Navigating the long list of DNA matches can be both wonderful and overwhelming. It takes patience, knowledge, and the ability to connect the dots.
In this blog post, I’ll give you a few ways to make sense of your DNA match list and put you on the path to discovering more families.
My DNA Results
I love learning at institutes. It’s a week-long education fest. One of the courses I took at IGHR (Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research) was called Genetics for Genealogists – Beginning DNA. You can learn more about that course here. And you can read how continuing education can benefit your overall genealogy research here.
Now it’s time to put all of that education to good use.
Like many of you, I took an Ancestry DNA test. It was fun to see where in the world my DNA says I am from…my ethnicity. You probably did the same. But did you stop there? Or did you look at your DNA matches to see who you are related to? For me, it was time to delve into that match list.
Starting To Wade Through The List
Your closest matches will be at the top, like my mom, sister, and niece. You may recognize people right away by either their name or surname and know how they are related to you. If you do, click Yes for the question, “Do you recognize them?” You’ll want to do two things next:
- Click Edit Relationship and change the default relationship to what you know to be true. For example, Ancestry says 2nd – 3rd cousin, but you know this person is your 2nd cousin once removed, Make that change.
- In the notes field write down how that person is related to you. For example, your connection may be John Smith > Carol Smith > Richard Doe > match. You can even put an emoji at the beginning to easily tell what side of the family this person comes from… 💛 John Smith > Carol Smith > Richard Doe > match. I use https://emojipedia.org/symbols. By doing this now, you won’t have to wonder in the future how this person is related to you.
If you don’t recognize them, skip and go to the next match you do know. Score with easy wins first. Change the relationship to the correct one and make notes.
Trees
Next, go to those matches that have trees. When you click on either their name or the tree link, you’ll be taken to a page that shows their tree. Any common ancestors will show up in green. Hopefully, you’ll see the connection right away. Change your relationship to the correct one and make notes.
Does The Amount Of Shared DNA Make Sense?
When you look at each match, check to make sure the amount of shared DNA corresponds to your relationship. For this go to The Shared cM Project. You enter the amount of DNA you share with your match and see all the possible relationships in both a list and a chart. I use it with every match.
No Tree Or Private Tree?
Now, comes the real fun…those matches that have initials or some weird concoction of letters and numbers for their real names, have no trees, or have a tree but everyone is listed as private. There is no easy answer for these matches, but I would suggest:
- Did Ancestry tell you what side of the family they are on? This is a clue.
- Use The Shared cM Project to see all the ways you could be related. Eliminate the ones you know to be impossible and make a list of what’s left.
- Click on the Shared Matches tab. This shows the people that both you and your match are related to. Do you recognize people on this list? You should be able to at least tell what side you need to examine.
Building Trees
For those matches that are not easy to recognize at first, take any clue you see and figure out their genealogy. You may have to build their tree to see how you connect. Using The Shared cM Project in conjunction with building trees will help you determine how far back you have to go to see that ancestral connection.
Messaging Your Matches
Another way to figure out how you are related to a match is to ask them. The messaging service at each site is different, but you will be able to write to your match to see how you are related.
Write a simple message that is not overwhelming to your match. They haven’t a clue as to who you are, so don’t bombard them with all your genealogy research. Start gently. Tell them how you found them and how you think you match. Do they recognize a few surnames you give them? Ask them to respond even if they don’t know anything.
Be aware, however, they may not write back. Perhaps your match just wanted to know their ethnicity and doesn’t care to connect with cousins. That’s a real possibility. Be patient.
Also, you need to be careful if you uncover a connection to a close family member. Be respectful of the fact your match may not know this relationship and it could be unsettling to hear it from you. Tread lightly.
Finally
I hope this brief introduction to your DNA match list has been helpful. By starting to go through your match list and figuring out who they are, you may connect with new cousins and find stories or pictures that were lost to you until now. It does take a bit of time and work, but it’s worth it.
Genealogy tip: To find even more matches, you can upload your raw Ancestry DNA results into MyHeritage or Family Tree DNA for a small fee. Uploading your results into GEDmatch is free. Make sure you read and agree with each company’s terms of use.
If you need some guidance climbing your family tree, please contact me. I’d love to help you with your journey to the past.
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