Family History Research and DNA Tests

perhaps call me sceptic with these DNA tests  - I suspect these companies get the random generator going and take yer money in the process

I think you are wise to be cautious but I don’t agree that the algorithm has been randomly generated by any of the companies listed in the image with my original post.

Sometimes misunderstandings arise because people expect DNA tests to give absolute percentages of ancestral origins and when variations occur between results it can appear that the testing algorithm is flawed. 

Most companies include information and/or extensive courses which educate people on why ancestry is estimated and why no two companies will give the same results. I had to spend time working through the education material and I will use my results in conjunction with my known family tree history on the Ancestry website.

There is loads of literature online explaining why variations between companies occur so I’ll list some websites:

https://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/understanding-dna-results/

https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/dna/what-do-dna-test-results-mean

https://biologyinsights.com/can-a-dna-test-tell-you-your-ethnicity/

https://scgensoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DNA-SIG-handout-Why-Are-Ethnicity-Estimates-So-Confusing-April-2025.pdf

Thanks I see you're cautious about the output/variability 

This is what ChatGPT summarised the Hertitage DNA tests as "Real science, weak epistemology, strong marketing"

Maybe I'll look into family tree stuff when I retire (although not on my current radar) 

I still haven’t researched further what you said about testing in France being illegal but the bit I saw confirmed what you said. I just need to research all their reasons. Politicians have a habit of saying one thing to make an argument when their agenda is about something else that they don’t want to say directly. 

TheCatWoman said:

It could be useful knowlege if you needed to construct an arguement with a racist, who is English for example?

Yes, it’s nonsensical to talk about Englishness in terms of ancestral origin. 

TheCatWoman said:

my attitudes are what many would call woke

Mine too. If anyone called me woke it would make me feel I am effective in standing up for human dignity. The term is always directed at the target as an insult and reveals the nasty intention of the perpetrator.

It's what I read somewhere, I can't remember where, I think you can go to France and search records, but I don't think sites like Ancestry exist.

I think one of the first things you find out when doing a DNA test like these, is that we are all of mixed heritage, we all came from somewhere. It could be useful knowlege if you needed to construct an arguement with a racist, who is English for example? I might be almost pure southern English, but my attitudes are what many would call woke and I have an international family. I think many don't realise how mobile their ancestors were, many moved for work or because of wars. I also think it's important that people realise how many people were just ordinary, farm workers, factory hands etc, not descended from nobility etc.   

TheCatWoman said:

There can be problems if you have recent ancestors in countries like France where this sort of testing is illegal as it contravenes French notions of unity

I didn’t know that! I’ve just looked it up and I see that France is concerned about privacy and lack of regulation. I can’t see anything directly about French notions of unity, but I need to find out more about this.  Definitions of ethnicity worldwide are high in some people’s political agenda which is why most of the testing companies talk about “heritage” and “ancestry” rather than ethnicity. Do you think that is the reason for making testing illegal?

I have an ancestral line that is likely French and this may limit my search in that direction. 

TheCatWoman said:

There can be problems if you have recent ancestors in countries like France where this sort of testing is illegal as it contravenes French notions of unity

I didn’t know that! I’ve just looked it up and I see that France is concerned about privacy and lack of regulation. I can’t see anything directly about French notions of unity, but I need to find out more about this.  Definitions of ethnicity worldwide are high in some people’s political agenda which is why most of the testing companies talk about “heritage” and “ancestry” rather than ethnicity. Do you think that is the reason for making testing illegal?

I have an ancestral line that is likely French and this may limit my search in that direction. 

I still haven’t researched further what you said about testing in France being illegal but the bit I saw confirmed what you said. I just need to research all their reasons. Politicians have a habit of saying one thing to make an argument when their agenda is about something else that they don’t want to say directly. 

TheCatWoman said:

It could be useful knowlege if you needed to construct an arguement with a racist, who is English for example?

Yes, it’s nonsensical to talk about Englishness in terms of ancestral origin. 

TheCatWoman said:

my attitudes are what many would call woke

Mine too. If anyone called me woke it would make me feel I am effective in standing up for human dignity. The term is always directed at the target as an insult and reveals the nasty intention of the perpetrator.

It's what I read somewhere, I can't remember where, I think you can go to France and search records, but I don't think sites like Ancestry exist.

I think one of the first things you find out when doing a DNA test like these, is that we are all of mixed heritage, we all came from somewhere. It could be useful knowlege if you needed to construct an arguement with a racist, who is English for example? I might be almost pure southern English, but my attitudes are what many would call woke and I have an international family. I think many don't realise how mobile their ancestors were, many moved for work or because of wars. I also think it's important that people realise how many people were just ordinary, farm workers, factory hands etc, not descended from nobility etc.