Is this DNA result worth pursuing?

[crazydaizy]

After receiving my DNA results, I've had quite a bit of success finding others on Ancestry that share my DNA and the challenge has been fun linking our family trees.

Now I've found a "4th cousin or 1/2 3rd cousin 1 x removed" which at first it suggested it was "Parent 1s" side (which I'm presuming is my Dads side) then in another place it suggests "maternal" side.

Anyway, I've gone through this person's list of names on their family tree, and whilst there's no direct links (as yet) there's quite a lot of surnames that match those in my family tree. 

It's like looking for a needle in a haystack as often I don't always deviate too much from the "main" names I'm researching (i.e. I'll stick with the main surname, rather than delve into the family history of whomever they married....if that makes sense)

Any help and advice would be gratefully appreciated please.

[SouthseaSteel]

If you have Protools that allows you to look at Shared Match levels then most definitely suggest using WATO tools at https://dnapainter.com/

It was designed to help with exactly what youre trying to do.  If you need them, their own explanation videos are not the best but there are some better 3rd party ones out there. Andy Lee's is a good one. Always remember endogamy and pedigree collapse which you do hint at can really $%^& things up!!!

[SouthseaSteel]

Also if Ancestry is suggesting"4th cousin or 1/2 3rd cousin 1 x removed" then the relationship is likely to be really quite distant as Ancestry is always way too optimistic in its relationship "guesses".  Just put the cM number into dnapainter and see some real probabiities for possible relationships

[jc26red]

personally, I have had great success using shared matches (ancestry protools upgrade)  even down to 6th cousin level… ok it doesn’t enhance my tree much other than spreading the branches very wide but going this far does confirm shared x grandparents.  one branch started in the village ( well as far as I can with a paper trail) I was born my line stayed put, another went to Canada and another went to Australia and it’s surprising how much dna we have in common.. I believe my earliest forefather came from north Wales but the name is Morgan in the 17c , so who know where exactly 🤷‍♀️

[Biggles50]

The match is what 35-40cM or thereabouts.

Eminently useful IF they can be identified positively and Shared Matches give clues.

As suggested Pro Tools will show what they share with your Shared Matches where they share 20cM or more with them.

Even if they call themselves xyz but have a tree even a small one that can work.  I have a match with a tree of him and his late Father, my tree grew to over 600 and incorporated many other matches.

If I can do it anyone can.

[crazydaizy]

If you have Protools that allows you to look at Shared Match levels then most definitely suggest using WATO tools at https://dnapainter.com/

It was designed to help with exactly what youre trying to do.  If you need them, their own explanation videos are not the best but there are some better 3rd party ones out there. Andy Lee's is a good one. Always remember endogamy and pedigree collapse which you do hint at can really $%^& things up!!!

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into it, but I've got ProTools but not finding it that useful at the moment, and probably need to look into more thoroughly (before my subscription runs out!)

[crazydaizy]

Also if Ancestry is suggesting"4th cousin or 1/2 3rd cousin 1 x removed" then the relationship is likely to be really quite distant as Ancestry is always way too optimistic in its relationship "guesses".  Just put the cM number into dnapainter and see some real probabiities for possible relationships

Thank you for your reply, I've never heard of DNApainter, so will give it a go (it looks complicated!)

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

Also if Ancestry is suggesting"4th cousin or 1/2 3rd cousin 1 x removed" then the relationship is likely to be really quite distant as Ancestry is always way too optimistic in its relationship "guesses".  Just put the cM number into dnapainter and see some real probabiities for possible relationships

Thank you for your reply, I've never heard of DNApainter, so will give it a go (it looks complicated!)

Jut input the shared dna amount into the sharedcM tool on the site and the potential relationships are displayed

https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4

[Biggles50]

Read through this thread from start to finish.

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=863488.0

It will help you to understand DNA more and the books are essential reading if one wishes to learn quickly.

Good luck