Search for content in message boards

Are my DNA results traced from even the 1700's?

Are my DNA results traced from even the 1700's?

Posted: 2 Aug 2015 2:05AM GMT
Classification: Query
Does AncestryDNA reveal ancestry from around 1700? Even before then? I think it is very interesting but that is my only question concerning it.

Re: Are my DNA results traced from even the 1700's?

Posted: 2 Aug 2015 9:09PM GMT
Classification: Query
The answer is a maybe.

Re: Are my DNA results traced from even the 1700's?

Posted: 3 Aug 2015 2:12AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 3 Aug 2015 2:29AM GMT
You're going to tell me all I read about it going back hundreds of years and even to 1000 years is just a maybe? Maybe it goes back to the year 1700, why maybe? That's only 200 years ago. I thought DNA results were a lot more precise than that. I read an ancestry blogger write: "Genetic ethnicity results go back hundreds of years, farther back than just about all of my genealogical research. (And I've researched some lines back to the 1500's.)" So I just want to know.

Re: Are my DNA results traced from even the 1700's?

Posted: 3 Aug 2015 2:41AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 3 Aug 2015 2:44AM GMT
OK that is all true. However, one cannot know whether the ethnicity of interest came into your line 500 years ago or 1000 years ago. It depends on what you are looking for.

I have 24% Scandinavian. That is high enough I know it to be true. However I have no known Scandinavian ancestors. Therefore I know it must have come into not one but many of my lines with the Viking migrations and settlements about 1000 years ago.

However I also have 26% Celtic (i.e. called Irish here but includes Scots, Welsh, etc). I have several lines that go back to these locations about 200 years ago. However there is no way to tell if it came in then or further back or thru ancient settlements of Celts in England. After all some of my Scandinavian probably came from the Viking settlements in England, Scotland and Ireland.

It depends on what you are looking to find out and what kind of precision you are seeking.

While the ethnicity is cool, it is genealogically nearly useless. Because of the randomness of the inheritance, a person can have markedly different ethnicity than there siblings.

The cousin matches that you get are much more useful if you are into genealogy.

Re: Are my DNA results traced from even the 1700's?

Posted: 3 Aug 2015 2:44AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 3 Aug 2015 2:47AM GMT
That clears things up. Thank you so much for your response. I truly enjoyed reading it. And really appreciate it. Bless you.(I can really have something to think about from your response.)

Re: Are my DNA results traced from even the 1700's?

Posted: 3 Aug 2015 2:46AM GMT
Classification: Query
You are welcome. The DNA abilities are cool so long as one has realistic expectations.
per page

Find a board about a specific topic