RootsChat.Com
General => Ancestral Family Tree DNA Testing => Topic started by: pendlelad on Saturday 04 June 16 15:48 BST (UK)
-
Hi everyone,
I'm just curious of how many matches other people have, since i think i have quite a lot (103 pages, 50 on each page so that equates to approximately 5150 matches). Let's see who has the most!
Plus, after playing around with the Ancestry DNA website and also reaching out to Gedmatch and FTDNA to use my raw data, i have come up with a couple of improvements ancestry could make on their website. If you can think of any please comment down below.
1. Be able to search (or a dedicated page) of common people shared in your matches family trees who are NOT in your tree (who appear in multiple numbers not just in one tree). This might solve a lot of unanswered questions and brick walls. I know you can search for surnames now but it is a lot harder to work with.
2. Be able to search for the birth location of the person who had the DNA test. During my excruciating searches to find the common ancestor of my more confident matches (and mostly failing), i came to the conclusion that my American cousins are very much harder to find a link with (because they cannot trace back further than when their ancestor set sail for America). If i could search for a fellow British cousin then i could identify many familiar locations where we share ancestors.
3. Make your matches trees accessible and shared surnames available even when your Ancestry subscription runs out. We have all paid alot of money for these tests and it would be nice to receive something back in return!
Pendlelad
-
Started out with 600 last September and likely to have 1000 matches by the end of June.
I don't think I'd want 5000!
-
hurworth,
I thought there was some mistake! i cannot have that many cousins!
Regards,
Pendlelad
-
82 pages for me, so that must be around 4,100 cousins :o And I only did the test two months ago, someone must of been busy in my family.
What does bug me is the "New Ancestor Discoveries" It matches me to one of five people, having DNA to one man, this man I have not got in my tree :-\ Born in 1857 and died 1920, no connections as far as I can see.
I am lost with the whole Ancestry DNA thing. They have matched me to my 3rd and 4th cousins who I know and taken the test. Sadly other 4th cousins I have contacted just do not seem to have the same names as I do, drives me bats going over records etc again trying to do match ups. It would nice if Ancestry could do name match ups with the DNA
-
4th cousins means a common ancestor six generations back 8th cousins is ten back.
my father's list at 50 per page spans 195 pages.
as to the discoveries many possible cousins link us to the name Mills with no apparent connections, BUT one tree out there shows two men connected to one woman where the rest only show one ... and there is a son born much earlier than the rest. The second man COULD be related as the surname shows up in our tree a few times.
-
What does bug me is the "New Ancestor Discoveries" It matches me to one of five people, having DNA to one man, this man I have not got in my tree :-\ Born in 1857 and died 1920, no connections as far as I can see.
You should read this:
https://dna-explained.com/2016/06/14/trying-to-make-ancestors-out-of-nads/
I think all these NADs are giving people on Ancestry DNA-fatigue. Whilst I see the value in Ancestry doing some tree matching work in the background for users, people are getting a little overwhelmed with so many matches and some will be "false positives".
May I suggest you upload to Family Tree DNA, unlock it, and use their chromosome browser. And if you are keen also upload to Gedmatch (free). You will still get loads of matches in North America whose ancestors all appeared to have arrived with the Pilgrim Fathers though.
One thing I have been considering (not that any unexplained closish matches have popped up in Britain or Europe - well, there's one, but it's not really really close) is that surely some of our WW1 troops left a little bit of DNA behind when they returned after their war service ended.
-
Just wondering what sort of numbers people are getting on Ancestry? Not the pages of distant matches but the ones that are 4th cousins or closer which hopefully you have a realistic chance of matching.
I have 116
OH has 138
Are these numbers pretty average?
-
I gor my Ancestry results back almost exactly a year ago. Initially I had about 80 matches at 4th cousin or closer; that figure now stands at 170.
I’m the only person I my family who has done a test, and no-one else wants to. This has perhaps led to slower progress than it might have been had there been other family members to cross reference. So far I’ve linked ten of these matches into my tree, and in the process have found ancestors who emigrated to the USA, Canada and New Zealand. I’ve been able to share UK records with US cousins, and have also discovered a half second cousin who has enabled me to close off some loose ends in one branch of my tree.
At the moment I’m helping a match who is aged 90 try to discover his biological father, and following up shared matches is helping to narrow down the list of potential suspects. I’ve also just got in contact with a second cousin once removed who knows little about her grandparents because her mother ran away from home. I have a reasonably well researched tree for this family so am now sharing information with her.
Progress is slow but very rewarding!
-
50 matches per page, 984 pages but only 8 on the last page
total of 49,158 with 755 being fourth cousin or closer.
-
755 being fourth cousin or closer.
:o
755! I wonder if anyone can better that.
-
I have 120, my child has 119 and my OH 186 4th cousin or closer matches on Ancestry so in the same ballpark as yours Bearkat.
Pheno
-
My immediate family is fairly small.
But both my maternal grandparents had around 9 sibings apiece.
My paternal Gt grandfather had 15 children (not all survived to adulthood though) and no one with that surname is showing as a match. I suppose they could be one of the many who don't have a tree on Ancestry.
-
755! I wonder if anyone can better that.
my mother has 893 fourth or closer and my father has 980
-
A cousin has given me access to her DNA results, and she beats the lot of you!!
1000+ 4th cousins or closer according to ancestry. In actual fact there are 243 reported 4th to 6th cousins or closer, c 12,150.
Not that they are all really 4th to 6th cousins, she was born in Hawaii to an American father and a Hawaiian mother. Just goes to show the effects of an endogamous community and the difficulties in interpreting results. Her Hawaiian line is almost unresearchable with DNA, her father's line a tad easier.
Me, I have a mere 159 4 to 6 cousins or closer, and I have not confirmed where many of them match with me.
Regards Margaret
-
I have 386 4th cousin or closer, closest is a solitary 2nd cousin and a handful of 3rd cousins. I've had my results for nearly a month now but still no dna circle and only 1 ancestor match 😓😓😓
-
I have 945 4th cousins or closer. Over 900 of them in the 4th cousin range.
My husband has 717 4th cousins or closer.
-
A cousin has given me access to her DNA results, and she beats the lot of you!!
1000+ 4th cousins or closer according to ancestry. In actual fact there are 243 reported 4th to 6th cousins or closer, c 12,150.
Regards Margaret
Meant to say, In actual fact there are 243 pages of reported 4th to 6th cousins or closer, c 12,150!
Margeret
-
I have 386 4th cousin or closer, closest is a solitary 2nd cousin and a handful of 3rd cousins. I've had my results for nearly a month now but still no dna circle and only 1 ancestor match 😓😓😓
DNA circles and ancestor matches just prove what you already know, so I wouldn't worry about it too much!.
Regards Margaret
-
I only have something like 153 4th cousins or closer on ancestry!! I think that's because I have alot of European heritage. I'm not sure but it really doesn't seem as many as other people on here!!!
-
I have 200 4th cousins or nearer
Mother and paternal aunt have tests so I can see who matches each side
There is a 2nd cousin and 3 3rd cousins
Starting to get circles
Maternal great grandfather was Russian Jewish so often can tell from jewish surname or location of ancestors if connection is thru him even if don't have the names of trees
I was hoping to find some paternal scottish relatives who'd stayed in Scotland but it seems the people more likely to do DNA are the descendants of emigrated relatives
-
You lucky bunch - I have only one cousin, fourth or closer, and on contact he tells me he was adopted and has no idea of his background!
-
Generally, are people less interested in cousins who do not share a family line, i.e. descendants of females who have married and changed their name?
Martin
-
Generally, are people less interested in cousins who do not share a family line, i.e. descendants of females who have married and changed their name?
Martin
As I have only 1 confirmed match in my maiden name, I would have paid a fortune if I wasn't interested in other lines.
I try to follow the ladies as well. I figure that someone who has only a few people in their tree is unlikely to have a name that I know. By following the daughters of sons of daughters etc. I might come across a name we both recognize!!
It does mean that my tree is getting quite big, but it does work.
Regards Margaret
-
Generally, are people less interested in cousins who do not share a family line, i.e. descendants of females who have married and changed their name?
Martin
All my matches that have responded have been either from one of my great grandmother's sisters on my mother's side and one of one grandfather's sisters on my father's side.
The only know match from a male so far is on my mother's side and it's an unnamed father so we have only worked out which family not which man.
Plus most of the people who have responded have been female.
I'd be at nothing without the ladies. ;D
I did have one guy respond with 'I'm not doing my grandmother's side'
-
Even if you don't know names I find searching by location very useful
The magnifying glass gives you choice of searching by surname or location
For example 1 maternalgreat grandfather was from Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire
I typed exact village and got 5th cousins matches 1 lady had a big tree and we share our 5x gparents So worked out who linked us tho she didn't have my grandmothers grandfather nimrod on her tree but had his parents ....always useful to add all siblings ....on each generation.
Other great grandfather was from Latvian found 4th and 5th cousin in America with no name shares because they didn't know maiden name of grandmother or great grandmother
We were linked thru his half sisters so we come out as 5th cousins but are actually 4th ....sharing 1 great grandparent not two
1 lady had the great grandfather's name and photos of him ...I was able to give her their Russian history back several generations and 1901census in uk and school records
-
Even if you don't know names I find searching by location very useful
The magnifying glass gives you choice of searching by surname or location
For example 1 maternalgreat grandfather was from Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire
I typed exact village and got 5th cousins matches 1 lady had a big tree and we share our 5x gparents So worked out who linked us tho she didn't have my grandmothers grandfather nimrod on her tree but had his parents ....always useful to add all siblings ....on each generation.
Other great grandfather was from Latvian found 4th and 5th cousin in America with no name shares because they didn't know maiden name of grandmother or great grandmother
We were linked thru his half sisters so we come out as 5th cousins but are actually 4th ....sharing 1 great grandparent not two
1 lady had the great grandfather's name and photos of him ...I was able to give her their Russian history back several generations and 1901census in uk and school records
That's quite a good idea. Do you have to be a subscriber to do this? I've noticed that you have to be a subscriber to get the full benefits of the DNA test. I was a long time subscriber but I reached a point in my tree I wasn't using ancestry that much so i cancelled. I may subscribe short term to see what my connections are to my matches
-
Family history research has come full circle.
Before records came online the only way to research was through record offices and making contact with people with shared interests via messaging boards and genealogical research directories. Finding people who have been willing to share original documents and family photographs is amazing. Often only one member of the family inherited the family photos or the family bible. Tracking them down can be just luck but the more contacts you make the better chance you have of finding these gems.
In recent years research has become much more about what can be found online.
DNA matches opens up contact with relatives again. They may add much to your research.
-
Even if you don't know names I find searching by location very useful
The magnifying glass gives you choice of searching by surname or location
This is such a useful tool.
Providing the DNA match has a decent tree online you can quickly narrow down which branch of the family tree has the connection.
DNA matches also shows the need to extend your research - branch out sideways and include siblings, their marriages & children.
-
Folk should be aware that the Ancestry Search Matches on surname and location is not working 100%.
I have recently matched with someone who shares the distinctive names of Fryzer and Noke, and the village of Aldworth, Berkshire.
They do not come up on either search.
Or perhaps it's my cookies, browser, settings - or whatever their latest excuse is!
-
Hmm, that's interesting.
Is the surname search working for those names?
-
Nope
-
The problem is the match's research capabilities. Can we really trust their research, even if they are possibly related?
I have just been looking at yet another tree of a match who has, for example, a Ragnhild DeArran, b. Wigtown, 1195 and a Jane Evans, b. Llandegla, Moldova. Llandegla is in Denbighshire and close-ish to Mold, Flintshire. Why not check a map! There are even more bizarre trees created by my relatives. Short of re-doing their trees, there's little hope of finding a link.
Gadget
-
My tired brain, has lost total interest and feel it was a real waste of money.
I have more than 63 pages of so called matches.... that is when I got fed up counting pages... (the sun is out)
TWO are definite thats two matches NOT two pages. One is my Nephew and the other a Close Cousin. Who lives 30 miles away.
I do not want to spend precious time searching down a dead end - any longer, I will come across them as is and if they want me then they can contact me.
I have re- privatised my tree now.. darn it.
there are over 6,000 people in my tree - 80% FULLY verified... yes its been a long hard road -- and I only want real connections.. So these 20 times removed Cousins can go and
' play in someone elses yard.'
(Peggy Lee :) ha ha showing my age)
Not in a good mood today -- because Ancestry Locked me out.... and it took ages to get back in.. and re-set a new password.. etc..
I think its time for a trip on the Canal and see the countryside.
just to cheer misery up (me :) :) )
attaching a glimpse of what my matches offer.. and why I am so disheartened.
xin
-
I half agree with you, Xin. I have matches on Ancestry, My Heritage. FTdna and gedmatch. I could be checking them out to beyond the grave. However, I'm trying to find some possible link to a missing great grandfather, possibly called Frederick who could have been born in the 1830s/40s and was in NE Denbighshire in the early 1860s !
(I've now got to the S in the tree I was referring to - Scotland, Duncan I - wowee ;D )
Gadget
-
oooh I just remembed -- I uploaded to MY HERITAGE will check tonight.
But
two days ago I was researching Micah Flude my 6th something grandfather xxx
and found a contact -- just by going on GOOGLE search.. This wonderful man has now sent me an 'Hourglass' of my Gro/oocock links.. And he is a Cousin and so we can keep in touch.. lovely...
who needs DNA :)
xin
-
# reply 25
Rebecca yes you can use theither function evenot if not fUll membership but only to see basic match if you then try and see matching surnames or mutual matches yout have to renew....I make notes on potential matches then renew for a month at a time
-
X I n why not .message the person with the huge tree
You don't need to ask them to unlock but you could ask a question like how are you related to the Irish Brown's if they can see your tree they may be willing to help
-
That would be interesting -
Funnily or surprisingly ::) ::) ::)
I just got into the house after a beautiful trip to the local eatery :)
and I had contact from !!!! My Nephew -- bless him...
it said something like,
OO sorry missed your message - can you please link me to... (the only other link we have !!!)
so its up to me to Link him.. He is an extremely special nephew so of course I will try.
:)
going to shake the old tree down a bit more now
xin
-
regarding my reply#28
Today, I can get my 4th cousin by searching on Fryzer, Noke or Aldworth, Berkshire, England :D
It looks like it takes a week or so before a match comes through to the surname or location search.
I also noticed it took a day or two for the Ancestor Hint and linked tree graphic to come up.
-
you are lucky, I've had my dna results for a month now, still only getting very few hits when I search using surname or location even though the majority of matches on my maternal side were from the same place in Ireland and very common surnames, hardly anything comes up 😓 I also only have 1 ancestor hint even though I have found several matches that I have managed to find the link. I don't know what the linked tree graphic is?
-
EXASPERATED or what
one of todays 'NEW' links
we are 4th - 6th cousins
he has 2 people in his tree
there are absolutely NO details re: bmd or area.
So how the heck is he related to ME
xin
-
Ask him.
-
So after a month with 1 measly shared ancestor hint, today I swapped my dna to my private tree for a minute then swapped it back, low and behold a few hours later I now have 6 shared ancestors 😄😄 3 of the hunts are from the distant relations tab that are not as distant as our dna suggests, I guess I should not be so quick to write them off!
-
Ask him.
;D ;D ;D ;D
I have sent a query ----- ooooo --- we shall see.
xin
-
Try this for frustration Xinia. They do have a user name, but sometimes it doesn't display correctly (so I needn't edit it)
They have an ENORMOUS locked tree. They appear to have no desire to find our connection.
-
;D :o :o :o ::)
xin