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 …

If you logged into your Ancestry account, yet can't see the DNA results you were expecting to see? In this post, learn the reasons why this might have happened, and what to do about it.

Do you have a close DNA match with whom you would like to figure out your relationship? In this post, learn some strategies that you can use to find out how you are related to those closer DNA matches. It might seem like it should be very easy to figure out how a close DNA …

Did you know that you can use the free Relative Finder tool to quickly find out how you are related to friends or even famous people? In this post, learn how the tool works and how to get started using it. I first used Relative Finder because my child asked me if I thought we …

Did you know that genetic males can now learn about their ancient direct-line paternal ancestry on their Family Tree DNA Family Finder results? In this post, find out how to see this information, and more. The Y-DNA haplogroup is now included automatically when you take a new Family Tree DNA Family Finder test. However, if …

Do you ever wonder how far back the furthest family tree goes? In this post, learn the furthest verified case that anyone has been able to trace their ancestry.

If you know that you have endogamy in your family tree due to many generations of marriages between cousins, you might want to know how this affects your DNA and matches. In this post, learn more about this topic through examples.

Have you ever wondered who owns your family story, and which boundaries, if any, should limit your family tree research? In this post, find a discussion about who has the right to tangible and intangible aspects of a family's history. Most people who have dabbled in genealogy know that not everyone in their family loves …

Do you have DNA matches that you can't place in your family tree? In this post, find tips that will show you how to find the extra information you need

Do you want to know what percentage ethnicity on your DNA results is considered significant? In this post, we'll discuss the answer to this question - and more.

Have you been contacted by a DNA match, but aren't sure how to respond? In this post, find tips and ideas for how to proceed.

Do you share a paternal haplogroup with someone? If you wonder what this means, and if you might be related to this person, this article will answer your questions.

Have you heard of negative evidence in genealogy? In this post, learn what this term means, as well as how you can use and document negative evidence in your family tree research. Family tree research can sometimes be difficult. We are searching for records and documents related to people who lived long ago, often without …

Have you heard of Ancestry Pro Tools? In this post, learn more details about this set of features, how much they cost, and how they might help you with your family tree. When I first saw the Pro Tools features, I wasn't sure if they would be something that I could use. Even though I …

Do you wonder if it is possible to research your German ancestors without actually having to go to Germany? In this post, we'll discuss how to research your German ancestors from the comfort of home. Of course, I would love to take a trip to Germany to see where my ancestors lived and maybe do …

What does it mean when you have a DNA match that doesn't share any ethnicity regions with you? In this post, find out how this can happen and what it means.

Have a situation where multiple DNA matches share the same DNA segment with you? Learn what this means, and what you can learn from this.

Do you wonder what will happen to your family tree if you have to take a break from your Ancestry subscription? In this post, find out that answer.

Ancestry DNA released the 2023 Ethnicity Estimate update in September. In this post, learn about how this update is different and what to look for on your own updated DNA results.

Have you ever wondered who has seen your Ancestry tree? In this post, learn how to find out who has viewed your tree and reasons why they might have done so.

Did you know that you can display your Ancestry family tree as a fan chart? In this post, learn how to use the new Ancestry fan view.

Have you ever wondered why your ancestors came to America? This article provides the main reasons that our ancestors decided to leave home and build a new life in the United States.

Have you had a DNA match disappear? In this post, learn the different reasons why this may have happened and what your options are.

Have ever wondered whether you can uploaded and preserve audio files to your Ancestry family tree? Learn how to do it in this post.

Do you want to know what a descendant is, what it means to be a descendant, and who your descendants are? In this post, learn the answers and more.

Have you ever heard the term "admixture" used in reference to DNA? In this post, learn what is meant by admixture in DNA testing.

Have you heard of the Mayflower Silver Books? In this post, learn about this useful research resource and how you can use it for your own family tree.

Have you ever wondered how many ancestors are in your family going back 20 generations? In this post, find out the answer, and much more about this topic.

Have you heard of the Dawes Roll? In this post, learn what this list was, who was and wasn't on it, and how you can use this resource to learn about your ancestors.

If you did a 23andMe test, then you almost definitely have DNA Relatives on your results. In this post, learn what this means and how these individuals are related to you.

Do you want to learn how many years are in a generation? In this post, find out the answer, and whether the number of years in a generation ever changes.

Have you seen the term "DNA Overlap" on your 23andMe DNA match list? In this post, where to find this information, and what it means about your relationship with your DNA relatives.

Have you wondered how many DNA segments parents and their children usually share? In this post, learn the answer and find out why some might share less than usual. If you have a parent or child that has taken a DNA test, or you have a DNA match that might be a parent or child, …

Are you interested in finding an obituary for someone? In this post, you will find out how to search for obituaries by name completely for free.

Would it be helpful if there was there a way to search for an Ancestry member? With millions of Ancestry members, learn here how to find the right one.

Find out about the England and Northwestern Europe DNA ethnicity in your Ancestry DNA. How you got it, which countries it includes, and more!

Did you find out that you have Finland in your Ancestry DNA results?  Are you wondering whether this means you have a recent ancestor from the area?