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FAQs

AncestryDNA® gives you much more
than
just the places you’re from.

With clear-cut historical insights and rich geographic details, we connect you to the places in the world where your story started – and you might even discover living relatives.

Learn more

Millions of people have uncovered something new. You can, too.

From your origins in over 2,600 regions to the most connections to living relatives, no other DNA test delivers such a unique, interactive experience.

You could be Irish. More specifically, Munster Irish.

AncestryDNA® doesn’t just tell you which countries you’re from, but also can pinpoint the specific regions within them, giving you insightful geographic detail about your history.

See all regions

Trace your ancestors’ journeys over time.

Powered by data from Ancestry®, communities follow how and why your family moved from place to place.

View both your ethnicities and matches by parental side*.

You can explore which side of the family your matches and ethnicities come from, without your parents even taking a DNA test. This is all made possible by SideView™, a specialized technology that will soon also include your communities and more!

 

*Some DNA features may require an Ancestry subscription.

Connect with your people in new ways.

DNA Matches gives you color coding, custom labeling, and other innovative tools—so you can see your DNA connections in the clearest light possible.

Get more of your inside story.

Whether it's physical traits you can see or hidden traits, like fitness and nutrient levels, your DNA holds even more information than you imagined. Learn, compare, and share discoveries about 40+ of your most interesting personal traits.

Build a tree—and magnify your DNA results.

Combine what you learn from your DNA with over 100 million family trees and billions of records for more insight into your genealogy and origins.

The science behind
your story.

With one of the most diverse DNA
collections on earth, our cutting‑edge science compares your DNA to people all over the world. And it’s improving all the time.

Your privacy and
security are at the
core of everything we do.

From the second you open your kit to
the minute you get your results, you’re
in control of your DNA data.

Get started in a few
simple steps.

Order a kit with easy-to-follow instructions.

Activate your kit and return your saliva sample in a prepaid package to our state-of-the-art lab.

In roughly 6-8 weeks* your results will be ready online.

*Note: lab processing times may be
increased due to high demand.

Top questions about AncestryDNA®

  • Your privacy is our highest priority. We use industry standard security practices to store your DNA sample, your DNA test results, and other personal data you provide to us. In addition, we store your DNA test results and DNA sample without your name or other common identifying information. You own your DNA data. At any time, you can choose to download your DNA Data, have us delete your DNA test results as described in the Ancestry® Privacy Statement, or have us destroy your physical DNA saliva sample. We do not share with third parties your name or other common identifying information linked to your genetic data, except as legally required or with your explicit consent.

    For more information on privacy at AncestryDNA, see the Ancestry Privacy Statement and visit our Privacy Center.

  • AncestryDNA is a cutting edge DNA testing service that utilizes some of the latest autosomal testing technology, our patented Genetic Communities™ technology, and the largest consumer DNA database to revolutionize the way you discover your family history. This service combines advanced DNA science with the world's largest online family history resource to estimate your genetic ethnicity and help you find new family connections. It maps ethnicity going back multiple generations and provides insight into such possibilities as what region of Europe your ancestors came from or whether you’re likely to have Southeast Asian heritage. AncestryDNA can also help identify relationships with unknown relatives through a dynamic list of DNA matches.

  • Your AncestryDNA results include information about your geographic origins across 2,600 regions and identifies potential relatives through DNA matching to others who have taken the AncestryDNA test. Your results are a great starting point for more family history research, and it can also be a way to dig even deeper into the research you've already done.

  • AncestryDNA is a simple saliva test you can do in the comfort of your own home. Once you order, you will receive the AncestryDNA kit in the mail in a matter of days. Your AncestryDNA kit includes full instructions, a saliva collection tube, and a prepaid return mailer (so you don't have additional costs to return your DNA.) After returning your sample by just dropping it in the mail, your DNA is processed at the lab. You then receive an email notifying you that your results are ready to explore on the AncestryDNA website.

  • Click here to find out how our enhanced ethnicity estimates give you an even more detailed picture of your origins.

Results Include

  •  

    Pie chart and percentages of your ethnicity estimate.

  • Locations and details from over 2,600 regions—sometimes down to a city.

  • Depending on your regions, a timeline of historical changes with expert-curated content.

  • Potentially how and why your family moved from place to place around the world.

  • Explore ways to sort, group, and view your DNA matches.

What you'll see in your AncestryDNA Traits

  • 40+ AncestryDNA® Traits*

    Get even more insight into how your DNA makes you one of a kind. Explore how your genes might have influenced a range of wellness, appearance, sensory, and other personal traits.

    *More traits may be available in the future at an additional cost.

  • 40+ AncestryDNA® Traits*

    Get even more insight into how your DNA makes you one of a kind. Explore how your genes might have influenced a range of wellness, appearance, sensory, and other personal traits.

    *More traits may be available in the future at an additional cost.

  • Compare Feature

    You might have the genes for longer index fingers, but does your cousin? If you've both purchased AncestryDNA Traits, you can invite them to compare and find out.

  • Around the World Feature

    Enjoy new ways to explore how your traits, like finger length, connect to people with the same AncestryDNA regions-including interactive features, survey insights, and fun facts.

  • Science Says

    How many genes determine the relative length of your fingers? You'll be surprised at what science says.

  • Passing It On

    We inherit a lot from our parents, but is a short ring finger one of them? Learn what's passed along.

  • 40+ AncestryDNA® Traits*

    Get even more insight into how your DNA makes you one of a kind. Explore how your genes might have influenced a range of wellness, appearance, sensory, and other personal traits.

    *More traits may be available in the future at an additional cost.

  • 40+ AncestryDNA® Traits*

    Get even more insight into how your DNA makes you one of a kind. Explore how your genes might have influenced a range of wellness, appearance, sensory, and other personal traits.

    *More traits may be available in the future at an additional cost.

  • Compare Feature

    You might have the genes for longer index fingers, but does your cousin? If you've both purchased AncestryDNA Traits, you can invite them to compare and find out.

  • Around the World Feature

    Enjoy new ways to explore how your traits, like finger length, connect to people with the same AncestryDNA regions-including interactive features, survey insights, and fun facts.

  • Science Says

    How many genes determine the relative length of your fingers? You'll be surprised at what science says.

  • Passing It On

    We inherit a lot from our parents, but is a short ring finger one of them? Learn what's passed along.

Buy AncestryDNA+Traits