How to Make Sense of Ancestry DNA Matches

Once you've received your AncestryDNA results, how do genetic genealogy research using Shared Matches, ThruLines, and Color Coding?

Discover my Genetic Genealogy Workflow using Ancestry DNA results. In other words, how do I process my Ancestry DNA matches?

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
00:49 Assigning Relationships to Known AncestryDNA Matches
04:00 Analyze AncestryDNA Matches With Family Trees
08:05 Add Notes and Color Codes to AncestryDNA Match Profiles
09:29 Color-code AncestryDNA Shared Matches
11:30 Begin researching DNA matches in a color code without trees

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✅ Let's connect:

#FamilyHistoryFanatics #AncestryDNA #geneticgenealogy

[cathyc]

I’m saving this so I can send it to my 2 new possible relatives who are testing to see if their grandfather, who was adopted, might be my grandmother’s missing biological brother. You explain it WAY better than I can!

[Deanawat]

I feel so smart just now!l By time frame 4.5 min I realized that I've started this same workflow with the exception that you started with your closed relatives. Mine was already done so I just went down the webpage. I'm LOVING that 'view relationship' button! So many 'public trees' have only a few relatives listed or they're private. When I have to add an entire line, it's my research and I'm not just relying on Ancestry or another researcher's work. These are great since I'm finding matches to my DAR lines!
Then I started feeling out in left field because I've tried the color coding and just don't have it down pat...yet. lol
Love your quip about cyberstalking for genealogy! I've felt that way too. 😆

[FamilyHistoryFanatics]

QOTD: What is your AncestryDNA Workflow? Share your steps and tips so we can all learn from one another.

[philipbutler]

If you don’t do the evaluations and add them to your tree you will have a harder time matching extended family. If you skip evaluating then you will have a harder time in the future. This is particularly important for clearing dead ends.

[whychromosomesmusic]

Not sure if I really do anything that different from what you do except that I do go to ThruLines and go as far back as they can -- 5th great grandparents and check out ALL the trees of ALL of my matches that have trees and see if they might have info (like census info) that I DON'T have yet and check those out for myself and add them if they fit to my tree, etc. Also if I find more closer matches I might send them a letter with transcripts of documents they might find helpful such as probates, Italian vitals, etc. I do a lot of my work in spiral notebooks. Genealogy or other subjects I have been writing in spiral notebooks for years and years. I enjoy it. I have a stack of spiral notebooks about two feet high that are nothing but Italian genealogy. I find it kind of hard to sit up in bed and look at a computer. ;-) Most interesting thing about Ancestry DNA wondering who are these "Potential Ancestors" and are they really? ;-)

[alanheadrick]

I have a question that's too long to ask in chat. My daughter in law has tested and transferred with four companies. She has about 800 matches and of those matches a couple hundred family trees. Her mothers maiden name only appears once with a 12cm match. This makes me wonder if there is something is not right. I would think the name should pop up a few times even if they are distant.
I suspect there could have been an adoption, or maybe one parent is not the real parent etc. Someone else had told me they believed there was just not enough matches to see the name appear. I have tried to contact as many matches as possible and they all say that name is not in their family. I just want to make sure I don't research off in the wrong direction blindly. Thanks

[kaebeth]

When you're double cousins with someone, should you pick a relationship, or leave it alone? Should that go in the notes section?

Edit to ask second question: When you have an extreme number of matches (~3, 000 close & ~40, 000 distant) what is the best way to break them into manageable parts?

[qwatson]

I have a question, I was looking through my cousin's tree and I clicked on a relatives name and it gave my relationship to that relative but I don't know.how to read it can you tell me what it means. I'm pasting what it says (step granddaughter of granduncle of wife of 1st cousin 1x removed of wife of 1st cousin 3x removed)

[danblair]

So true ethnicity estimates change periodically from year to year.

[kaebeth]

I've been thinking that I should rephrase my previous question. How do you record a double relationship on different generations. Example, someone who is both a 2C1R -and- a 3C. Is there a way to pick more than one on Ancestry? Or should it just be left as I'm not sure?

[jessikamoore]

I match people that I don't see anyone known in their trees and vice versa. One of them shares 60 cM with me.

[donnamayle]

Will a ancestry DNA test tell my kids if they have siblings they didn't know they had?

[KentPetersonmoney]

My mom and dad have the same cousin so they probably share the same amount of DNA with me as a 1st cousin even though their my parents 1st cousin

[godisloveireland]

Great video devon! Food for thought for me

[Maxwell]

I have to say.My DNA comes back with Spain+French+Greek..check again and they disappear, ?.My Granddad and his Family are of European descent but doesn't show up in my testing🙄.2015 is when I sent my tests of..I have: English-Scottish-Irish-Wales+ Polynesia+ African..

[jessikamoore]

I have over 26, 000 matches. I'll never figure it out.