Ancestry DNA

[JanieB]

Has anyone else done this. I did and got the results back this week. It wasn't what it told me, it was what it didn't tell me. It just pointed me to spending more money for more info.

I know now my DNA comes from both parents. And from what little I know of my pa, he definitely isn't in the mix.

[Baldy]

Was it a 'freebie' Ancestry weekend JB? Seem to remember someone mentioning it...

[Cadalot]

To be honest when I see the advert on TV the thought goes through my head that they can tell you any kind of tishwasty and your more than likely believe it on the basis that it's in the general area and I'm guessing the surname has a lot to do with the blend they inform you that you have.

[Snadger]

My brother who lives in America has just had his done and it just backed up what i knew already.

His came back as 65% English and 35% Scandinavian. My great Grandad was Danish so i always thought we had a bit of Viking in our blood! By that time all the raping and pillaging was over and done with though!

[burnie]

Much more fun trying to track your ancestors yourself and no con artists along the way. Can't do my Dads as he was from abroad, but on my Mums side I'm back into the 1600's and I've found railway engine builders who were amongst the founders of the Quakers. One had a big steam locomotive named after him.

[JanieB]

No. They definitely got my maternal ancestry right. I have the family tree going back to the 17th century. It's my fathers ancestry that's the problem. They might be totally correct but it doesn't agree with the little I know. I've been trying to find out about it for years, not helped by hand written records.

Supposedly, my fathers family are from Devon/Cornwall and S Wales. The Devon/Cornwall lot originally from Belgium. If i can't persuade my brother to take the test, I will go back to old fashioned sleuthing.

[vixylix]

I wouldn't even know where to start to do it manually - although I would love to!

[Guest]

I wouldn't even know where to start to do it manually - although I would love to!

Speak to someone at your local library. I know Norfolk and Suffolk both offer help and resources so wouldn't be surprised if it was nationwide. I am still yet to find the time to do it.

[JanieB]

I came to a complete full stop until they published the 1911 census and the early (ish) 1900's forces records. I've at last found out my paternal grandma's maiden name and my grandpa's birth name. This wasn't helped by my nan calling him George when his name was Hugh Charles or Charles Hugh depending on the record. The handwriting on the forces record has a fancy curly bit on the end of his surname which has been translated to a non-existent s.

I now need to travel to Bristol to Arno's cemetery to find out more.

[Jay22]

It's really easy Vix, start with what you know...parents, grandparents etc. Ask family members, you will be surprised by how much information, photos etc they have. There are lots of forums and places online which help you get further back. I've also traced my family back to the 1600's. Be warned though you do become quite obsessed. When you get one bit of the jigsaw you have to get the next. I limit myself in the amount of time I spend. I haven't done anything on it for a while but know when I do pick it up again that will be me!

[Nicos]

I've spent years doing my family tree .
Some I've traced back to the 1600s but the one tree I really hit a wall with was my paternal surname.
Word of mouth says that line came from the Spanish Armada...but I can only get back 100% accurately back as far as 1800.
A DNA test would perhaps show Spanish DNA if it were true?
Or isn't it as accurate as that?

(Might show my father was the local milkman!)

[JanieB]

That was the problem with the results of my test. It showed a massive family trend in northwest England which is correct as my mothers family are there. There is an Irish blob, not surprising as my great grandma was Irish. But if half my DNA is from my dad, where is his family in SW England?

[Nicos]

Cor Janie!

Where did your milkman come from?

I jest

Still, it does make you wonder about the accuracy/depth of the search.
Could it just be a mitochondrial DNA search they do?...that would exclude your father's side?

[JanieB]

My dad was a doctor born and bred in Bristol and trained at Bristol Royal Infirmary where he met my mum who came down from Cumbria (Westmorland) to train as a nurse.

[vixylix]

wow its fascinating, I'd love to get back to the 1600s! Maybe a winter activity for me

My MIL started doing hers actually - she only got a few generations back when she found someone who had cut his wife's throat and then his own - she stopped after that!