Then we can move on to evaluating the NAD.Īncestry admits on its help pages that there are three reasons why you might get an NAD, and only one is “right” in the way you and I might view it. So the very first thing you need to do with a NAD is to correspond with circle members and double check that the Party Host of the circle, their common ancestor, is correct. It is important to remember that a NAD comes only after a DNA circle has already been formed, and there could have been errors in that formation. The NAD is like a nudge, inviting us to double check our family tree to see if this particular ancestor might need to be added. The NAD is an attempt to find ticket holders who have not yet taken that extra step and added that important Party Host ancestor to their family tree. The New Ancestor Discoveries just take that one step further. ( Click here to read a blog post about this concept.) So, everyone who holds a ticket, AND who has honored that party host ancestor by placing their name in their pedigree chart, is listed as a guest in the form of a DNA circle connection. This is the ancestor who passed his or her DNA down to all of their descendants, like tickets inviting them to this party in the future. This is the ancestor I affectionately call our Party Host. Using various standards and measures, they name an ancestor as your connection. Remember that a DNA circle is when Ancestry can identify a shared genetic AND genealogical connection between three or more people. NAD’s are based on the DNA Circle idea created by Ancestry. First, let’s review what an AncestryDNA New Ancestor Discovery (NAD) actually IS. They contacted me because the DNA results showed they were a 3rd or 4thĬousin, when in fact they would only be a 3rd or 4th cousin in my tree.” They show numerous matches….Three or 4 contacted me because they were convinced they were related by blood when they may have had a remote tree connection. Just checked the web page for DNA results. “My results from Ancestry show that they use my tree to make matches. This family is related by name only (my uncle’s spouse). The latest example they show is a person not related by blood.
I believe they are using my tree to show me results that are more vague than they are revealing. “The results made me seriously question what they are showing me. “We had DNA done thru Ancestry,” she writes. Lisa recently forwarded me a comment from Kate that perfectly illustrates the confusion I’m talking about.
Your DNA Circles and your New Ancestor Discoveries incorporate your linked tree into your genetic test results. Keep in mind that AncestryDNA matches are only using your genetics. I have heard from many of you that are confused and disappointed with Ancestry’s attempts to merge your genetics and your genealogy. He was disappointed as he had clearly found something he did not need or want. His initial excitement quickly dissipated. However, it turned out to be a Captain Hook figurine long lost by another (likely much younger) beach-goer. He noticed something unusual in the sand on his way down to the beach and excitedly used his hands to unearth the treasure. Opening your AncestryDNA account to find a New Ancestor Discovery can be a bit like the experience my nine-year old had at the beach today.