Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Are Your Top Autosomal DNA Matches in Your Tree?

Somehow, Saturday has managed to arrive once again, so it is time for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun with Randy Seaver on Genea-Musings.

Here is this week’s challenge:

1)  Have you done an autosomal DNA test?  If so, which testing company/ies?

2)  Of your Top 10 DNA matches on any site, how many are a known relative, and are they in your family tree?  No names…but give a known relationship if possible.

1. I have done autosomal testing with FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage and Ancestry.

2. My top 10 DNA matches on Ancestry:

First cousin, mother’s side, 711 cm, in tree
First cousin, once removed, father’s side, 461 cm, in tree
Second cousin, father’s side, 330 cm, in tree
Second cousin, father’s side, 273 cm, in tree
Second cousin, mother’s side, 186 cm, in tree
Second cousin, father’s side, 183 cm, in tree
Second cousin, once removed, father’s side, 177 cm, in tree
Second cousin, once removed, father’s side, 172 cm, in tree
Second cousin, once removed, father’s side, 166 cm, in tree
Second cousin, once removed, father’s side, 157 cm, in tree

As you might notice, there is a distinct lack of interest by most close cousins on my maternal side of the family in taking DNA tests.

I generally don’t find anything much of interest that is new to me – or accurate – in my DNA matches and I have to admit I spend very, very little time looking at them.

Thanks, Randy, for this week’s challenge.

2 thoughts on “Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Are Your Top Autosomal DNA Matches in Your Tree?”

  1. I’m the same about checking my matches. I get emails from the companies, but the matches are usually at the 3rd-4th cousin. I don’t know who these people are!

  2. It is true that the more you already know about your family, ,the less DNA research is immediately helpful to you. But if you want to fill in information on collateral branches, or maybe find more family photos, those more distant cousins can be nice to talk to.

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