Shared Matches on Ancestry

[Gordon163]

Hi,

The 'Shared Matches' category on the Ancestry DNA platform appears to be inconsistent and often incomplete.

I find that some matches found, by looking at BMD records, just do not appear.

How does Ancestry generate 'Shared Matches'; are they from members trees, or from the DNA results?

Do others find similar problems?

Thanks,

Gordon

[Gadget]

Shared matches are derived from DNA matches. However, although Ancestry lists all your matches over 8cMs, it only lists them as shared if they share 20cM or more with the other match.


add -

https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/article/AncestryDNA-Shared-Matches

[Gordon163]

Thanks for that information - most enlightening.

Gordon

[Runner55]

Interestingly, while Ancestry doesn't list mutually shared matches below 20 centimorgans, I come across random matches here and there where they pop up at say 14 or 12 centimorgans. 

Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for it, but it's actually been quite helpful when it's happened. 

Some lower-level matches must simply slip through the database onto the shared lists by error.

[Gordon163]

That has been my perception also.

Thanks,

Gordon