My DNA does not match much of my tree and I'm wondering how to proceed
Rutgers University ran my DNA and I am surprised to disccover that the results do not seem to match the paper trail that is my Family Tree. I'm not terribly disturbed by it but intrigued… it's possible there is a coincidence at play… a name that is identical with similar birthdates. But, it ccould also be a case of someone in the family was not who they thought they were or I do not belong to them. I am just casually wondering how I would find out the truth if I wished to pursue it? Sadly, anyone who SHOULD have the answer passed away long ago. Is there a common method for comparing names by state or year? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks🙃
Answers
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When you say your DNA "doesn't match," what do you mean? While DNA can be a useful tool, it certainly has its limitations and you have to be careful regarding what you expect it to show you. Could you explain more about what you are seeing?
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@LoriHuggs What tool or website are you using to view/evaluate match results? You may want to explore GEDmatch, FTDNA or MyHeritage if you want to go further with this. What you'll want to be looking for 'close' matches then investigate their lines to find records with locales that are in close proximity to your known history.
Also check out this FamilySearch Group as folks there may have some good ideas for you…0 -
@LoriHuggs This conversation seems to be focused on looking at DNA. But you also need to evaluate the paper trail of sources.
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Are you saying that the world regional assignment reported by Rutgers does not fit your previous understanding of where your ancestors came from?
https://sites.rutgers.edu/rugcc/wp-content/uploads/sites/854/2025/05/Ancestry-low-res.jpg That page at https://rugcc.rutgers.edu/all-about-your-ancestry-report/ describes the caveats.
"…or I do not belong to them…" — others would say that you always belong to the family that raised you.
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Those ancestry maps like that above really need to be viewed as "for entertainment purposes only." They are interesting but have definite limitations. They also get revised every few years as more DNA samples are added to the reference databases used.
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Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist, has a series of blog posts about the ethnicity estimates. Her tag line is "It's not soup yet," and she suggests that they are good for idle cocktail party conversation.
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