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OK I just did it and got the list.
Can someone please explain to me how this helps find ancestors? The names are totally unfamiliar and I do not see any value in this exercise at all. So what if they have my genes? What does that mean and why should I care????
OK I just did it and got the list.
Can someone please explain to me how this helps find ancestors? The names are totally unfamiliar and I do not see any value in this exercise at all. So what if they have my genes? What does that mean and why should I care????
You can compare family trees. Just like with 23AndMe. The difference is that just about everyone at Family Tree DNA is interested in genealogy.
OK I just did it and got the list.
Can someone please explain to me how this helps find ancestors? The names are totally unfamiliar and I do not see any value in this exercise at all. So what if they have my genes? What does that mean and why should I care????
Most of your DNA matches will be with a shared ancestor from many generations ago, so far back in some cases that one or both of you may not have that ancestor in your family tree (yet), making them something like your 5th or 6th cousins. Naturally, you will not recognize their names. Through the descent of women, you are related to thousands of people who have names not found in your own tree.
You may never be able to figure out how you are related to the vast majority of your DNA matches and it takes time and effort to figure out how you are or might be related to some of them. Look at the names in their tree, not just their own name - if they don't have a tree, contact them and ask if they have one online anywhere else. Make sure you have a tree of your own on there. Look at the locations of people in their tree - even if you can't find a name or surname that matches someone in your tree, if for example someone's ancestry is entirely in the south of the US and you have only one branch from the south, your shared ancestry might be from that branch.
Research down other lines in your tree. Find and put the siblings of your ancestors into your tree, as well as their children, and their children... as far down as possible. This makes it more likely to establish a link between you and a DNA match who may not have researched as far back as your shared ancestor. But if you have their 3rd great grandfather in your tree as a distant cousin, you can easily see how you are related, and help that person with their research. Or vice versa.
Also try researching individuals from the tree of your DNA match - if you have reason to believe someone from their tree might be related to someone from your tree, try researching their individual instead of your own. It might lead you back to your branch.
Always contact your DNA matches - they won't always respond but collaboration is key here so focus on the ones who are receptive.
By clicking the link that I added and uploading your 23andMe or Ancestry DNA file.
Oh, you want to get the referrals! Sorry, I did mine already.
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). DH is next. I should do it soon, before the news gets out and they get jammed up.
