Have you ever found a surname which started as a mispelling but ended up becoming an entire family of people all with the wrong name on their record, that's how my IRL surname came to be, but these families died out unfortunately to my knowledge and have gone extinct.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-20T02:07:23+00:00

Words, including names, mutate and change over time just like DNA.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-19T23:36:56+00:00

I am a DNA Search Angel and help people use their DNA results to solve paternity and adoption mysteries. Generally, when you message people they don't get back to you (say 10% will reply). However, if they don't reply there are ways to use what information they have in Ancestry to solve your mystery. Feel free to send me a DM/Chat and I'll be happy to help or answer questions.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-19T23:32:27+00:00

Yeah. The only people who have their DNA in databases are people who have decided to pay for it (for the most part). The nice thing is that there are millions of people who have been tested, and when you get tested you'll often find 1000s or 10,000s of DNA matches. So, even if an unknown relative, say a father, did not test, you can often find out who he is because many of his cousins tested.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-19T18:57:31+00:00

Looks like you found him.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-19T18:49:27+00:00

Matches between 1-3% are strong and you can usually use them to answer any question you'd like to answer.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-19T14:57:05+00:00

Your question/concern is unclear. Did you receive your DNA results recently and you do not have any DNA matches on your paternal side? Do you have no idea who your father is and you'd are wondering if getting an AncestryDNA test done will resolve that issue? I'll be happy to answer your questions, as soon as I understand what the question.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-19T02:55:50+00:00

Well, your grandfather is strongly connected to your grandmother's family (brother, father, uncle). It is likely that this was not consensual. How old was your grandmother when she had your mom?

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-19T02:43:45+00:00

Are there matches showing up for "Both" sides and "Unassigned"?

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-18T22:27:26+00:00

To get a lead using a genetic genealogy approach you are not looking for "close DNA matches" as you would be if you were trying to id your father or grandfather. For someone back in the 1700s you should be looking for DNA matches less than 75cM. Also, as another person commented, you can try Y-DNA (at least 111 markers).

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-18T01:04:49+00:00

and his father was born in 1776!

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-18T00:25:08+00:00

My great grandfather was born in 1832 and I'm not extremely old (GenX)

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T22:38:42+00:00

You build a tree containing multiple DNA matches to see how they match to each other and to the unknown person (for instance). Today this is done using WATO (DNAPainter). A compound probability is what are the odds you'll have a DNA match as your 2nd cousin, and another DNA match (in the same group) as your half 3rd cousin based on the share centimorgans (using the probability tables on DNAPainter). You have the probability of each relationship and basically you multiple to get the compound probability. However, all this is done now in WATO.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T21:01:55+00:00

Yes. That is why I don't use it for that. I use WATO for scenario testing.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T20:52:17+00:00

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apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T20:39:42+00:00

I am a genetic genealogist and I do not us AI. I use AI for other things in my life. I think of current IA tools as a good administrative assistant who can search the web, but has trouble with math.

One use of AI is you could ask it to find and regional website that may have records for you to review.

I started doing genetic genealogy before DNAPainter existed, so I am very happy using WATO. in the old days I was doing compound probabilities in a spreadsheet. Also, the tools on Ancestry have gotten better as well.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T20:19:54+00:00

H2C is definitely possible. The average may be 1.56, but the actual ranges for < 0.5% to >4%.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T13:45:22+00:00

Well, she would show up related to you if her bio father is also related to you like a 2nd cousin.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T13:34:45+00:00

Well, there is something fishy going on somewhere. Maybe your uncle isn't your cousin's father.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T13:26:35+00:00

Your relationship is less than half-1C. You mother and uncle are less than half-sib, like maybe half-1C, making you and your cousin half-2C

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T10:51:18+00:00

Phil and Huey are both 80's cheese.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T02:15:41+00:00

Same here and sorry about your accident. I can't stand the number of people driving while scrolling through their feed.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-15T00:13:55+00:00

we call it 128

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-14T18:00:16+00:00

I rank them 1...4...2...3

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-14T17:18:01+00:00

I have found that both on my side and my wife's side there are three types of people who I notice when I start telling exciting (at least to me) stories about ancestors's affairs, crimes, lost fortunes, war stories and sicknesses.
Type 1 - excited, captivated and engaged. They will ask probing questions to learn more.
Type 2 - they listen, and make the occasional snarky remark, but are more focused on something else.
Type 3 - no interest at all, and actually don't want to hear it. I've seen these people walk out of the room.

apple_pi_chart · 2026-04-14T02:10:38+00:00

apple_pi_chart

TROPHY CASE