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Why Does My Ancestry DNA Ethnicity Estimate Change?

Do you want to know why your Ancestry DNA ethnicity estimate changed?  In this post, we will talk a little bit about why your ethnicity estimate changes, and how to know if it is up-to-date according to Ancestry’s latest research.

Why Does My Ancestry DNA Ethnicity Estimate Change

Our Ancestry DNA ethnicity estimates go through periodic changes based on updated science and technological advances. The past few years, there have been updates to our results about once per year.

The most recent major update is the September 2023 Ancestry update. As with any update from Ancestry, you might see different regions on your results, find that previous regions have slightly different names, find the percentage to be different, or see a region completely removed from your results.

Below, find out more about exactly how and why these changes occur. Plus, learn what these changes mean for your family history research.

Click here to buy the Understand Your DNA Results Ebook

Why did my Ancestry ethnicity estimate change?

You might wonder why your Ancestry results keep changing. This is normal, and it will happen at least once per year over the course of time.

One of the things that I like to stress to my readers here on this site is that Ancestry DNA calls the ethnicity estimate an “estimate” for good reason.  It’s only an estimate, and this is especially good to keep in mind that the technology to detect a DNA “ethnicity” is relatively new. 

The Ancestry DNA service was launched officially in May of 2012, only about ten years ago.  Their DNA testing service has evolved significantly since then, and they have added many new features and tools to their DNA site, and one important feature that has continued to improve is the ethnicity estimate technology.

As research into human migration and genetics continue, and as Ancestry DNA adds to and improves the quality of the base reference samples used to compare your DNA and determine ethnicity, we should all expect continued changes to our results. Ancestry does take the naming of its regions very seriously, but we should also take a look at the map that accompanies our results to see if the area corresponding to the regions overlaps where we know our family to be from.

I know that I want the most accurate ethnicity estimate possible, given available technologies, and so I tend to view the ethnicity estimate changes as a net positive, rather than feeling like something has been taken away from me.

How can I tell if my Ancestry DNA ethnicity estimate is up-to-date?

You can check to see if your Ancestry DNA results have been updated by viewing your ethnicity estimate. At the end of your ethnicity estimate, you should see the date when your results were last updated, as well as a link to view the previous version of your results.

This feature of the Ancestry DNA site was added in 2018, and I think it’s pretty neat to be able to see whether or not your ethnicity results reflect the most current research in DNA ethnicity.  All you have to do is log in to your Ancestry DNA account, and visit your DNA results summary page. 

Once you are on your summary page, click “Discover Your DNA Story”, which is the blue button under your pie chart.  This will take you to your full ethnicity results.

Once you are on your full ethnicity result page, there is a message that will tell you whether your results are up-to-date:

The more complete the data included in the reference population datasets, the better ethnicity results can be provided by Ancestry DNA. As of the first part of 2023, Ancestry DNA results are calculated using 68,714 reference samples and these are compared with more than 1800 regions and DNA Communities from around the world.

This information usually includes how many regions they currently test for, and how many reference samples are in their database.  Reference samples are part of what they use to determine which regions are shown in your DNA, so it’s neat to see how many samples they have. 

My Ancestry DNA ethnicity estimate changed!

Over the course of the years, I have seen many changes in my own and my family member’s ethnicity results.  My “Irish” went away, and turned into “Ireland/Scotland/Wales” and then, eventually back into “Ireland” and “Scotland”.

My mom’s “Southeastern Bantu” went from 2% to 1%, and then eventually disappeared completely from her results. My grandmother’s “Italy/Greece” disappeared and turned into Europe South, and then eventually that region disappeared from her results, too.

Below, you can see five iterations of my ethnicity estimates. You will see some similarities as they have gone through changes, but there are also some big changes.

The bottom one is my most recent:

Mercedes Brons Ancestry results 2022
Mercedes Brons Ethnicity Estimate 2022

If something like this has happened to you, it is perfectly understandable to wonder what in the world is going on, and ask yourself how your ethnicity estimate can change.

When I first started publishing articles on this website, I was surprised to see how popular the articles about ethnicity quickly became.  As it turns out, people really want to know where they come from, and when something doesn’t match up – or when an ethnicity estimate changes – it becomes a very big deal. 

A person who is proud that their extensive Irish heritage showed up as a large percentage of their ethnicity might be shocked to log in a few months later to see that their Irish might actually be from Scotland or Wales.

If my ethnicity estimate changed, was it wrong before?

Some people have the idea that an ethnicity estimate should perceived as little more than a “novelty” or just something to do for fun.  Others take it exceptionally literally and are very upset when it doesn’t match what they see in their family tree. 

I tend to be somewhere in the middle as far as how important an ethnicity estimate is, or should be, in family tree research.  If your ethnicity estimate is very different from what you were expecting, then it deserves a second look.

If your updated ethnicity results still make a lot of sense geographically (i.e. the updated region is very close geographically to where you know your ancestors were from), then you really have nothing to worry about.  In this case, it would appear that your Ancestry results align with what you know about your family tree.

If you find that your results reveal a new surprise, or even just an old surprise that you didn’t notice before, like a small percentage matching an Indigenous Americas region when you thought all of your family was from Europe, then this can guide you in your family history research.

Click here to buy the Understand Your DNA Results Ebook

How accurate is my new ethnicity estimate?

The best way, as always, to be able to gauge the accuracy of your ethnicity estimate is to start building your family tree.  Most people don’t realize how much fun it is to learn about their ancestors, so I really recommend that you consider at least making a small tree that contains what you already know. 

(Check out this article about how to build a family tree on Ancestry, which is the best way to get the most from your Ancestry DNA results: How to Build a Family Tree on Ancestry)

As you get back further, you can see if what you find lines up with what your ethnicity estimate shows.  Plus, it’s amazing to learn the names of your ancestors, and even find out where they lived.

I recommend using Ancestry to build a tree, especially if you have done your DNA test with them already.  You can connect your family tree with your DNA results and get extra features by doing so – it makes research more fun and a lot easier. 

You can get a free trial by using the following sponsored link: Get an Ancestry Free Trial today!

To learn more, check out my “DNA Tools” page where I have compiled resources about how to get started with genetic genealogy and DNA testing!

Conclusion

I hope that this post helped you understand a little more about how and why your ethnicity estimate might occasionally change on Ancestry DNA.  If you have any questions, or would like to share a story about how your ethnicity changed, and what you learned from it (if applicable), I would encourage you to leave me a comment below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Why Does My Ancestry DNA Ethnicity Estimate Change? Pinterest image with computer icon and green checkmark

Share the knowledge!

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Rich Ferrar

Wednesday 6th of October 2021

After all the 'guestimates' of my ethnicity, the only thing I hope for is that the next one will have a surprise that'll make me happy. That said, overall, I've been pleased with the tools provided.

Natalie Zett

Sunday 19th of September 2021

Hi Mercedes!

I'm so glad you addressed the newest iteration of Ancestry's ethnicity estimates. I've been doing genealogy/family history for several years and understand that estimates are just that. To date, I've never seen anything too surprising --all four grandparents immigrated from Eastern Europe (Austro-Hungary and Prussia), and I've been able to follow the paper trails for some branches back to the 1400s.

If the paper trails are mostly accurate, I shouldn't see anything other than Eastern Europe, Germanic Europe, and European Jewish, which is what's usually there. That said, I was shocked when I opened the update and saw Portugal 1%. While that's not a high percentage, that's one country I never expected to see in my estimates!

A couple of years ago, I did 23andMe Health and learned that I'm a carrier for Familial Mediterranean Fever (1 variant). According to Mayo Clinic, FMF mostly occurs in people of North African, Jewish, Arab, Armenian, Turkish, Greek, or Italian ancestry. Again, given my family history, I didn't expect to see that.

So, even though it's a stretch, I wonder if Portugal provides a clue as to why I ended up with FMF? The learning never stops with this stuff :) Natalie

Michelle Choate

Monday 12th of July 2021

My father ALWAYS told me that we were English Scottish Swedish and Scandinavian. That showed up as about 25% Swedish and Finnish….ok cool Dad was right because we are sooo blonde and strawberry blonde….but the 10% Iberian Peninsula was weird but ok…the rest of me is 65 % English Scottish. I was SUPER HAPPY 😊 😊 😊 😊 Now I’m NO LONGER ANY MUCH LESS 25%Swedish/Finish! Nor am I 10% Iberian/Portuguese that I’m ok with cause I’ve never identified as Iberian Portuguese in my family but lots of sailors so that may be the reason.

Now that I’m 1% Icelandic and 3% Norway, 1%Irish 75%Scottish and English. WHAT THE HECK?! I’m GOBSMACKED 😶 WHERE HAS ALL MY SCANDY GONE?? SOOOO MANY OF US ARE VERY LIGHT NATRAL BLONDE OR VERY LIGHT STRAWBERRY BLONDE …so a bit weird…. But worse I really identified with my Swedish AND British DNA. Fit it was like holding on to my family I’ve lost. I’ve told people all my life I’m SCANDY and BRITISH. I am 52 lost my brother, and BOTH my parents 13 months apart ,a niece and a nephew. I’m really heartbroken I’ve lost so many people I love and so much of who I thought I was. I don’t know if I should redo my test maybe… I’m not angry at ancestry I’m so very very sad. When I did my test I no idea it could change that much. Thank you very much and I appreciate being able to even do this type of testing. Thank you again and God bless all of you who bring to the world.

Alexandra Wootten

Saturday 22nd of May 2021

I like to say that my original DNA with Ancestry was pretty believable with what I know of my family...now 2 years later I look at it and I have to say that it’s BS...they took away my Basque heritage which even my mother’s maiden name reflects that...I have to say they added Scotch, English and Wales which I know for a fact I don’t have (my daughter does because of her dad) and also they took my French from 21% to 3% which is totally wrong...and my daughter who has it from both sides it’s very low...and the funny thing her Basque remained at 1% and mine went to 0...and her father has 0...in any case I think they are bogus now...very disappointed...I will not recommend now.

Roxanne Hailey-Balusek

Friday 18th of September 2020

my ethnicity changed quite bit:) I would be interested in receiving your newsletter!

Mercedes

Friday 18th of September 2020

Hi Roxanne, I would love to have you as a subscriber to my newsletter. You can sign up here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f64fe28e8fc7653714a73ea Thank you! Mercedes

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