Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family

My DNA Journey: Discovering My Ancestry Through AncestryDNA Testing

In the early autumn of 2015, after extensive research, I decided to take a DNA test to uncover the hidden stories in my family tree. What began as a curiosity soon turned into a fascinating exploration of my roots, origins, and unexpected family connections.

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Why I Decided to Take a DNA Test

I had several personal reasons for pursuing genetic testing:

1. Uncovering lost ancestry: My maternal great-grandfather was orphaned at a young age and raised in a Toronto orphanage. No records of his parents existed.

2. Unknown paternal lineage: My paternal grandfather and great-grandmother were both born out of wedlock. Their biological fathers were complete mysteries.

3. Family legend of Native heritage: There was a long-standing story that we had Native North American ancestry. I wanted to confirm — or debunk — that claim.

4. Pure curiosity: I simply wanted to see what my DNA could reveal about my origins.

 

Choosing the Right DNA Test

After researching various DNA testing companies like AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and 23andMe, I chose the Autosomal DNA test from Ancestry.com. Reviews were positive, and I liked that the test results could be directly linked to my family tree on the site.

Most genealogy DNA tests allow you to:

• Compare your DNA to millions of other users.

• Discover genetic matches.

• Identify potential relatives through shared DNA segments.

Since this was my first DNA test, I opted for an Autosomal test, which analyzes DNA inherited from both parents to provide an overview of your genetic makeup. It differs from Y-DNA and mtDNA tests, which focus on paternal and maternal lines specifically (I’ll discuss those in a later post).

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Ordering and Taking the AncestryDNA Test

Ordering the test was simple. I purchased the kit online and received it a couple of weeks later. Inside the package was a small vial for a saliva sample and a registration number.

Important step: Before sending your sample, log into Ancestry.com and register your kit using the code provided. Without registration, you won’t receive your results.

The test itself involves spitting into a vial — not glamorous, but painless! After sealing the sample and mixing it with the preservative, I mailed it to Ancestry’s lab in Ireland (shipping is included).

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Waiting for the Results

Within about two weeks, I received an email confirming that my sample had arrived at the lab. The actual analysis took around five weeks, which felt like forever — but it was worth the wait.

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My Ethnicity Estimate Results

When the results were ready, I logged into my Ancestry account and clicked the DNA tab. The first thing I viewed was my Ethnicity Estimate — a detailed breakdown of my ancestral origins.

Ancestry compares your DNA to thousands of reference samples from people with known ethnic backgrounds to determine your ethnic percentages.

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My surprising DNA results included:

• Unexpected Scandinavian, Norse, Mediterranean, and Baltic roots.

• Less Irish ancestry than anticipated, despite having great-grandparents thought to be 100% Irish.

• Traces of French, Austrian, German, and Hungarian DNA.

• No detectable Native American ancestry, debunking a long-held family legend.

 

Exploring DNA Matches

Next, I explored my DNA Matches — individuals who share portions of DNA with me. Initially, I had over 100 matches, which later grew into thousands.

Ancestry organizes matches by relationship level:

• Immediate family (parents, siblings, children)

• 1st to 4th cousins

• Distant relatives (5th cousins or beyond)

Each match includes a confidence rating such as Very High, High, Good, or Moderate. I’ve found the most reliable results in the top three categories, where shared surnames or family locations often confirm relationships.

Many users also publish family trees that can help pinpoint common ancestors. When I identify a strong potential match, I reach out, introduce myself, and collaborate to trace our shared lineage.

Some people don’t respond, while others prefer focusing on historical ancestors rather than living relatives — but I’ve been fortunate to connect with many welcoming and helpful family members.

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A Major Discovery: Finding My Great-Grandfather & 2x Great-Grandfather

One of my most exciting discoveries came when a 2nd cousin contacted me. He turned out to be my father’s first cousin — meaning we shared the same grandfather.

Through this connection, I finally identified my great-grandfather, previously listed as “father unknown” on my grandfather’s birth certificate. To confirm, I later took a Y-chromosome DNA test, which verified our paternal connection.

I was also able to determine my paternal Great-grandmother's father through not only DNA (which gave correct confirmation), but through checking a myriad of records. This is how I was able to 100% confirm my "Taylor" lineage...and it uncovered a massive hidden family history dating back to the early 1600's in America.

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What I Learned from My DNA Journey

Taking an Autosomal DNA test opened new doors in my genealogical research. It helped me:

• Discover unexpected ethnic backgrounds.

• Connect with new relatives worldwide.

• Confirm and correct long-standing family stories.

• Put faces and stories to names that were once just entries on a tree.

In the end, I discovered that I am a Clarke — a descendant of Herbert Granville Clarke, my great-grandfather. I'm also a Taylor, a descendant of a paternal line that started in Colonial New England and which has uncovered an incredible number of ancestors dating back almost 2,000 years. Family stories differ on why on paternal Grandfather changed his surname to Taylor, but I'm fine with keeping that surname, no matter what my Grandfather's reason was for doing what he did.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re considering taking a DNA test, I highly recommend it. Whether you’re searching for lost family members, verifying family lore, or simply curious about your roots, DNA testing with Ancestry.com can be an eye-opening and rewarding experience. Just be prepared for the surprises that you may find, and the family secrets that your results may hold!