General Chat

I had mine done through Ancestry and I have been happy with the results and updates.

I used the name I ought to have been know by and did not do a tree as such, simply put the words Mother and Father with no details.

I have had a lot of hits, some that I knew about, and, indeed a few I have already met with, some I have had to go back to see where we connect and some that, as yet, I have no idea where we connect.

My connections have been across the board, down all lines, so I do find what you wrote about quite odd, Cornish.

I had mine done on Ancestry a few years ago and was very pleased with the results. Various links proved that I had been following the right lines, but I was very disappointed by the lack of replies from new found relatives when I got in touch. A friend of mine has recently had hers done by another commercial service ( don't know the name ) with odd results. It showed that she was 60% Irish - big surprise to her and I've looked into a basic tree for her which shows very little Irish connection. Her brother is now awaiting his results from the same firm, but has been told that they only show the maternal side for females, but both sides for males.
I find all this very odd - what does anyone else think?

I had mine done through 'My Heritage', as did my sister and nephew.
Your DNA isn't 'open' for others to see, they just suggests links, and ancestors you may be related to.
So far, the nearest link has been 3rd cousin.

However, it did help me go further back on my Cornish side.
I got stuck at 1795, and someone (possibly 3rd cousin) had gone back to 1561 on the same line. I checked it all, it was right.
I then went further back to 1208 - but Cornish Parish Records, unlike most, are free.
Have had no links to my Suffolk side.
In reality, it all depends on whether possible links have had their DNA tested, and which site they used.

I did my DNA so many people on Ancestery that you can get though wouldn't spend money unless it's health related Did mine through Ancestery as it was on at special price Barbara

If you are thinking of a DNA test for health reasons then the family history web sites are not the way to go. Instead use a specialised clinic even though they cost rather more.

For FH they all have their pros and cons. I use Ancestry and am fairly happy with it. It seems to go back into the late C18 and is very good for links to NZ OZ and North America.

Ancestry will give you your matches and how many cms you share and what they think your relationship is. You don't have to have a tree - many, many of my matches don't have a tree.
I'm also on My Heritage and you get to see where the other persons cms match yours. Like many of my matches I don't have a tree on here, but the matches are mostly obscure, unlike Ancestry which has been very good.

I suppose much of it depends on whether you are looking to see your ethnicity, find relatives or looking at your health. I've never ticked a health box.

I am on 23andMe and you can keep all sections of DNA private. I allow the section of DNA that matches be visible to the person I match with but keep my health section private.

The matching just shows on what chromosome and where on it we match e.g below showing a known distant cousin on my paternal side, all that is missing is her name which I haven't copied for obvious reasons. As you see it just positions the link 36357352 to 48084989 on chromosome 21, showing 24.29 cMs size link. cMs are centi Morgans which is just the measurement they use. I have 2 other chromosome links with the lady and share 63 cMs and we meet at my gt grandparents and her gt gt grandparents.

Ch 21 pos 36357352-48084989 total 24.29cMs

Hi all don't know if this is a question for general chat ? I'm thinking of having a DNA test done. Has anyone done 1 and if so how private are they, do the finding get opened to anyone who may match?? Any information would be appreciated
Regards Christine :-) :-)