given genetic cousin is now displayed on the main match page. Previously this information was found by clicking on that person’s username, and then on the lower case “i” in the Predicted Relationship section.
The relationship “buckets” from the testing companies are broad and don’t specify all of the possibilities, such as half or “once removed” relationships. The number of centimorgans shared is more informative than the predicted relationship from the testing company; however, the number itself is not enough to determine a specific relationship. For nearly all relationships, there are other relationships that have the same expected amount of DNA shared. A 1st cousin relationship has the same expected amount of DNA shared as a half aunt, or a great-grandparent.
Once the number of centimorgans shared between two individuals is known, many resources are available to suggest possible relationships. One resource that we particularly like is the DNA Painter Shared cM Project 3.0 tool v4.[1] This tool is a collaborative effort that combines user-submitted data with statistical probabilities. Many DNA relationship charts show cM ranges for various relationships, but there is always overlap between the ranges. This tool gives the probability of each relationship group.
For our 165 cM example above, the Shared cM Project probability tool shows that Half 2nd cousin or its equivalents (2nd cousin once removed, Half 1st cousin twice removed, 1st cousin three times removed) are the most likely options, although 2nd cousin or equivalent is a definite possibility. Other options below are less likely, but still in the realm of possibility.
Use of Family Trees to Narrow Relationship Possibilities
Many new DNA testers will find that their matches are all 2nd cousins or more distant. Most of us are not acquainted with the majority of our 2nd, 3rd, or 4th cousins, so it’s typical to not recognize the names. Ancestry.com is well known for its large collection of family trees, and many AncestryDNA users have family trees that they have associated with their DNA results. These trees greatly simplify the process of understanding who a genetic cousin is, and how you are related to them. An Ancestry.com subscription is required to view other users’ family trees; however, you will be able to view ‘Common Ancestors’ listed even without a subscription if you upload your family tree.
The following examples are the top seven matches from my match list. These matches have a variety of family tree options, including large and small family trees, unattached family trees, private trees, and no tree. The right side of the match list (next to the green “View Match” button) shows family tree information for each user.
Public Family Trees
Match #1 and I share 263 cM. Clicking on either his username or the green “View Match” button shows more information about him. His family tree shows that his mother was my dad’s 1st cousin. We share great-grandparents, so the amount of DNA shared and the 2nd cousin designation make perfect sense.
Match #2 bears my maternal grandmother’s maiden name, and sure enough, his tree shows his great-grandparents, who are my great-great-grandparents, meaning a 2nd cousin once removed between us, and the 209 cM shared is consistent with that relationship. Likewise, Match #4 is the only name originally recognized – a known 3rd cousin with a large family tree.
Unattached Family Trees
The main match list page shows no family tree for Match #5, but clicking through to her page reveals a dropdown box containing a family tree:
The family trees for Matches #1, 2 and 4 were linked to their DNA results. Match #5 has not performed that step, and her tree is what is known as an unattached family tree. Caution is required with unattached family trees, as the tree may not include the tester, but many times they do, and may contain valuable information. In this case, the tree was informative, and showed that Match #5 is a 1st cousin of Match #2.
Match #3 had a small unattached tree which only listed herself and the name of her deceased husband. We’ll get back to her in a few paragraphs …
Private Family Trees
When the match page shows the number of people in a family tree followed by a padlock, the user’s family tree is private, and as such, no information is viewable by other users. Some users will grant access to their tree if you ask politely, but oftentimes, the private trees are still searchable. A blue “Search Matches” box appears at the top of the match list. Clicking on that box will display surname and location filters which can be used for searching. Match #7’s test was administered by another person, so the only information initially available about her was her initials. A search for my maiden name included Match #7 in the list of results. Further searching of other known names in that family line helped me determine the identity of Match #7.
Shared Matches
Of course, many of the users with a “No family tree” designation actually have no family tree. This was true of Match #6. The Shared Matches feature was key to understanding how both Match #6 and Match #3 were related to me.
The Shared Matches feature is located near the top of the screen when viewing details about an individual match, in a black box in three parts (Pedigree and Surnames, Shared Matches, and Map and Locations). The headings for these boxes are Surnames, Matches, and Locations on Ancestry’s mobile app. Pedigree and Surnames is the default, and will always display initially.
Clicking on Shared Matches will display a new match list, containing genetic cousins who share DNA with the tester and the currently viewed match. Most of the time, when three people share DNA with each other, the three all have a common ancestor. Occasionally the relationships between the three parties will involve three different sets of ancestors, so caution should be utilized in analyzing these results. This situation is rare but should be kept in mind.
Shared Matches functionality can be used to categorize one’s test results into groups. Tracking those groups deserves its own post, but typical strategies include use of the Notes functionality on a user’s match page, word processing or spreadsheet software, or even handwritten notes.
The list of shared matches for Match #6 contained Match #2 and Match #5, who already were identified as relatives of my maternal grandmother. This branch of the family was from Minnesota, which has excellent online birth, marriage, and death records available. Match #6 has an unusual surname, so marriage records involving her first name and surname were searched, resulting in a handful of candidates. These candidates were researched, and one of them was the daughter of my grandmother’s 1st cousin.
Using These Techniques for Unknown Family
Our discussion thus far has assumed some knowledge of one’s biological family, but the same tools and techniques are used in search for unknown family, whether that be unknown parents, grandparents, or more distant ancestors. Family trees for groups of shared matches can be studied to find common surnames and ancestral couples.
Match #3 shares DNA with a large group of testers who are known descendants of one of my sets of great-great-grandparents. Investigation of Match #3’s small unattached tree showed no connection to the expected family. Contact with Match #3 revealed that she was a late-discovery adoptee, with limited information about her biological mother and no information about her biological father. The techniques discussed in this post, along with extensive family tree building, were used to identify Match #3’s biological parents.
Contact with Other Users
Other AncestryDNA users may be contacted by clicking on the match’s username, and then pressing the green “Send Message” near the top right of the match’s page. (Some users have disabled this feature, in which case no green button is displayed). We recommend keeping initial contact short, while sharing only those details that are pertinent. If the identity of the genetic cousin is a complete mystery, asking them to share names of their great-grandparents is often a good approach.
Studying one’s AncestryDNA results can yield a wealth of information and clues about one’s family. We recommend initial focus on the closest matches with family trees, followed by use of Shared Matches functionality to group matches by line of descent. Understanding the ancestral connections to your genetic cousin matches may take a bit of time, but is a worthwhile pursuit to help further your genealogical research.
Legacy Tree Genealogists is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this blog post. However, our resident DNA experts would be happy to help you analyze and make sense of the results you get from any of them. Contact us and let us know how we can help you.
[1]“The Shared cM Project 3.0 tool v4,” DNA Painter, https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4, accessed August 2018.
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Thank you. This is a very useful overview for beginners like me.
I match a adopted lady that was born in Texas. If you don’t know your bio parents you don’t get your original BC. I have checked adoptee sites and still can’t find where we match. I have been working with her almost 2 years.
If you are just getting started [or even if not…] get organized! You’ll be glad you did. Unfortunately Ancestry does not provide any help in this regard so you’re on your own.
As mentioned there is the ability to leave yourself a ‘Note’ attached to each ‘Match’. I personally have an Ancestry tree so a key entry in the notes pertains to if I have the DNA match/line captured in my tree. My key word in the note is ‘Done’. A similar key word in your note would be useful even if you keep your tree ‘off-line’ or on some other platform. In addition, I include in the note what line the match is from [using surnames, dates, locations, relationships]. This has been a huge help for me when looking at Shared Matches for a DNA connection I am sorting out. If a Shared Match shows up that includes one of my ‘Notes’, that is a big clue to point me in the right direction.
Even if I don’t get definitive identification on a new DNA connection, there might be enough there in the Shared Matches to make a Guess. Again, using the Note feature, I’ll add the postulated ‘line’ in a Note for the this TBD DNA connection [e.g ‘Possible Smith/Adams line from Pennsylvania; ca 1850].
As time goes by and you work your way thru the matches [and their associated ‘Shared Matches], a pattern may evolve if you take a look at the various notes you’ve left yourself along the way. Some of these ‘Guesses’ may pan out, others not so much. If you start finding that one of your matches turn into the latter category, then adjust your Note to reflect your revised assessment.
Finally, even if you have no idea about a match, include a Note anyway. Something as simple as ‘Unknown mostly from New England area’. This helps you identify that you’ve looked at the connection as opposed to being a connection you haven’t explored yet. When you leave/come back to Ancestry you’ll have an indication of where you stand on your DNA exploration.
Summary… Use NOTES!!! [The sooner the better…]
Yes, we couldn’t agree more! Notes can be invaluable!
This blog was so helpful and informative. Would you please post additional information concerning tracking my Shared Matches? I was glad you stated that tracking shared matches deserves its own post. 🙂
Thanks
My sister, same parents, and I only share 38 % of DNA. It’s been bothering that we do share 50%.
Can you please help me understand this.
Thank you,
Lin Stephenson
Hi Lin! Great question, and one that we see quite frequently. In fact, we wrote a blog article that discusses this–you can check it out here: https://www.legacytree.com/blog/introduction-autosomal-dna-coverage.
Can you help with 3/4 sob or nephew?
Hi Joan, we would be happy to help you understand more about your DNA testing results and your DNA match list. You may be interested in scheduling a 45-minute DNA Consultation with one of our genetic genealogists here: https://legacytree.com/dna-consultation.
Clicking on Shared Matches will display a new match list, containing genetic cousins who share DNA with the tester and the currently viewed match. Most of the time, when three people share DNA with each other, the three all have a common ancestor. Occasionally the relationships between the three parties will involve three different sets of ancestors, so caution should be utilized in analyzing these results. This situation is rare but should be kept in mind.
Hello I am experiencing this and would like to understand exactly what this is. I have also messaged ancestry themselves to gain further understanding.
Does this mean my ancestors into mixed many many generations ago, as well as through my parents connection?
Apologies; relating to the 3 sets of ancestors. I have one group that shares 2 sets and one group so far identified sharing 3 sets.