How Likely Will You Find a DNA Match to 5th Great Grandfather?

[@janeyann8316]

I found a DNA match on Ancestry to our 10th great grandfather and grandmother. Unusual surname and a DNA match who had done a massive amount of research on his tree, actually visiting the local record office. And Ancestry have a big database.

[@bgrainger3477]

I missed the live feed so I'm watching the replay and I really appreciate the charts that you made. Like you, visual charts help me follow along and visualize what you are saying. Do you have these kinds of charts that we can download? I'm really enjoying the video. Thank you so much for making it

[@awizenwoman]

I've already found my two most significant GGFx5 from whom I have inherited most of my exceptionally DNA and personality due to multi-generational endogamy. I did years of paper research before I tested, so that I would know which surnames to recognise once my test results arrived a year ago. Since then, so many cousin matches have researched their trees, that in adding them to my tree, I now have loads of other GGFx5, although not all. Many high cousin match have not even built a basic parent and grandparent tree. You channel has been very helpful.

[@craigk.gowens7534]

Pedigree collapse and Endogamy will increase the chances of matching a distant cousin because the DNA has multiple paths it could have followed from the distant ancestors down to you. For example, you have a cousin who is your triple 5th cousin. Without pedigree collapse, the chances of matching a 5th cousin is about 15.9%, so there is a 84.1% chance of not matching. The probability of not matching on all three paths is (.841)^3 or 59.5%, so the probability of matching on one (or more) of the paths of connection is 1- .595 or 40.5%. Even though they are a triple cousin, you probably won't share more DNA than usual because of the low probability of matching on multiple paths, but the existence of the multiple paths greatly increases the chance of matching at least once.

[@larrymcclain8874]

I noticed that there are now companies that will do autosomal DNA testing from artifacts, such as a licked envelope or stamp, allowing individuals who are now deceased in your tree, but who are higher in generation to advance your DNA research further up the tree. Question - does this really work?

[@JOANEGANDYTheArtofGandy]

This is an awesome video that I am going to share as a useful tool!! When I was able to have my parents, several cousins, aunts, and two great aunts to take DNA tests to confirm the family trees within our family for decades, I was quite elated to know why I and my family have always been patriotic and our flags could be found in our home or outside our home or both!!! My mother’s side connected through DNA to numerous cousins related to George Washington’s parents, and my father’s side connected to the well known political dynasty of the Settles of the Carolinas. My mother’s maternal grandfather was multiracial and my mother’s paternal grandparents and I knew of our European side. My mother’s father came from free people of color so their records are to the 1830s. My mother was fair, greenish hazel eyes, natural sandy brown hair. Moreover, my father’s paternal side has confirmed American Indian DNA of the Gastons as we knew our history. The Gastons, Kimbroughs, Walkers, and Irvings line ended up in Kosciusko, Mississippi and they built a well known church and connected to a well known celebrity. We have numerous celebrities in our family within my maternal and paternal side, but popularity or notoriety is not what makes us human. The history and the triumphs of every single ancestor are what makes us human. DNA and genealogy is an unrelenting gift that is special to all of us just by knowing what makes us human and how each of us can contribute respectfully and lovingly toward humanity!!!

[@lewis7315]

Hi, Andy. I am one of very few people who know their Mothers' Crocker and Fathers' Brackett exact ancestory back to their and my 1630s first American settlers; As well as where the name comes from in England and France 1000 years ago! The ancient Devon UK saying is that "when the conqueror came (in 1066), the Crockers were at home!""

[@VanessaKittredge]

Hi! I’m a Brackett descendant! Captain Richard Brackett, helped Winthrop start First Church of Boston, was the Boston Jailer, then removed to Braintree, now Quincy?! Went to his grave last year. I’m paying to restore one of his daughter’s headstone. Going to Boston to see more of our family history next month 🇺🇸

[@robins8769]

Super helpful - charts are always good! Thanks!

[@TimSeburn]

the breakdown of percentages for the various range of relationships was very helpful!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Awesome. Thanks for letting me know.

[@chrisferraiolo1935]

Very cool video. In my case I have found some DNA matches to 5th great-grandparents. What helped the most, like Andy said, was that I tested my parents. I also have a great-aunt tested. So, that helps a lot. What also helps is building the tree down using traditional methods of genealogy and then going back and seeing if there's a link on the Thrulines. I've done that a few times and it proved a link. Now here's an interesting thing. I have a DNA match at 225 cMs across 10 and she is a known 2nd cousin once removed. We descend from my 2nd great-grandparents who are Quebecois in origin. She matches my mom at 315 across 13. She's her second cousin. But, Ancestry wanted to make her a first cousin once removed. We already knew the lines. There's no doubt about anything. It's just funny how the site tries to make her that relationship when the paper trail says otherwise. Gotta love Quebec!!!

[@PaulJHawkinsJr]

You have to remember that 2c would be between approx. 212 and 425. 425-850 would be your 2c parents (your 1c1r). Quebec, eh? We're most likely related lol

[@chrisferraiolo1935]

@@PaulJHawkinsJr Most likely. =)

[@PaulJHawkinsJr]

@@chrisferraiolo1935 the book French Families of the Border Cities Region, traces a lot of french immigrants back to the 1600s. I have a few branches way back that have the same people on multiple branches. If you think of a previous video, where so many generations back you have 120 ancestors vs what you would think 128 ancestors (5ggp)

[@chrisferraiolo1935]

@@PaulJHawkinsJr Cool. 3/4ths of my mom's side is from Quebec so there's a chance we're related on multiple fronts. I apparently descend from some of the first settlers of Quebec and 70 or so Filles du roi.

[@PaulJHawkinsJr]

@@chrisferraiolo1935 I'll check my ancestry DNA matches

[@whychromosomesmusic5766]

This is interesting. I don't really think too much about matches that far apart unless it might solve a family mystery if we DID match. I still prefer to rely mostly on documents. Such as one that I found recently which adds more validity to my great great grandfather having been an Abandoned Infant born with one name and then marrying twice and having children with a different name than his birth name. Born in a city and then lived as an adult in a small town near the Alps. And last night I found a military conscription document that concerned his birth name as an identification but specifically stated the name of the small town and information about letters sent to that effect that he was not in the city and therefore ineligible for conscription there. So one more piece of evidence that the two different names ARE the same person which of course ties him to his parents in the city and grandparents, etc. on back.

[@selinaBARMAR2565]

Hi I'm learning a lot from you videos. I have been doing DNA study because of missing relatives. I have discovered though how even distant cousins such as 5th and beyond can help a lot in tracing ancestral lines. True, likely not to share DNA but if you are someone like me who has had some missing pieces to what regions your family cam from. I know well much of my background on my mom's side but dad's was a puzzle still. Yes, I have mixed heritage and I never met my grandmother. But I was confused why I had so many Irish matches. Nothing against the Irish I just didn't give it a thought to be connected to Ireland. Then I started to notice the reoccurring Irish names beginning with 3rd cousins to 5th. I see that some are still in Ireland. My DNA has been painful because I have missing relatives. I started doing the triangulation and put together how cousins and I share a common ancestor. Well, fast forward, my grandmother was described to me some, but no one ever said she was Irish, fully Irish. Well, from my grandmother I can trace heritage back to Ireland. My great, great grandmother was born in Ireland. I disovered this from census and other research trails. Well I don't know if this matters at all but I do love Irish oatmeal, scones, Irish Soda Bread, and at times have listened to Celtic music...so I guess I was being prepared for the shock, I'm a little Irish too! lol

[@PaulJHawkinsJr]

Lol my traditional research 35 years ago when I was 17 had Irish, no Scottish. Ancestry DNA gives me 29% scottish 0% Irish. Lol

[@selinaBARMAR2565]

@@PaulJHawkinsJr Cool, for some of us it takes about a lifetime to find truth the pieces of identity...interesting your findings, what I've discovered is how Ireland get broken down between Catholic and Protestant too...

[@PaulJHawkinsJr]

@@selinaBARMAR2565 yes, I imagine it will take me massive research (and luck) to find the truth. I went back to pre-1841 on most lines (all 4 of my dad's grandparents, as I was told growing up, but were gone before I was born). DNA has given me his 4 grandparents by clustering my 3c group. However, his parents birth certificates have discrepancies and missing fathers. His grandmother lines (but not specifically the correct grandmothers) I've confirmed through clustering. His grandfather lines, instead of the lines I knew should be, are missing matches on those 2 lines but have 2 mystery lines that has caused difficulty in determining which mystery line belongs to which of my grandparents. So much fun, the learning and mystery never ends.

[@selinaBARMAR2565]

@@PaulJHawkinsJr All the best!

[@mattpotter8725]

When you talk about sharing DNA with distant cousins does this mean sharing enough for it to show up as a match on say Ancestry? I've never used 23 and Me having tested on Ancestry and not being able to export DNA from there and import it into 23 and Me, but it got me wondering if in these statistics they have matched known 5th, 6th, 7th cousins in say GEDMatch and noted shared DNA, I'm sure they must have, because there might be a level of tolerance that sites like Ancestry, MyHeritage, and 23 and Me have (maybe for more operational reasons rather than anything else) that means they wouldn't appear as a match on these sites, but you do share a tiny amount of DNA. Or are these statistics purely modelled? I mention this because having tested my 100+ year old grandfather, and more recently myself I'm surprisingly finding large numbers of his matches that I have more shared DNA with matches then he does, sometimes up to 15cM and some of my matches that have only shared matches that are matches of his but he doesn't have the match himself, so I suspect he does match them but maybe at 7cM and they are not reported as a match because of the cut-off Ancestry has. Just to clarify that my grandpa left where he grew up in Northern Ireland during the war to work in a factory here in England where he met my nan, married and had my mum and so on and so forth, so before testing I thought the two half's of my family tree were either not connected in any way, either through ancestors or descendants of ancestors (more likely). I do know my 2x great grandfather on my dad's side came from Ireland but from the other side of Ireland so I didn't think there'd be any mixing of my two sides. I could understand it if both sides of my family are from the same area, but they aren't. I'm a little flabbergasted tbh.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Yes, it means sharing enough to show up as a match. Each company has different criteria for this so it is wise to test with all of the companies.

[@maryfarrall7834]

Whilst the chances of finding matches at this level are obviously less than for say 2nd great grandparents. I have found matches that I have ascribed to three sets of 5th GGPS. There seems to be one particular set that is "strong" in DNA and some sets where I have no matches at all.

[@anat.5000]

Mary, your situation may be similar to mine- I am no expert on the mathematics involved, but you could have a strong 3 set match because within those lines, 1st or 2nd cousins several (or even many) times removed married each other; and probably were not even aware of their connection. My 1st GGM married her 1st cousin 8 times removed, and her mother (my 2GGM) married her 1st cousin 12 times removed!! I also have some 2nd & 3rd cousins who were removed 1-3xs who married each other within those lines as well- some genetic knots that can probably never be untangled!

[@cababyboomerq6012]

Same here. One very strong piece of DNA that everyone in a certain line shares. But I can’t figure out how I connect to them! Meaning, I don’t know which line they are on! I need to learn how to paint my chromosomes.

[@ribblegiggle]

I've 3 DNA matches triangulated through the only person it could be because he emigrated to Hawaii in 1852 and one DNA match with the surname unique to my grandmother which is so rare. Maybe a 1-3% chance of that happening

[@ribblegiggle]

That one was a 6th cousin

[@hoovercj53]

My 5th great grandfather Rightman Hilliard's parent are unknown. I have autosomal matches on Ancestry from other Hilliards who I believe were Rightman's brothers. We would be 5th cousins and share between 8-13 cm. Would that amount help verify what I believe? I did a Big 700 Ydna test for my brother and it does not indicate a Hilliard DNA group so I am struggling to find Rightman's parents. Thanks for any suggestions.

[@JamalBlann]

Could you explain what it means when you have a DNA match in which the longest segment is longer than than the stated cMs, for instance, a match on Ancestry is 12 cM on one segment but when you click the hyperlink for details you see that the longest segment is 20 cM. Would this mean you have a 20 cM match or just 12 cM in common with the person you match?

[@hannahwig]

This sounds so fascinating… I wonder if this could help solve a mystery on my Dad’s side of the family: who the family was of my second great grandfather was…. Thank you.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Draw it out and analyze the data. That's the best way to puzzle out the answers.

[@BluemaxxRacing]

I have the same, exact problem with one of my relatives. How would Gary be related to Jim? If anyone could please help me out on this, I would be greatly appreciated.

[@rolo4945]

So true I got my mum to test in her 80’s

[@mamabear52]

Testing my siblings was invaluable, where one of us tested on the low end another had a high cm match. For example my sis and I @11 & 13cm, my brother 129cm with the same man. Our 1st cousin 103cm and even a half 1C1R was at 83cm with the same man. I wondered why the males were so much more, maybe it was just a coincidence.

[@MrDannyDetail]

In the first slide of probabilites 3C2R is listed twice with two different probabilities. In the second slide both 3C2R and 3C3R are listed twice and have two different probabilites. I think on both slides one of the duplicates, in each case, should have begun with a 5C rather than 3C.

[@timothysykes1135]

Love your videos Andy; they’re such a great learning tool and you’re doing them in a way that works for me. Some day, I would love to see you compare all of the DNA matching tools: Seg cM, cM Explainer, Shared cM Tool, and whatever else you think would be helpful. 🎉

[@dorasmith7875]

I don't love his videos. They always seem to be destructive and untrue. AND they always keep turning up in my emails, my search results... why do you think I'd be here making comments. I was looking for something PLEASANT to watch on You Tube!

[@ksilkey1]

As you know, we have over 300 Gann descendants that have tested and most have made their results available to researchers. Among this group I have many, many matches. Some go back to my 8th great grandfather. This is possible because we have so many intermarriages. I have two distinct Gann lines that converge at my 7th great grandfather. This impacts the amount of Gann DNA that I have inherited. There is also one other line that I have matches with, but the actual connection has not been identified.

[@TinaSusetteSwyers]

YDNA 3 step match to great grandfather’s name are Smith matches, not Wood last name?

[@godisloveireland]

I have a 4th to 6th cousin match to my mom's kit(the said match does not match me), with 25cm and 4 segments on ancestry. From our trees it looks like they are 2c1r to my mom. That shows 7% probability. Is there something wrong there or is the 2c1r accurate in your opinion?

[@lemuelbaby3389]

I know you know a lot about this DNA or origins thing! Please I need your opinion about something! is that I uploaded my DNA in mytrueancestry and it shows me that I have Greek origin in the modern population! In the info it says that I fit in there! and fit means to put something or part of it, that is, to be part of it!

[@jessicagarner1035]

Hi if two brothers have had children with the same woman how is the DNA broken down in terms of percentage ?

[@Joe-lb8qn]

Theres another possibility not mentioned when talking about male ancestors. The further back you go the more the odds that one of your ancestors was not fathered by the person who is on the birth certificate(or similar records) as being your father.

[@DeeAnderson-oj2hr]

I've noticed that you can only go up to 5th great grandparents by DNA connections as I was doing my friend's family tree. I'm sure that there are exceptions.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

With Ancestry Thru Lines, that's correct. For most DNA, yep, it's challenging to use Autosomal DNA to climb much further up your genetic family tree.

[@TinaSusetteSwyers]

Cannot find dna matches on 2nd paternal grandparents?

[@jessikamoore5033]

I share no dna with my 2nd cousin. More in likely we are half but were supposed to be full. Still everything I read says we should still matvh even as half :/ what's even worse is I match 6th or 7th cousins as high as 20cM or more.

[@barbarahawkins7930]

Can you believe I am finally finished with my Family Tree? Including one 4th great grandpa and finding his father YAY !! Also one other 4th great grandpa and her particular line YAY !!! One of the wife's line actually do go all the way back to Robert the Bruce 1st King of Scotland aha!! Which also goes to the Stewart line in Scotland...AND because of the latent finding that Robert the Bruce line seriously were Norman French another aha !!! Norwegian Vikings from Robert the Bruce ancestors then a little further toward the present time became the Stewart lines which means King James Stewart of Scotland who started the Stewart King's of Scotland and we have many matches to these people with just 1 5th great grandma's line of ancestors DNA DOES NOT LIE !!!!! We are all finished now with our Family Tree and I am as happy as punch over this....A Long journey dotting our I's and crossing our T's whew !!!!!! Some weird meandering from Robert the Bruce to get down to the Stewart line BUT ! We wouldn't be here without them. It's amazing that just 1 grandparent not having children or at least 1 child and we wouldn't be here to tell the story !!!!!

[@williamcrump7551]

This video does not address the cM size or number of segments being used in the match. It is only discussing general probability of detection. How can we assess the probability the 7th generation ancestor is the source and not some more distant ancestor? Shouldn't a chromosome browser be used to verify the match and the SegcM app used to determine the probability of the match to the seventh generation ancestor? Using DNA in this manner will confirm the match even if the 7th generation ancestor is not in fact the source of the DNA segment.

[@holmesib]

This is a very good video! I was able to get my great uncle to test. He was born in 1942 and his great grand father was born about 1809. I have been trying to figure out who his great grandfather's biological father is. I have a huge advantage to other cousins because of my access to his Ancestry account. I also have access to his big Y 700 dna test. Test your older generations before you can't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Yep. Test the older generations. I agree.

[@Callie7912]

I have matched someone who is descended from the brother of my 5th great-grandfather. So I guess that means we are both descended from our 6th great-grandparents, born in the late 1600s.

[@jessikamoore5033]

I have matches as high as 6th cousin to 7th cousins 1 time removed.

[@jayt3866]

Would unaltered chromosome getting passed down from one generation to another increase the chances of matching?

[@EmeraldD523]

What cousin range is 23centimorgan 3 segments

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Please watch these videos 5 Things To Know About DNA Painter Shared cM Tool- Genetic Genealogy kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIuxY4qZmrN8aKM DNA Painter: Understanding Shared cM Tool Histograms kzbin.info/www/bejne/oau7f2WCjalpms0

[@lemuelbaby3389]

Do I have Greek blood or origin or not ?

[@benfletcher9659]

I am thinking of doing the Ancestry DNA as my heritage seems limited. Also seems my great great great great grandfather might be a bastard and I'd like to know who his father was. Records are too vague. So DNA is last hope.

[@jimorr820]

They've used DNA to find living descendants of ancient figures in modern UK. Not famous people but from ancient tombs discovered in archeological digs. So it should be possible if not probable

[@Joe-lb8qn]

Probably because of the direction the testing goes. Eg very old ancestor, lets say theres 1 in 10,000 in the current population who share a particular bit of DNA from that ancestor. Now if they test the local population maybe 20k people overall, they are going to find one or two who match.. However in the opposite direction, eg pick any one person in the local population and see if they back match , odds are almost certain they wont.

[@PterippiGaming]

Your calculation right before 8:11 is a bit off. You cannot claim that it is probable that at least one of (Jim Bill or Fred) will match Joe because their probabilities of matching are not independent random values. Instead Bill and Fred may match Joe IF and ONLY IF Jim matches Joe. If Jim does not match Joe but Bill or Fred match Joe that DNA match certainly DOES NOT come from Mike. So the final answer to the problem is still just 45% Descendant probabilities should be ignored completely.

[@lemuelbaby3389]

Please someone help!

[@jennifer255]

My family's basically 2nd/3rd generation immigrants (mom's side is from Germany/Italy, dad's side is from Poland). I've found a few 5th/6th cousins, including one just recently on my dad's side. She had her tree back to who were my 6th great-grandparents. On MyHeritage, my dad matches her at 36.7cM, and my aunt matches her at 29.4cM. I also found another 5th/6th cousin set (father, brother, kids) that were all between 20 and 21 cMs (same branch). This side of the family does have a lot of the same surnames that appear in different branches, so likely a pedigree collapse. My dad also has a ton of 5th-8th cousin Polish-Ukrainian and German-Ukrainian matches (likely paternal) that are clearly behind a brick wall on my grandfather's side. I know one set of Russian-Ukrainian matches (Eastern Ukraine, Southern Russia may be from his Lithuanian (Belarussian?) great-grandfather, and German-Russians in the Volga region maybe from his great-grandmother (wife of the Balto-Russian ancestor). His maternal grandfather's family is the above "super-Polish-branch" in Mazowieckie. I also suspect my grandparents (they're deceased, so I can't test) are very distantly related somehow, probably through Kashubians or Sorbs and Polish-Ukrainians. On my mom's German side, I found a very distant (possibly 10th cousin), who has a large tree which matches my great-grandmother's maiden name, and the family story that her father's side was from the Alps. At one point in the 1600s, the family tree split and the match's ancestor moved to Alsace-Lorraine, then to Virginia in the 1800s, then to Kentucky (probably why my mom has a community there. Very strong Alpine DNA, probably endogamy?). My mom's Italian side doesn't have as many matches, but I think one line may be a pedigree collapse.

[@Rebecca-zr3lu]

I pray for finding our lost sheep. Our lost family members. Our lost promised healings and blessings in Jesus name amen

[@TheShender64]

​How is your frist cousin is 99% because the mother is a half sibling.

[@JazzyGinger1]

Hello🐏🐏🐆🐆🐎🐎🐍🐍🐍🐧🐧🐧🐕🐶, 🐦 God the Father loves you so much that He sent Holy and Sinless Jesus (His Holy Son) to earth to be born of a virgin. He grew up and died on a cross for our sins. He was in the tomb for 3 days, then Father God raised Jesus Christ (Y'shua) to Life! He appeared to people and went back to Heaven. We must receive Jesus sincerely to be God's childJohn 1:12. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on HIS name." That is great news! Will you sincerely receive Holy, Lord Jesus into your life today?

[@TinaSusetteSwyers]

YDNA 3 step match to great grandfather’s name are Smith matches, not Wood last name?