Have you wondered if you should ignore your distant cousin DNA matches? Is there anything that can be gained through trying to identify how you are related to these relatives? Some of us have many thousands of DNA matches. Since it can be difficult to tell which matches are most important, many of us focus …
Did you know that there are dozens of Facebook groups where you can connect with people researching similar topics? This is a great way to get answers to your questions, research ideas, and even help with translations. Facebook groups have been a great help to me over the years. I have posted photographs of gravestones …
Did you know that your ancestor's religious records might reveal hidden facts about their life? You could discover information that you wouldn't be able to learn any other way.
Have you tried the Ancestry DNA matches by cluster tool? In this post, learn how you can automatically cluster your Ancestry matches, and how this can help you. Your DNA match list is the most valuable element of your DNA results. It is a treasure trove of information for those who choose to explore it. …
Did you get DNA matching the Scotland ethnicity region on Ancestry DNA? In this post, find out what it means to have Scottish DNA, how you inherited DNA from this region, and how to trace it.
What does cM shared mean on your DNA results? Where can you find this information? Learn all of this, and more, in this post!
Have you seen your Ancestral Journey on your Ancestry DNA results? In this post, learn where to find them, what they mean, and how you can use them to learn more about your ancestors.
Have you ever looked into getting citizenship through ancestry? If your ancestors came from certain countries, even if they emigrated a few generations ago, you might be eligible for citizenship.
Do you have an ancestor with a very common name? This can make finding records about them seem impossible! In this post, find out ways to overcome this research challenge. The common names that you will encounter in your tree will vary depending on where your ancestors were from. For example, millions of people in …
Have you ever wondered how far back in your family tree DNA matches can really go? In this post, find out everything you need to know about this question. As we all know, DNA matches share bits of DNA with us that we refer to as DNA segments. These DNA segments were passed down to …
What if you discover some of the things no one talks about in your family tree? This is just one way that genealogy has a dark side.
Have you had trouble finding information about your female ancestors during your genealogy research? In this post, find tips and tricks for locating the women in your family tree.
Which Star Wars people would show up on Luke Skywalker's DNA match list? Would he be a match to Owen and Beru Lars? What about DNA shared with Darth Vader?
If you have ancestors who were born in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, you need to know where to find UK genealogy records. In this post, find ten places to search for your ancestors online.
If you have a DNA match that shares about 1300 cMs with you, they could be your half-sibling or a half-uncle or aunt, among other relationship possibilities. In this post, learn how to know whether your match is your half-sibling, or that of one of your parents. DNA results are an amazing way to find …
Are you wondering how the 23andMe bankruptcy issues affect you and your DNA results? In this post, find out what you need to know and whether you should take steps to protect your data.
Did you know that Ancestry has a built-in feature that uses AI to automatically transcribe images? In this post, find out how to use this tool to learn about and document your ancestors. A few weeks ago, I was given an antique writing box that belonged to my great-great-great grandmother, who was born in 1861. …
It's important to ensure that the sources you use for your family tree research are high-quality and reliable. In this post, learn the steps you should take to evaluate your records.
Have you tried out the Experimental Full-Text Search on Family Search? In this post, find out what you might be able to discover about your ancestors from using this free tool.
Are you wondering what kind of information you can learn through passenger lists where your ancestor is named? In this post, discover how to use these valuable genealogical records to find new details about your ancestor’s life.
If you have spent some time analyzing your DNA match list, you might wonder if it is possible to have no DNA matches from an ancestor who you know is in your family tree. In this post, learn whether this is possible and how it could happen.
Are you thinking about putting together a family reunion, but don't know where to start the planning process? In this post, learn helpful tips for planning a family reunion that everyone will remember for years to come. I spend a lot of my free time working on my family tree, which usually means I am …
Anyone who spends much time researching their family tree will eventually stumble upon family names that cause them to pause and wonder. Here, learn how and why our ancestors sometimes have names that seem strange to us. In this post, I'll tell you some examples of some "crazy" names in my own family tree, and …
Do you want to learn more about the most recent MyHeritage ethnicity estimate update? In this post, you will find out everything you need to know about the v2.5 update of your DNA results.
Did you know that there is a way to automatically add a DNA match to your family tree on Ancestry? In this post, learn how to find and use this helpful tool! This tool, called the "Add DNA Match to Tree" tool, is a feature that launched around the beginning of 2025. Anyone with an …
Did you know that the 1921 Census of England and Wales is available on Ancestry? In this post, you will find information about the background of this census, what you can learn from these records, and how to access them on the Ancestry site. If you had ancestors living in England or Wales in the …
Have you ever thought about who should or shouldn't be added to your family tree? In this post, I'll discuss what you should consider before adding someone to your tree.
If you have ancestors from Poland and you are looking for the best places to find records online, this article is for you. In this post, learn the top places to search for Polish genealogy records and tips for using the databases. Two of my great-grandparents came to the United States from Poland in the …
Do you want to know how to use the Gedmatch Matching Segment Search tool? Learn how this tool can help you learn more about your DNA and family tree.
Do you want to know the difference between extended and distant family members? In this, post, learn which of your relatives are in each group, and in which circumstances the definition can be flexible.
Do you want to know what your ancestor's occupation was? In this post, you will find nine different ideas for places to look for the information you need.
Did you get more than 40% matching a single region on your DNA results? In this post, learn how many generations back this is, as well as everything you need to know to find the ancestor who passed this down to you.
Did you know that your Ancestry DNA results were updated in October, 2024? In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about Ancestry's biggest update yet to our DNA results.
Have you seen the Ancestry Enhanced DNA Matches feature? In this post, learn how to use it and what you can discover through using this tool.
Have you heard of Ancestry Pro Tools? In this post, you will learn what these tools are and how you can best use them to help with your family tree and DNA match research.
Do you want to learn how to connect your Family Tree DNA results to a family tree? In this post, find a quick tutorial on exactly how to do this.
Are you wondering why your closest relatives don't show up on your list of DNA matches? In this post, find out all the reasons why this can happen.
If you have tested with or uploaded your DNA to Family Tree DNA, and have a family tree on that site, then you will definitely want to read this post. You will learn about an important change that happened in 2024 and the collaboration between FTDNA and MyHeritage.
Are you interested in putting your knowledge of your family history to use to connect with your ancestors' culture? In this post, find several ways to expand your connection with the cultures your ancestors called their own. If you have read other articles on my website, then you know that most of the information on …
Census records can be excellent sources for genealogy research. In this post, learn how you can use these records to learn about your ancestors. Census records are some of my favorite types of genealogy records. This is because when you can locate your family's census records, they serve as a "snapshot" taken at regular intervals …
Did your first cousin take a DNA test? In this post, learn how to know if your cousin is a full or half-first cousin to you. Knowing whether your cousin is a full or half-cousin can be important in your genealogy research. For example, if your cousin is a half-cousin, you can use your shared …
Are you interested in finding immigration records for your ancestor from the 1800s? In this post, learn what you need to know to find these records, including where to look. If you can find immigration records about your ancestor, it is often a goldmine. These records can help us learn a lot more about our …
Are you hoping to find the ancestor from whom you inherited a percentage on your DNA ethnicity estimate? In this post, learn how to know how far back your "100% ancestor" might be in your family tree. There are many reasons that people are interested in understanding how many generations back their "100% ancestor" might …