 New from MyHeritage: Discover Your Ancient Origins with DNA Have you ever wondered where your deep ancestral roots lie beyond the last few centuries? MyHeritage has just introduced an exciting new DNA feature: Ancient Origins. This tool provides a fascinating look at your genetic connections to ancient civilizations, giving you a glimpse into where your ancestors may have lived thousands of years ago. What Is Ancient Origins?The Ancient Origins feature analyzes your MyHeritage DNA results and compares them to DNA found in archaeological remains from different historical populations. By doing this, MyHeritage can estimate which ancient groups your ancestors were connected to—helping you see how your lineage may have traveled and evolved over time. How Does It Work?
What You’ll Get in Your Ancient Origins Report This feature goes beyond just showing you ancient populations—it offers multiple reports to help you better understand your deep ancestry:
 My MyHeritage Ancient Origins Breakdown Results (+more)
 My MyHeritage Ancient Origins Hunter-Gatherer and Farmer Breakdown Results (+more)
 My MyHeritage Ancient Origins Genetic Similarities Results (+more)
 My MyHeritage Ancient Origins Genetic Distance Maps Results (+more) Why This Feature Is Exciting
Things to Keep in Mind
Final Thoughts The Ancient Origins feature is a fascinating way to explore the distant past of your lineage. If you’ve already taken a MyHeritage DNA test, check out your results and see where your ancient ancestors may have lived, and if you haven't yet, now is the perfect time. It’s just one more way to bring history and family heritage together! Have you explored your Ancient Origins results yet? What did you discover? Let me know in the comments! More MyHeritage, DNA, and Other Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more MyHeritage, AI in Genealogy, and other family history and genealogy resources under the MyHeritage, Genetic Genealogy and DNA, Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
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 Starting Your Journey in African American Genealogy Starting Your Journey in African American GenealogyExploring your family’s history is a journey of discovery, connection, and understanding. For African American genealogy, the process is uniquely shaped by historical challenges, rich traditions, and the resilience of ancestors. If you’re ready to dive into your family’s past, this guide will help you take the first steps with confidence. Understanding the Basics of African American GenealogyGenealogy is the study of family history, tracing ancestors to learn more about who they were and how their lives shaped yours. African American genealogy often involves unique challenges, including gaps in records due to slavery and segregation. Begin your research by:
Key Records for African American Research Several types of records are essential for tracing African American ancestry:
Overcoming Challenges Researching African American ancestry can be complex, but with patience and creativity, challenges can be addressed:
Specialized Tools and Resources Several online tools and databases specialize in African American genealogy:
Advanced Tips for Your Journey Once you’ve explored the basics, you can dig deeper:
Case Study: Solving a Genealogical Puzzle Imagine tracing an ancestor named Sarah, listed in the 1870 Census in Mississippi but missing from earlier records. By:
Resources for Further Research Begin with these essential tools:
Start Your Journey Today African American genealogy is a journey that connects you to your ancestors, their struggles, and their triumphs. Every record, story, and discovery helps bring their lives into focus and ensures their legacy is preserved.
Ready to begin? Start with oral histories, explore the 1950 Census, and let the records guide your way. For more resources and support, visit the African American Genealogy category of my blog.  MyHeritage Updated DNA Ethnicity Estimates with the New v2.5 Model MyHeritage Ethnicity Estimate v2.5: A Game-Changer in DNA Ethnicity Estimates The long-awaited update to MyHeritage’s DNA ethnicity model is finally here! Ethnicity Estimate v2.5 has officially launched, bringing a higher-resolution breakdown of ethnic origins and nearly doubling the number of ethnicities identified—from 42 to 79. As a MyHeritage Friend, I was granted early access to test this update before its public release, and I’m excited to share my thoughts and personal experience with my new results. What’s New in Ethnicity Estimate v2.5? The new model is a major leap forward from the previous version (v0.95), which had been in use for years. Here are some of the key highlights:
Why the Update Took So Long MyHeritage initially planned to roll out an updated model (v2) in mid-2024 but chose not to fully launch it after early feedback revealed areas for improvement. Instead, they went back to the drawing board, refined their algorithms, and developed v2.5. The extra time paid off, as user feedback on v2.5 has been significantly more positive compared to both v0.95 and the incomplete v2 model. While no ethnicity model is ever perfect, MyHeritage is committed to continued improvements and acknowledges that some ethnicities, such as Maasai and Sierra Leonean, were removed due to insufficient training data. However, these could make a return in future updates as more reference samples become available. My Old vs. New Ethnicity Estimates Before updating to Ethnicity Estimate v2.5, my results were as follows:  My v0.95 MyHeritage DNA Ethnicity Results After opting into the new model, my updated results changed to:  My v2.5 MyHeritage DNA Ethnicity Results My Thoughts on My New Estimates The update brought some interesting changes to my results! One of the most noticeable differences is the complete disappearance of my African ancestry, which was previously estimated at 6.3% (North African and Nigerian). I never fully agreed with that high percentage in the first place, but since every other DNA testing company shows 1-2% for me and my mom, and I see similar levels of African ancestry in matches from one particular line on my mom’s paternal side, I expected to still see a trace of it. Its absence makes me question whether the new model overcorrected or whether my original result was inflated. Another significant change is the sharp increase in my Scottish and Welsh percentage, now at 36.6%, making it my largest category. While I do have strong Scottish ancestry, I wasn’t expecting it to be that dominant compared to my English percentage, which has now dropped from 49.1% to 24.3%. I’m also intrigued by the introduction of Breton (3.6%) and Dutch (5.3%), which weren’t detected in my earlier results but could align with known migration patterns in my family history. As for my family, my mom’s new results seem fairly accurate, and my uncle’s estimate looks spot on. But for my own ethnicity estimate, I’m still on the fence. I love the increased regional specificity, but I’m not entirely convinced by some of the percentage shifts. One feature I particularly appreciate is the ability to switch between v0.95 and v2.5 at any time. This flexibility is helpful for those who may feel attached to their previous results while still allowing them to explore the new data. My mom's old estimates vs her new estimates:
My uncles's old estimates vs his new estimates:
How to Update Your Ethnicity Estimate If you’re a MyHeritage DNA user, here’s how to access your new ethnicity estimate:
Final Thoughts The launch of Ethnicity Estimate v2.5 is an exciting milestone for MyHeritage users, offering a more refined, detailed, and accurate picture of their ancestral origins. Whether you’re new to DNA testing or a seasoned genealogist, this update enhances the depth and accuracy of your family history research. Have you updated to Ethnicity Estimate v2.5 yet? What did you think of your new results? Let’s discuss in the comments! PS: Did You Know that MyHeritage Generates a Cool Video for Your Ethnicity Results?Check out my ethnicity video below! More MyHeritage, DNA, and Other Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more MyHeritage, AI in Genealogy, and other family history and genealogy resources under the MyHeritage, Genetic Genealogy and DNA, Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 2025 Genealogy Presentations & Learning Opportunities Looking to expand your genealogy knowledge in 2025? Whether you're a beginner or an experienced researcher, I’ll be speaking at several genealogy events this year—many of them free and open to the public! Below is my current schedule, and I’ll be adding more events as the year progresses. Upcoming Genealogy Presentations
Special Webinars with Legacy Family Tree & MyHeritage I’m thrilled to be presenting for Legacy Family Tree Webinars and once again, MyHeritage! These webinars are free to attend live and available for free replay for up to seven days. Start Your Family History Journey for Free with MyHeritage Discover how to begin your family history research without spending a dime! Learn how to build a basic family tree, explore free records, and utilize MyHeritage’s free tools and features to uncover your roots. 📅 Date: March 25, 2025 🔗 Register Here: Legacy Family Tree Webinars – Upcoming Webinars Filipino Genealogy: Tracing Your Filipino Roots Have Filipino ancestry but don’t know where to start? This session covers the challenges of Filipino genealogy, key resources, and the best strategies for tracing your Filipino roots. This presentation is also for anyone wanting to branch out with their research skills and knowledge in other geographical areas. 📅 Date: August 13, 2025 🔗 Register Here: Legacy Family Tree Webinars – Upcoming Webinars Register for any of over 80 new presentations this year at Legacy Family Tree Webinars Register for upcoming webinars here: 2025 Upcoming Webinars Download the 2025 PDF Schedule here: 2025 Schedule Stay Updated! I’ll be adding more events throughout the year, so be sure to check back for updates. Whether you prefer in-person, virtual, or hybrid events, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and enhance your genealogy skills in 2025! Let’s make this year a great one for family history research. Hope to see you at an event! More Genealogy Events and EducationStay tuned for more genealogy events and education under the Genealogy Events and Genealogy Presentations categories, as well as the always updated Speaking Events Coming Up page.
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Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family: Family History and Genealogy BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! Categories
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Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family is dedicated to promoting family history and genealogy, while maintaining commitment to client care and professional service, and adheres to the Code of Ethics and Professional Practices put forth by the Association of Professional Genealogists.
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