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List of All Posts Published on Who Are You Made Of Blog

  • What Percentage Ethnicity is Significant?
    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.
  • Can AI Help With Genealogy Research?
    With all of the talk about AI, you might wonder if you can use it for your genealogy research. In this post, find out whether you can put this new technology to work on your family tree.
  • What to Say if a DNA Match Contacts You
    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.
  • What Does It Mean If You Share a Paternal Haplogroup?
    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.
  • What is Negative Evidence in Genealogy?
    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 … Read more
  • What Are Ancestry Pro Tools?
    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 … Read more
  • How to Research Your German Ancestors Without Going to Germany
    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 … Read more
  • Is it Possible to Have a DNA Match With No Shared Ethnicity Regions
    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.
  • When a DNA Segment is Shared By a Group of People
    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.
  • Will You Lose Your Family Tree If You Cancel Ancestry?
    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 Ethnicity Update 2023: Summary and Example
    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.
  • How To See Who Viewed Your Ancestry Tree
    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.
  • Ancestry Fan View: How To Use It
    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.
  • Why Our Ancestors Came to America
    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.
  • Why Did My DNA Match Disappear?
    Have you had a DNA match disappear? In this post, learn the different reasons why this may have happened and what your options are.
  • How To Upload Audio To Ancestry Tree
    Have ever wondered whether you can uploaded and preserve audio files to your Ancestry family tree? Learn how to do it in this post.
  • What is a Descendant?
    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.
  • What is Admixture in DNA?
    Have you ever heard the term “admixture” used in reference to DNA? In this post, learn what is meant by admixture in DNA testing.
  • What Are The Mayflower Silver Books?
    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.
  • How Many Ancestors Are In 20 Generations?
    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.
  • What is the Dawes Roll?
    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.
  • What Are DNA Relatives on 23andMe?
    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.
  • How Many Years Are In A Generation?
    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.
  • What is DNA Overlap on 23andMe?
    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.
  • How Many DNA Segments Do Parent and Child Share?
    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, … Read more
  • How to Search For Obituaries For Free by Name
    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.
  • How to Search for Members on Ancestry
    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.
  • What is the England and Northwestern Europe DNA Ethnicity on Ancestry?
    Find out about the England and Northwestern Europe DNA ethnicity in your Ancestry DNA. How you got it, which countries it includes, and more!
  • Finland DNA Region on Ancestry: Ethnicity Explained
    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? 
  • What is the cM Explainer on MyHeritage?
    Have you tried the cM Explainer on MyHeritage? In this post, learn how to find and use this useful DNA analysis tool.
  • Beethoven DNA Discovery – Find Out If You Are Related
    Maybe you’ve heard that researchers have made big discoveries about Beethoven’s DNA. In this post, learn more about what they learned, as well as how to find out if you are related to Beethoven.
  • Create a Custom Group of DNA Matches on Ancestry
    Do you want to know how to create, edit, and delete custom groups on Ancestry? In this post, learn exactly how to do it, as well as how this feature can help you keep your DNA list organized.
  • What is a Family Artifact?
    Have you been thinking about what types of artifacts your family might have? In this post, learn what a family artifact is, and what your family might have that counts as an artifact.
  • What is the Storymaker Studio on Ancestry?
    Have you seen the Storymaker Studio on Ancestry? In this post, learn how to find this feature and the basics about how you can use it to tell your family’s stories. Family tree research can sometimes be a solo endeavor, and so I love it when there is an opportunity to involve other people in … Read more
  • What is DNA Compare on Ancestry?
    This is a feature that was released in March 2023 that gives us even more insight to the ancestry we share with our friends and relatives.
  • What Was the Immigration Process at Ellis Island Like?
    Have you ever wondered what your ancestors experienced at Ellis Island during their immigration journey to the United States?
  • View Ancestry DNA Matches By Ancestor With ThruLines
    You can view your Ancestry DNA grouped by the ancestor that you share in common. Learn how to do it in this post.
  • What is Genealogy?
    Maybe you have heard of genealogy, but you aren’t quite sure what it is. In this article, learn the definition of genealogy, find examples, and learn how it works.
  • Who is Parent 1 or Parent 2 on Ancestry DNA?
    Do you need help figuring out how Parent 1 and Parent 2 on Ancestry corresponds to your maternal and paternal sides of the family? In this post, find a few easy methods that can help you accomplish this.
  • How to Upload Family Tree to Ancestry
    Did you know that you can upload a family tree from your computer to Ancestry? In this post, learn what you’ll need to get started, and exactly how to do it. There are many places to build family trees, both online and in the form of software that you can have on your computer. If … Read more
  • How to See a Map of People Who Are In Your Ancestry Family Tree
    Have you ever wanted to see a map of where all of the people in your Ancestry tree? In this post, learn how you can see where important events in your ancestors’ lives occurred on an interactive map.
  • How To Find Ancestors From Ireland
    Do you want to learn more about your Irish ancestors? In this post, find out how to find which of your ancestors were Irish, how to learn about their lives in Ireland – and more. Since the year 1800, about ten million people have left the island of Ireland, including both the country of Ireland … Read more
  • Why Are DNA Results Different With Different Companies?
    Do you have DNA results from more than one company? You have likely noticed that they are different, and in this post you will learn why.
  • What is a GEDCOM?
    Have you ever heard of a GEDCOM? In this post, find out exactly what this is, how they work, how to get one, and more. The first time I heard about a GEDCOM, it sounded pretty high-tech. However, GEDCOMs have been around for a long time – since the early 1980s, in fact. However, not … Read more
  • Are Messages on Ancestry Private?
    Have you ever thought about whether your messages on Ancestry are private? In this post, find out to make sure your communications on Ancestry are private, and more. Ancestry has a really great messaging system that you can access by clicking on the envelope or dialog box at the very top of your Ancestry account. … Read more
  • What is Unassigned on Ancestry DNA Match?
    If you look at your Ancestry DNA match list, you probably see some matches are labeled “Unassigned”. In this post, find out exactly what this means.
  • How Many Generations Back Are We All Related?
    The idea that every human is related to every other human is easy enough to understand, in theory. But it leads to the question: how many generations back are we all related?
  • How to Write a Family History
    Are you looking for ideas on how to write a family history? In this post, learn the basic structure of a good family history and how to go about getting started. If you are interested in writing more than just a list or a chart of dates and places, this article is for you. Many … Read more
  • How To Identify The People In Old Photographs?
    Do you have a pile of old photographs of people that you can’t identify? In this post, learn how you can figure out who these people are so you can preserve their image for future generations.
  • How Many Generations Back is 1% DNA?
    Did you get 1% matching a region on your DNA results? In this post, learn how many generations back 1% DNA might be in your family tree.
  • Y-DNA Match With Different Surname?
    Do your Y-DNA matches have a different surname than you do? In this post, learn why this happens and how common it is.
  • X DNA Match But No Autosomal?
    What does it mean if you have an X DNA match, but share no autosomal genes? In this post, find out whether these are true genetic relatives, and how to determine your relationship.
  • What Does 100% DNA Match Mean on Ancestry?
    Do you have a 100% DNA match on your Ancestry results? In this post, learn what it means to match someone at 100% and how to understand these results.
  • What is a Wide Family Tree?
    Have you ever heard someone say that you should build a wide family tree? In this post, learn what this type of family tree is, and why you should definitely make yours wide. When most of us first started out in genealogy research, we probably had a main focus of learning who our ancestors were. … Read more
  • What is the Coverage Tool on DNA Painter?
    Have you heard of the Coverage Tool on DNA Painter? If you are a fan of the site, you are definitely going to want to learn about this helpful new feature.
  • Grouping DNA Matches by Parent on Ancestry
    Have you seen the new Parental Matches feature on your Ancestry DNA results?  In this post, find out how to use this useful tool and what you can learn from it.  Up until today, only those Ancestry DNA customers that have been able to have their parents take a DNA test have been able to … Read more
  • Ancestry August 2022 Ethnicity Estimate Update
    Did your Ancestry DNA results get updated in August 2022? If so, you will definitely want to read this in-depth explanation of what changed in our ethnicity estimate results with this latest update. If you are new to AncestryDNA, you might not know that your results will occasionally change as the science and technology improves. … Read more
  • What is Phasing in DNA Results?
    Has anyone ever suggested that you phase your DNA? In this post, learn what phasing is in DNA results, and how you can use this technique to learn more from your DNA matches.
  • Chromosome Browser vs. Ethnicity Painting: What’s the Difference?
    Many people find chromosome browsers and ethnicity painting to be mysterious. In this post, learn what these two tools are, and how they are different. These tools are not as mysterious as they seem. As soon as you learn the basics, you will be able to use them to learn even more from your DNA … Read more
  • Is 23andMe More Accurate Than Ancestry?
    Do you want to know if 23andMe is more accurate than Ancestry? For those wanting to choose the best DNA test and learn the most from their results, this is an important question.
  • How Much DNA Comes From Each Parent?
    Do you want to learn about how much DNA comes from each of your parents? In this post, find out how much of your DNA comes from mom and dad, and whether one of them gave you more than the other. Questions like these come up all of the time, especially when a daughter looks … Read more
  • Conflicting Evidence in Genealogy: Examples and Solutions
    What do you do when you find conflicting evidence in your genealogy research? In this post, find examples and solutions for how to proceed when the facts don’t seem to match up with each other. Conflicting evidence examples The two most common situations when we see conflicting evidence in genealogy are when we see evidence … Read more
  • How Do You Preserve Old Handwritten Letters?
    Do you want to know the steps to take to preserve old handwritten letters? In this post, learn what you should do to save protect this history for generations to come.
  • Ancestry Chromosome Painter Feature: How to Understand Results
    Do you want to learn how to use and understand the Ancestry Chromosome Painter feature? In this post, find tips for how to get the most from this new tool.
  • What is the Chromosome Painter on Ancestry?
    The AncestryDNA Chromosome Painter feature is an exciting, useful new tool that can help us learn more from our DNA results.  Learn details about how to find and use this feature in this easy-to-read article.
  • What Are DNA Communities on Ancestry?
    Many people who test with Ancestry DNA will receive DNA Communities in their ethnicity estimate. In this post, learn how to understand the communities that show up on your results.
  • What is a Genetic Family Tree?
    Did you know that a genetic family tree isn’t the same as your regular family tree? In this post, learn the definition of a genetic family tree, and more. You will also find out: Plus, you’ll also find out whether or not all of your living relatives and ancestors are on your genetic tree. Exactly … Read more
  • What is Ahnentafel in Genealogy?
    Do you want to learn about ahnentafel in genealogy? In this post, learn what this term means how you can use this system for your genealogy research. If you have been building a family tree for any length of time, you have already noticed that your family tree can quickly become confusing. We have so … Read more
  • How to Find an Obituary for a Specific Person
    If you need to find an obituary for a specific person, there is a good chance that you can find it online. In this post, learn how to find someone’s obituary.
  • What is an SNP in DNA Results?
    Do you want to know what an SNP is in DNA results? In this post, learn all about these variations in our DNA, and how they are used to help us learn about our ancestry.
  • Ancestry SideView Ethnicity Inheritance: Understand Your Results
    Have you seen your Ancestry SideView Ethnicity Inheritance results yet? In this post, learn how to understand the ethnicity breakdown by parent, and learn more from your DNA results. You will discover: How to know which is Parent 1 and Parent 2 What to do if you have an unknown parent How accurate the percentage … Read more
  • What is SideView on AncestryDNA?
    SideVew is an exciting new feature of AncestryDNA results that uses technology and data available only to those who have tested their DNA with Ancestry. In this post, learn what you can discover with your SideView results. I am really very excited about SideView because it helps answer questions that so many DNA testers have … Read more
  • What are Ancestry Stories?
    Heard of the Ancestry Stories feature? This tool allows you to create custom stories about your ancestors to add to your family tree and share with relatives.
  • Can You Be 100% Of An Ethnicity on DNA results?
    Have you ever wondered if it is possible to be 100% of an ethnicity on your DNA results? In this post, learn whether it is possible to show DNA matching 100% to a particular region of the world.
  • How to Use Google Earth for Genealogy
    Google Earth is a powerful tool that we can use for genealogy. Learn how to use it to learn more about your ancestors and share your research with others.
  • What Type of Cousins Are There?
    Do you want to know what types of cousins there are? In this post, learn everything that you need to know about all kinds of cousins.
  • What is the Bengal DNA Region on Ancestry?
    Do you want to know what the Bengal DNA Ethnicity Region on Ancestry is? In this post, learn about this region and how you may have inherited it from your ancestors.
  • How to Delete Someone From Your Tree on Ancestry
    Do you want to learn how to delete someone from your family tree on Ancestry? In this post, find the steps you need to take and what to look out for when you remove a profile from your tree.
  • What is an Enumeration District on the Census?
    If you have spent time doing family tree research looking at census records, you will want to know what “enumeration district” means. Find out the answer, as well as how to find district maps, in this post.
  • How to Write a Personal History
    Have you been thinking about writing down your life story? In this post, learn about different styles, what to consider, and how to write your personal history.
  • What is the Arabian Peninsula DNA Region on Ancestry?
    Got the Arabian Peninsula region in your Ancestry results? Learn where this region is located, how you inherited it, and how to trace your Arabian DNA.
  • What is Find a Grave?
    Are you curious about Find a Grave? Here, you will learn what it is, where the information comes from, and how to use it for your family tree research.
  • What is the Sardinia DNA Region on Ancestry?
    Got the Sardinia DNA region on your Ancestry results? Here, learn where this region is, how you inherited it, and how to trace your Sardinia ancestry.
  • What is the Levant DNA Region on Ancestry?
    Got the Levant DNA region on your Ancestry results? Even if you are brand-new to DNA results, you will learn how to understand this region in this post.
  • Were Your Ancestors Royalty?
    Do you want to know if your ancestors were royalty? Believe it or not, you can find out for yourself, and in this post, I will tell you how.
  • What is the Aegean Islands on Ancestry DNA?
    Did you get the Aegean Islands in your AncestryDNA results? In this post, learn how to understand this region in your ethnicity estimate, learn how you may have inherited it, and how to trace your Aegean Island ancestors.
  • Totally Free Genealogy Websites
    Do you want to know if there are totally free genealogy websites where you can find your family tree without a subscription? In this post, learn about how to find free genealogy records online for building your family tree.
  • Can You Get DNA From Hair?
    Do you want to know if you can get DNA from hair for the purpose of autosomal DNA testing? In this post, learn the answer, how to do it, and what you might be able to learn from the results.
  • What Happened to the 1890 US Census Records?
    Do you want to know what happened to the 1890 US Federal Census Records? In this post, learn how these records were destroyed, and how to find what remains.
  • How Did Last Names Start?
    Do you want to learn how last names got their start? In this post, you will learn the many different ways people got surnames and when the trend began.
  • What Are Shared DNA Segments on MyHeritage DNA?
    Do you want to know more about shared DNA segments on MyHeritage? In this post, learn exactly what those small, purple lines stand for, and how to use them in your family tree research.
  • Why Are Your DNA Results Different From Your Parents?
    Do you wonder why your DNA results are different from your parents? In this post, learn all about how and why our results are different from our mother and father’s results.
  • Can Females Trace Their Paternal Line?
    Have you wondered if females can trace their paternal line? Females do have options for learning where their direct-line paternal ancestors came from.
  • How to Understand One-to-Many Results on Gedmatch
    In this article, I will help you understand One-to-Many results on Gedmatch. By the time you are done, you will feel comfortable reading your results.
  • 23andMe Results: Mexican Origin
    Want to know what to expect from 23andMe results if you have origins in Mexico? Learn how Mexican ancestry shows up on 23andMe, and see examples.
  • How Much DNA Do You Share With a Grandparent?
    Do you want to know how much DNA you share with your grandparents? In this post, learn all about shared DNA between you and your four grandparents.
  • What is a Ninth Cousin?
    Do you want to know what a ninth cousin is? In this post, learn all about 9th cousins, including how many you have, how they are related, and more.
  • How Can You Find Out the History of Your House?
    Have you ever wondered whether it is possible to research and find out the history of your house? Learn how you can learn about your home’s unique history.
  • What is the Balkans DNA Ethnicity?
    Do you want to know what the Balkans DNA ethnicity is? Find out where the Balkans are located, which countries are included in this region, and more. Plus, if you don’t have known ancestors from the Balkans region, you will also learn how you might have inherited DNA from this part of the world. I … Read more
  • Will My DNA Match My Siblings?
    Are you wondering if your DNA will match your siblings? In this post, learn whether your siblings have the same DNA as you do, how much you share, and more.

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