Anyone ever done Ancestry DNA? Is it worth it for genealogy reasons?

[aprilgail]

Could a male potentially find out specific information about who their father (or that side of the family) through one of these test or is it general information about ethnicity?

You absolutely can find out- with a little luck and some work you can track back others family trees that share your DNA and many times can figure it out.

 

[lovin'fl]

DH and I have done it. Not sure if this is mentioned but they send me emails for discounts all the time and sent one recently so check for a deal. That's how DH did it, I bought it for him for his birthday with one of the discounts they sent me. DH's came out mostly Irish (63%) with a little British (20%) and mine came out mostly British (69%) with a little Irish (10%) and I had a surprise of 5% Scandinavian and 2% West Asian...DH was surprised at his 8% Scandinavian . The test will pull up any relatives who have also taken it. I have one second cousin on there and seven third cousins and tons of fourth and so on.

 

[Scootypuffjr]

You absolutely can find out- with a little luck and some work you can track back others family trees that share your DNA and many times can figure it out.

Is there a specific test/company that you would recommend to do this with?

 

[tvguy]

Could a male potentially find out specific information about who their father (or that side of the family) through one of these test or is it general information about ethnicity?

We did a story on this and the answer is yes. With Ancestry the test form asks if you want to know about any relatives. A male co-worker checked NO because his dad was in the Navy and he didn't want to KNOW about any half-siblings.

 

[aprilgail]

Is there a specific test/company that you would recommend to do this with?

Ancestry.com

 

[lisaviolet]

Is there a specific test/company that you would recommend to do this with?

General information ---- https://www.familytreedna.com/learn/dna-basics/ydna/

All their different tests --- https://www.familytreedna.com/learn/dna-basics/ydna/https://www.familytreedna.com/products.aspx

* The second link is not going to the page with the products. Press the DNA tests link in the top left of any of their pages

_______________________________

Aprilgail, has ancestry added this specific test?

 

[lisaviolet]

Dad's results are making me nervous. I've been working for over 25 years on this and I have a very extensive tree on his side. But all the matches I have been able to identify are on his maternal side. I haven't confirmed anything yet on his paternal side. There has always been comments that Dad's father is not the same as his siblings, the name mentioned being a 'notable' person. Funny thing is I'm getting lots of matches with this persons surname in their trees.
.

Wow.

Good luck with everything.

_________________________________________________

LLCoolJ did the PBS geneology show.

Behind the scenes they contacted him to let him know that something was not matching in his DNA results. And they didn't want to put it in the show if he was uncomfortable.

His mother and LLCoolJ found out, in that moment, that his grandparents were not his biological grandparents (they are deceased). His mother had no idea that they were not her biological parents.

They traced back his biological grandfather and he was known in the boxing world. They found it hysterical and eerie as his mother was absolutely obsessed with boxing throughout her lifetime. And of course LLCoolJ's first big video dancing around a boxing ring.

It was a lovely show as even though it was a big secret to uncover, he gave tremendous respect to his grandparents who had helped raise him. They had gone through a lot together (his own father had shot and left his mother and grandfather for dead when he was very little).

He shared that the revelation that they were not his biological relatives made him love and adore them even more. For everything that they had given him in life.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

Just wanted to mention that you can upload your Ancestry results to Gedmatch. This allows you to compare your results to others that have uploaded that have tested with other companies such as FTDNA etc. You can also upload to FTDNA if you have tested with Ancestry.