Ancestry

Learn how DNA matches are identified, how shared DNA is measured in centimorgans, and how to interpret your Family Finder results using key tools and features.

Learn how autosomal DNA testing works, from DNA collection to analysis, and how your results reveal matches and ancestral origins in part two of our seven-part series.

Learn what autosomal DNA is and how it is inherited in part one of our seven-part “Explore Your DNA” series on autosomal DNA.

Andrew Hochreiter shares how DNA testing and genealogy records revealed the deeper story of his German ancestry—from Bavaria to the Mediterranean.

Think Y-DNA testing is just for men? Think again. Women can gain incredible insights into their paternal ancestry by encouraging their fathers, brothers, or uncles to test. Here’s how Y-DNA can help you trace your family line farther than ever before.

Explore the origins, evolution, and meanings of French surnames and “dit” names, and learn how DNA testing helps uncover Acadian and French ancestry.

Whether you're new to WikiTree or just getting started with DNA, this guide breaks down the key features that make WikiTree a powerful tool for your genetic genealogy.

From Haplogroup L0 to the Malagasy Motif, uncover the African maternal lineages that shaped humanity—and still live on in your mtDNA.

Explore how robust DNA and surname tree methods are helping researchers move beyond dominant Irish genealogy narratives to uncover lost clans like Ó Maol Phádraig of Bréifne.

FamilyTreeDNA's powerful tools can reveal your heritage like never before. Learn how to leverage Y-DNA, mtDNA, and autosomal DNA with the Complete Guide to FamilyTreeDNA - now in full color.