DNA breakdown AGAIN

[Ruskie]

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. 

[brigidmac]

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 .

[Ruskie]

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/

[KGarrad]

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!

[chrissiecruiser]

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?   
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

[phil57]

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" 

[brigidmac]

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 .

[Lanc81]

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.

[brigidmac]

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 😊