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General => Ancestral Family Tree DNA Testing => Topic started by: chrissiecruiser on Friday 09 December 22 03:35 GMT (UK)
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Greetings to you all,
I was prompted to have a look on Ancestry's countries of origin for my DNA after reading some RC's comments.
Overall I have been extremely satisfied with my DNA origins as they matched my research exactly.
This time a whole side of my family has dropped off the map, as I had German and Prussian Ancestors...now none!
Really!!!
Well, I aint changing anything as I have a full history of these rellies.
Guess I just have to wait for Ancestry to catch up.
Cheers to you all, hope you are well.
Chris
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Have they been reclassified into the northern European group ??
What percentage did you lose ?
When did the latest reclassification occur ?
I only lose or gain 3percent German French or Scandinavian which I hadn't identified anyway
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Hello Brigidmac,
I do have a Swedish, Danish GGrandfather on my father's side and have traced that line back to the 1600's.
However, the other GGrandparents who came from Germany and Prussia (2 lines) don't seem to rate at all.
So, obviously there are quite a few ancestors not accounted for.
I don't know when it changed, sorry. I have not looked for a while as I cannot afford to subscribe right now, and just work on my tree.
Thanks for your interest.
Cheers,
Chris
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So, you are looking at Ethnicity ESTIMATES?
The are just that - estimates, and shouldn't be taken seriously ;D
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Hi KGarrad,
Yes the Ethnicity regions is what caught my eye.
I was happy with the previous regions as it all fell into place with my research.
Not now.
Oh well, grain of salt.
I am happy with my research (having been helped by rootschatters)and will put no store in the ethnicities.
Thanks,
Chris
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I think I looked at my ethnicity estimates when I first got my test results back years ago, can’t remember what they were, and don’t think I’ve looked since, so I haven’t got a clue if the estimates changed, or not. ;D
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Top idea Ruskie!
No more.
🤪
Chris
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I'm not sure about KGarrads wording
DNA is very scientific including ethnicity features
When my mother first tested Scottish Welsh and Irish were all clumped together now they are separate and as localities become more specific the algorithms recalculate
This is NOT based on where people SAY their ancestors are from .
It's worth looking at ethnicity when you look at your matches if you have some clear divides
For example this is my mother's ethnicity compared to an adoptee match
Mum on left adoptee on right
This was before ancestry gave the parental divisions
The adoptee had already identified her birth mothers side ..half Irish .
Her father obviously did not link to mums Latvian Jewish grandfather
shared matches indicated that she linked to mums paternal side
Which was a SMITH/JONES marriage
The links were stronger to SMITH's and the adoptees low Welsh ethnicity led toward the smith grandmother
compared highest shared matches +Gradually narrowed it down
Another high match had been told that his bio grandfather was a Jewish doctor both he and my mother have 25percent " Jewish community" DNA + the link to being same line was confirmed because all the shared matches had 25percent - 100percent Jewish community ethnicity. They didn't have shared matches on their English sides
So I left them to work out their lines having narrowed down the common great grandparents
.
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if you have a high match with private tree or no trees
since this year
you can look at which parent they match
Ethnicity amounts can lead to a
Particular grandparent if you or they have strong different ethnicities
Then you can look at shared matches and have an idea how they could relate .
My mother ( HJ) s mother was adopted
The birth fathers matches are often obvious from their surnames
The birth mother was English/Welsh and a quarter Scottish
hers a new match i chose to look at as example :
we now get a map with places of origins of ancestors of HJ . new match + places shared by both
Even before I look for shared matches or surnames on a small tree ,I can predict that this match will be through HJs Northampton great great grandfather+ his Scottish wife
They had 11 children so plenty to work through
*puctuation added to make clearer ..sorry !
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Chris, If you are confident of the accuracy your paper trail and your previous percentages tallied with the paper trail, with no unexpected surprises, and the ethnic percentages have only recently changed, then it sounds like some tweaking might have been going on at Ancestry, which may change when the next tweaking occurs. It’s probably as simple as that. :)
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Totally agree Ruskie
Ive amended previous reply ..i think we posted at same time
If you have matches you havent identified yet or want to know more about movements of ancestors i do recommend looking at this function
with the small amounts you can have fun about what you share + dont share
+ who has lost or gained viking prussian irish ...Isle of Man + wirrel no have specific defined ethnicities
of course countries are artificial definitions too defined by who was ruling power at the time .
my cousin has 3% congo/camaroon which we thought was insignificant + amusing but his first message was from a mainly African american match who had traced an ancestor to yorkshire +saw that my cousins paternal side were all yorkshire origin
I attended a talk by Turi King where she explained about a particular group of people in Yorkshire with some African descent . from african Roman soldiers .
I suppose my 3% italian could be from the Romans .
As for as im concerned if the DNA ethnicity doesnt make sense its because there's a surprising explanation or human error in grouping the results .
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I’ve read a couple of different articles, which differ slightly - some say that ethnicity estimates from autosomal DNA tests go as far back as 6 to 15 generations or approx 100 to 400 years, others say only 6 to 8 generations,150 - 200 years.
Presumably it is unlikely therefore that 3% Italian = “Roman?”
Surely the very low DNA African American person match could have come from his white Yorkshire ancestors rather than your cousin being African?
Some general information from our lovely Debbie Kennett:
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/dna/what-do-dna-test-results-mean/
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I'm not sure about KGarrads wording
DNA is very scientific including ethnicity features
DNA research is scientific, I agree.
It's the interpretation of the results where it all falls down!
And depends on the size of the databases being checked against.
That's why you get so many American matches ;)
To my knowledge no Garrad person has had any DNA tested!
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Thankyou Ruskie, Brigidmac and KGarrad.
After reading your posts again I had a big read on Ancestry DNA. It was helpful, but I love your answers.
Obviously I am not well versed in the science of DNA. Getting my head around everything is hard for me.
Too old? ;D
The other point I read was that the northern borders of Germany, ie where my Prussians originated, could be covered by the Danish ethnicities now.
I accept that's what they think, but it's not my view.
Agree to disagree???
::)
Chris
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I'm not sure about KGarrads wording
DNA is very scientific including ethnicity features
DNA research is scientific, I agree.
It's the interpretation of the results where it all falls down!
And depends on the size of the databases being checked against.
That's why you get so many American matches ;)
To my knowledge no Garrad person has had any DNA tested!
And when you read the scientific papers relating to ethnicity ESTIMATES, the words that crop up more than almost any others are ESTIMATE and ASSUMPTION.
In other words, there are scientific ways to say, "we think", "maybe" and "our best guess" ;D
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Ruskie it is my cousin who has low African ethnicity his father's family were from yourkshire for generations
The person who contacted him was researching her slave ancestors and had built a tree at least 9 generations back .
Their matches to english people came from Yorkshire which would make sense if a Yorkshire slave owner had impregnated a slave .but couldn't understand how cousin got Congolese .I ve made a colour group for any matches who have any African blood .and when it's a small amount it's always Congo / camaroon never just Nigeria Senegal .
There were two brothers who set up a weaving company in USA early 1800s and may have travelled back ..with black servants or mixed race friends/ relatives while purchasing products . Who knows ...I might see a pattern one day .
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I've recently found myheritage more useful than ancestry. The ethnicity estimate on heritage is better (I know many will disagree) plus I've discovered more DNA matches with trees. Ancestry has changed the estimates so much mine is unrecognisable from when I first took the test.
GEDmatch has also been useful and accurate ethnicity wise.
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Chrissy cruiser loved your reply 13
I think the people on rootschat are marvelous some have great knowledge ,others great insights ,others sheer enthusiasm and a helpful instinct and post interesting questions.
Most are grateful for any help and will share opinions acknowledge their limitations + can disagree in very respectful ways .
Keep spreading positivity 😊