 My 2026 AncestryDNA results reveal 21 ancestral regions, surprising changes, and more detailed family origins. My 2026 AncestryDNA Update: 21 Regions, New Discoveries, and Surprising Changes AncestryDNA has done it again! On October 8, 2026, Ancestry rolled out its latest Origins update, bringing even more detailed ancestral regions, improved DNA analysis, and some exciting new features. Naturally, I couldn't wait to see how my results had changed! Last year's update brought some major surprises, including a significant increase in my Scottish and Irish estimates that didn't entirely align with my documented family history. This year's results? Well, they've been shuffled around again, but I have to say, some of the changes make a lot more sense this time! What's New in the 2026 AncestryDNA Update? According to Ancestry, the 2026 update introduces a new region assignment algorithm, an expanded reference panel of over 295,000 DNA samples, and even more detailed ancestral regions. Some of the biggest improvements include:
As always, it's important to remember that our DNA hasn't changed. What changes is Ancestry's ability to interpret it as reference populations, scientific methods, and technology improve. My 2026 AncestryDNA Results: From 11 Regions to 21!Last year, Ancestry assigned me 11 ancestral regions. This year, that number has jumped to 21! That's quite a difference, and it's not simply a matter of gaining ten entirely new ancestral origins. Some previously broad regions have been divided into more specific geographic areas, while others have been reassigned or refined. Here are my top ancestral regions for 2026: Ancestral Region- 2026 Estimate Scottish Lowlands & Central Belt- 22% Ulster, Ireland- 10% Northwestern Germany- 8% Bavaria & Western Austria- 8% Switzerland- 6% Northern Wales & North West England- 6% West Midlands- 5% Western Sierra Madre Highlands (Mexico)- 4% Northern England- 4% East Midlands & Yorkshire- 4% Leinster, Ireland- 4% My remaining ten regions range from 1% to 3%, including France, Belgium, Brittany, Southern Wales, Spain, Northern Spain, the Netherlands, Connacht in Ireland, Southeastern England, and DRC—Luba Peoples. Overall, these results align more closely with my documented ancestral locations and historical migration patterns than some of last year's estimates.  My 2026 AncestryDNA Results: From 11 Regions to 21 Comparing My 2025 and 2026 Results: What Changed?This is where things get particularly interesting! Last year's update dramatically increased my Scottish and Irish percentages and broke my English ancestry into smaller regions. This year's update has reshuffled several of those estimates and introduced new regions that better reflect my known family history. Scotland and Ireland: More Specific, but Still InterestingIn 2025, Ancestry assigned me 32% Central Scotland & Northern Ireland, a grouping I felt might have been somewhat overestimated, particularly on my paternal side. In 2026, that region has been divided into:
Together, they still total 32%, but the new breakdown provides greater geographic detail. My results also include Leinster, Ireland (4%), and Connacht, Ireland (1%). Interestingly, my DNA by Parent results assign 19% of my Scottish Lowlands & Central Belt ancestry to my maternal side and 3% to my paternal side. Ulster is divided between 7% maternal and 3% paternal. I still find the paternal assignments intriguing, since my known paternal lines are primarily rooted in Mexico, Germany, and England rather than Scotland or Ireland. However, regional DNA similarities, historical population movements, and the limitations of ethnicity estimates can all influence these assignments.  Comparing My 2025 and 2026 Ancestry DNA Results: What Changed? 1  Comparing My 2025 and 2026 Ancestry DNA Results: What Changed? 1-2 My Germanic Ancestry Gets a Much-Needed Boost!One of the changes I'm most pleased to see is the increase and refinement of my Germanic regions. In 2025, my results showed 5% Southern Germanic Europe and no separate Northwestern Germany or Switzerland regions. My 2026 results now include:
This is much more encouraging when compared with my documented family history, which includes significant German ancestry. I also like how Ancestry has separated these areas into more specific regions. Of course, modern geographic boundaries don't always reflect where our ancestors lived historically, and neighboring populations frequently share similar genetic patterns. Still, seeing these estimates better reflect the locations and historical migration routes associated with my ancestors is a welcome change!
England and Wales: Another Major ReshufflingMy English and Welsh regions have changed considerably, too. Southeastern England dropped from 19% to just 3%, while Northern Wales & North West England decreased from 14% to 6%. East Midlands & Yorkshire also fell from 13% to 4%. Meanwhile, West Midlands increased from 3% to 5%, Northern England remained at 4%, and Southern Wales and Brittany each appeared at 2%. These changes are a good example of why we shouldn't become too attached to specific ethnicity percentages. As Ancestry refines its reference populations and distinguishes between neighboring geographic areas, some DNA previously assigned to one region may be classified elsewhere. Rather than viewing these shifts as evidence that my family history has somehow changed, I see them as another opportunity to compare Ancestry's interpretation with what I've already uncovered through traditional genealogical research. My Mexican Ancestry Becomes More SpecificAnother welcome change is the refinement of my Indigenous Mexican ancestry. My previous 4% Mexico estimate is now assigned to Western Sierra Madre Highlands (Mexico), also at 4%. This is one of the benefits of Ancestry expanding its Indigenous Americas regions. Rather than assigning DNA to an entire country, the updated analysis can sometimes identify a more specific geographic population. My DNA by Parent results place the entire 4% on my paternal side, exactly where I would expect it based on my documented Mexican ancestry. This is an excellent example of DNA results complementing traditional research. While the estimate alone doesn't identify a specific ancestor or prove an ancestral birthplace, it provides additional geographic context for family lines I've already researched. The Small African Percentages: A Particularly Interesting ChangeOne of the most intriguing changes involves the small African ancestry estimates that have appeared in my family's DNA results over the years. In 2025, I had 1% Mali, assigned to my maternal side. With the 2026 update, that region disappeared, and I now have 1% DRC—Luba Peoples, assigned to my paternal side instead. But here's where comparing relatives becomes especially interesting! My mother's results previously included 2% divided between Mali and Senegal. Her updated results now show 2% Benin—Eastern Gbe Peoples. On my father's side, both my paternal uncle and my paternal first cousin once removed (the son of my great-aunt) also received the new DRC—Luba Peoples assignment. Their previous small African-related estimates were different:
Although these particular regional labels have changed over time, small amounts of African ancestry have appeared consistently in DNA results for both sides of my family across multiple testing platforms. The paternal African-related estimates are especially interesting because I have documented African ancestry farther back in my Mexican family lines. That provides important historical context for interpreting these results, although the current 1% estimate cannot independently identify a specific ancestor or ancestral population. The origin of the small African-related estimates on my maternal side remains unknown. This is precisely why I always recommend comparing results with relatives and documented family history rather than relying on a single ethnicity estimate. Small percentages can fluctuate considerably, and a specific regional label may change or disappear as the science evolves. For me, the interesting part isn't simply whether a particular result says Mali, Senegal, Benin, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It's the larger pattern across relatives, generations, and research evidence that deserves attention. DNA by Parent and the New Regions by Grandparent FeatureAncestry's DNA by Parent feature has been available for several years, but its newest improvement, SideView 2.0, takes things a generation further. The newly announced Regions by Grandparent feature is designed to estimate which ancestral regions came from each of your four grandparents, even if they never took an AncestryDNA test. For genealogists, this could be particularly useful when trying to determine which family branch contributed an unexpected ancestral region. It may also help organize our DNA interpretations alongside documented family relationships. Ancestry does caution that we don't inherit every ancestral region carried by each grandparent, and the assignments are still estimates. The feature requires a paid Ancestry membership, and Ancestry indicates that processing typically takes about seven days, although the timing can vary. As of this writing, I haven't received my Regions by Grandparent results yet. I can still view my DNA by Parent breakdown, but I'm looking forward to exploring the grandparent-level results when they become available.  My Ancestry DNA by Parent 2026 Update New DNA Highlights: A Fun Way to Share Your Results!Not every update has to be strictly about scientific analysis! Ancestry has also introduced an updated DNA Highlights experience, complete with a shareable highlight reel and downloadable visual snippets. These include attractive illustrated regional cards, colorful stickers showing ancestral locations and percentages, and historical snippets connected to ancestral journeys. I particularly enjoyed the regional illustrations for Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Bavaria & Western Austria, and Switzerland. The downloadable stickers are another fun addition, allowing users to share their ancestral regions in a more visually engaging way. My highlighted ancestral journeys also include settler populations associated with Appalachia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. Some of the historical snippets feature migration to mining towns, coal-mining employment, and labor movements during the late 1800s and early 1900s. These are interesting pieces of historical context, although they shouldn't be mistaken for documented events involving our specific ancestors. They offer a glimpse into the broader experiences and historical environments associated with the populations Ancestry has identified.
What Does This Update Mean for Genealogists? As much as I enjoy exploring each new AncestryDNA update, I always come back to the same principle: DNA ethnicity estimates are clues, not proof of specific family relationships or ancestral origins. My own results are a perfect example. In just one year, my assigned regions nearly doubled, some percentages changed dramatically, and previously unreported regions appeared. Yet my documented ancestors and the DNA I inherited haven't changed. When reviewing your own updated results, I recommend comparing them with previous estimates, examining how regions are divided between parents, and looking at your tested relatives' results when possible. Pay attention to the geographic areas represented by each region, not just their names or percentages. Most importantly, consider what your traditional genealogical research already tells you. DNA matches, family trees, historical documents, and migration patterns provide the evidence needed to explore how these estimates might relate to your family history. And don't forget to save copies of your results! I have been documenting my AncestryDNA ethnicity updates since 2014, and being able to compare them over time has been both fascinating and useful. Looking Back at My 2025 AncestryDNA Update If you'd like to see just how much my results have changed, take a look at my previous post, My 2025 AncestryDNA Origins Update: The Biggest Ethnicity Update Yet. In that post, I compared my 2024 and 2025 results, explained some of the unexpected changes, and shared a historical look at my ethnicity estimates dating back to 2014. It's a great reminder of just how far DNA technology and ancestral region estimates have come over the years! Final Thoughts Overall, I'm pleased with my 2026 AncestryDNA update. Although some regional assignments still raise questions, many of the changes seem to align better with my documented ancestry and historical family migration routes. I'm particularly happy to see more detailed Germanic regions, the refined Indigenous Mexican estimate, and the continued opportunity to compare the small African-related estimates across my family members. I'm also curious to see what the upcoming Regions by Grandparent results might reveal. As always, these updates remind me that genetic genealogy is continually evolving. Each new version gives us another perspective on our ancestral origins, but it's our research that helps put those results into context. Have you received your 2026 AncestryDNA update yet? Did your regions change dramatically, or did they stay mostly the same? And do your new results align more closely with your documented family history? I'd love to hear what you discovered! More Genetic Genealogy and DNA Resources Explore more DNA research tips, updates, and discoveries in my Genetic Genealogy and DNA blog category. You can also explore Ancestry's official explanation of the 2026 AncestryDNA Origins Update to learn more about the scientific changes behind this year's results. More about DNA "Ethnicity" ResultsTo learn more about DNA "ethnicity" results, check out my post: Genealogy DNA Testing: Understanding Your Real DNA Ethnicity Results. More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
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 Testing Ancestry's new AI-powered "Fill in Timeline Gaps" feature to see how well it enhances ancestor timeline facts Testing Ancestry's New AI "Fill in Timeline Gaps" Feature: My First ImpressionsArtificial intelligence continues making its way into genealogy, and Ancestry has quietly introduced another AI-powered feature that caught me completely by surprise. About a week and a half ago, while I was in the middle of researching one of my ancestors, I noticed something new. As I worked through an ancestor's profile in the Facts view, I saw small "Description" buttons appearing next to some—but not all—of the timeline facts. Curious, I clicked one to see what it was. That led me to Ancestry's new BETA "Fill in Timeline Gaps" feature. Of course, I had to stop what I was doing and put it through a few tests. What Is the "Fill in Timeline Gaps" Feature? When you click one of the new Description buttons, a side panel opens displaying Ancestry's BETA Fill in Timeline Gaps tool.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Example The feature uses AI to generate a description for a specific timeline fact. Before generating the text, you're given three options for how detailed you'd like it to be:
It's a pretty simple concept, but one that has the potential to make ancestor profiles much more informative—especially for users who don't normally add descriptions to their timeline facts.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Detail Choices Example Why Fact Descriptions MatterMany Ancestry users simply enter a date and place for events like births, residences, marriages, or deaths and move on. While that's perfectly acceptable, the Description field provides an opportunity to add context that helps tell the story behind each event. For example, instead of simply recording a residence, you might note that the family was living with relatives, renting a farm, or appearing in a particular census enumeration district. A birth description might include details taken directly from a birth record, while a military fact might summarize information found in a pension file. Adding these details can make an ancestor's timeline much richer and easier to understand without having to open every attached source. That's exactly why I was interested to see how well Ancestry's new AI handled this task. My First Test The first person I tested was my fourth great-grandfather, Nehemiah Hulet, simply because I happened to be working on his profile when I discovered the feature. I selected the Birth fact and generated all three description options. This test actually impressed me. The AI stayed focused on the birth event itself.
So far, so good.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Example 1
My Second Test Produced Very Different Results Next, I switched to my "official tester ancestor," my second great-grandfather, Samuel Steinman, whose tree I've often used to evaluate new genealogy features. Once again, I selected the Birth fact and generated all three levels. This time, however, the results were completely different. Instead of describing Samuel's birth, the AI began summarizing his life.
That wasn't what I expected the feature to do.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Example 2
Testing a Residence Fact I decided to keep experimenting. I selected one of Samuel's Residence facts—one of only a couple that displayed the new Description button. This time, the results were much closer to what I had hoped for. The AI focused on the specific residence and even incorporated information from one of the three sources attached to that event. Seeing the AI reference a supporting source was encouraging because I think that's where this feature has tremendous potential.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Example 3 A Bit Hit-or-Miss (For Now) After trying the feature on several facts, my overall impression is that the results are currently somewhat inconsistent. Sometimes the AI stays focused exactly where it should—on the individual timeline fact. Other times it drifts into summarizing the ancestor's life rather than describing the specific event. Fortunately, this isn't particularly surprising. The feature is clearly labeled BETA, and beta features exist so developers can identify issues, improve consistency, and refine the user experience before wider release. Where I Think This Feature Could Really Shine As someone who researches professionally, I can currently write these descriptions myself much faster and with greater precision. For me, it's still quicker to manually add information to a fact description than to generate AI text and then edit it. However, experienced genealogists are not necessarily the primary audience for this feature. The majority of Ancestry users are family historians who may not realize they can—or should—add descriptions to timeline facts in the first place. For those users, this tool could become incredibly helpful. If future versions consistently:
My Overall ThoughtsI always enjoy seeing genealogy companies explore new ways to use artificial intelligence, and I appreciate that Ancestry continues experimenting with features that help users better understand and present their family history. Like many beta features, Fill in Timeline Gaps shows promise but still has a few rough edges. At the moment, I'd describe it as somewhat hit-or-miss, depending on the ancestor and timeline fact you're working with. When it stays focused on the specific event, it does a nice job of expanding the information. When it drifts into writing a mini biography for a single fact, however, it becomes much less useful. I'm optimistic that Ancestry will continue refining the feature as more people test it and provide feedback. As with any AI-generated content, remember that it should always be reviewed before accepting it. AI can be an excellent assistant, but it shouldn't replace your own analysis or careful evaluation of the records and sources supporting your research. For now, I'll continue experimenting with Fill in Timeline Gaps, and I'm interested to see how it evolves over the coming months. Have you noticed Ancestry's new AI "Fill in Timeline Gaps" feature yet? If you've tried it, I'd love to hear what you think. Did it stay focused on the individual facts, or did it wander into life summaries like some of my tests? Let me know in the comments! More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More AI Tips, Tools, and FeaturesLearn about more AI in Genealogy tips, tools, features, and resources under the AI in Genealogy category.
 Ancestry adds “Add Range” year search option for better genealogy results and research accuracy While working on a recent client case, I noticed something new in Ancestry’s search function — a small feature that has been long overdue. You can now click “Add Range” next to any year field and instantly convert it into a start and end year range. Yes. Finally. For those of us who work in genealogy every single day, this is not just a cosmetic update. It solves a very real, very common research frustration. What’s New? When entering a year for:
Click it, and the single year transforms into:
No more having to rely solely on:
It’s clean. It’s simple. It’s practical.
Why This Matters (More Than It Seems) As professional genealogists, we rarely work with perfect years. We work with:
That’s a significant improvement. FamilySearch Has Had This for Years Let’s be honest — FamilySearch has allowed clear year ranges for as long as many of us can remember (at least since I began researching in 2010). Ancestry’s flexibility has often relied more on interpretation than researcher control. This update shifts that balance slightly back into the researcher’s hands. And that’s always a good thing. Real-World Example In the client case I was working on, I needed to search for an event that occurred sometime between:
Instead of running five separate searches or adjusting the +/- tolerance repeatedly, I could simply enter: Start Year: 1847 End Year: 1852 Done. Cleaner results. Less friction. More efficiency. Small Feature. Big Win. Is this groundbreaking? No. Is it necessary? Absolutely. Sometimes the most valuable updates in genealogy research tools aren’t flashy AI rollouts or beta experiments. Sometimes it’s simply giving researchers better control over how we search. And this one? Long overdue. Have you noticed this new addition yet? Have you tested it on a difficult case? I’d love to hear how you’re using it. More Ancestry Updates and FeaturesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Ancestry’s New AI Research Ideas Tool: A Genealogist’s First Look Artificial intelligence continues to make its way into everyday genealogy workflows, and Ancestry has quietly rolled out a new BETA feature for research called Ideas. Designed to surface “research opportunities” directly within an ancestor profile, this tool aims to help users identify next steps—and explain why those steps matter. I spent two days testing the Research Ideas feature using well-documented ancestors already in my tree. Below is a look at what the tool does well, where it still struggles (as expected in beta), and who will benefit most right now. What Is the Ancestry “Research Ideas” Tool? Essentially, Research Ideas is an AI-powered suggestion engine. For a selected ancestor, it generates a list of potential research tasks—called Ideas—each paired with:
Day 1 Test: How It Performed with a Well-Researched Ancestor Example 1: 2nd Great-Grandfather – Samuel “Sam” Steinman On the first day, the tool generated several Ideas focused on classic record types:
However, in this case:
Notable hiccup (Day 1): Every Action Plan—regardless of topic—began with the same introductory sentence referencing missing marriage records. This appears to be a simple beta-level glitch, not a conceptual flaw.  Ancestry AI Research Ideas- Example 1
Example 2: Great-Grandmother – Estefana Gutierres Testing the tool on a Mexican-American ancestor produced Ideas focused on:
In practice, however:
 Ancestry AI Research Ideas- Example 2
Day 2 Test: Different Results, New Layer of Context On Day 2, the Research Ideas for the same ancestor changed noticeably. This time, each Idea included a research level (Beginner or Intermediate), which is a promising addition. Examples included:
Still, the Action Plans remained strong, offering sensible, well-structured guidance that many users would find reassuring and easy to follow.  Ancestry AI Research Ideas- Example 3
Where This Tool Truly Shines Despite the limitations revealed by testing advanced cases, this feature definitely has some clear strengths:
Important Considerations Going Forward As with any AI-assisted genealogy feature, a few thoughtful questions naturally arise:
Final Thoughts The Ancestry Research Ideas tool is very promising. While it currently leans toward generalized guidance and beginner-level methodology, that is not a weakness; it simply defines its current audience. As a BETA feature, it shows clear potential:
Use it as a guide, not a replacement, for critical thinking, analysis, and sound methodology. I’ll be keeping an eye on how this feature evolves, because with continued development, it has the potential to become a really helpful starting point for many family history journeys. More AI Tips, Tools, and FeaturesLearn about more AI in Genealogy tips, tools, features, and resources under the AI in Genealogy category. More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
12/20/2025 Ancestry Expands Its AI Record Explore Feature: Introducing Listen and Explore (Beta)Read Now  Ancestry Expands AI Record Explore with New “Listen and Explore” Feature (Beta) Back in April of 2024, I introduced Ancestry’s first major step into AI-powered record interpretation in my blog post, Ancestry’s New AI Record Explore Feature! At the time, the feature provided AI-generated summaries of individual records—an exciting development that helped genealogists better understand what a record contained and how their ancestor appeared within it. Fast forward to now, and Ancestry has taken that concept several steps further with a new, expanded beta feature: Listen and Explore. This enhancement builds on the original AI Record Explore tool by transforming static records into richer, more contextual narratives about our ancestors’ lives. I recently tested this new feature using my 2nd great-grandfather, Samuel Steinman, and his 1920 U.S. census record, and the results were genuinely impressive.  Ancestry AI Listen and Explore Record Feature- Example What Stays the Same: AI Record Summaries At its core, the feature still includes an AI-generated summary of the record, clearly explaining:
 Ancestry AI Listen and Explore Record Feature- Example 1, Summary What’s New: “Listen to Their Story” The biggest enhancement is the addition of a “Listen to their story” option. This feature expands well beyond a simple summary and provides a narrative-style explanation that includes:
Even better, this narrative is downloadable, making it especially useful for:
 Ancestry AI Listen and Explore Record Feature- Example 2, Listen to Their Story “Explore What Shaped Their Life”: A Dynamic Research Companion Another standout addition is the “Explore what shaped their life” section. Using Samuel Steinman’s 1920 census record, Ancestry presented me with four thematic topics to explore further. What was particularly interesting is that these options changed each time I revisited the feature, offering new angles and research prompts. Some of the topics I was offered included:
This rotating selection encourages deeper thinking and prevents the experience from feeling repetitive.  Ancestry AI Listen and Explore Record Feature- Example 3, Explore What Shaped Their Life  Ancestry AI Listen and Explore Record Feature- Example 3, Explore What Shaped Their Life 1  Ancestry AI Listen and Explore Record Feature- Example 3, Explore What Shaped Their Life 2  Ancestry AI Listen and Explore Record Feature- Example 3, Explore What Shaped Their Life 3 Footnotes, Sources, and a Very Pleasant Surprise Clicking on Occupation in butcher shops (in two slightly different versions) produced two similar but not identical explorations—and both included footnotes at the bottom. This is where the feature really shines. In the first version, the cited sources included:
In the second version, the sources included:
Each exploration also includes a copy function, making it easy to save, reuse, or adapt the content. The Drawback: Speed As exciting as this feature is, it does come with one notable drawback: it is slow. Clicking on “Listen and Explore” can take a significant amount of time to load. In some cases, the delay is long enough that users may assume the feature isn’t working at all, as I did at first, and navigate away. This may be a beta-stage issue, and while understandable, it’s worth noting so users know to be patient while the AI processes the request. Final ThoughtsAncestry’s Listen and Explore feature is a meaningful evolution in how genealogists interact with records. Rather than simply extracting facts, this tool helps:
If you haven’t explored this feature yet, it’s well worth your time—just be sure to give it a moment to work. More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 AncestryDNA’s 2025 ethnicity update introduced over 3,600 global regions—see how my results changed! Ancestry has just rolled out its biggest ethnicity update ever—and like many other users, I was eager (and a little nervous!) to see how my results would change this time around. Their last major update was in July 2024, and I received my newly updated AncestryDNA Origins (Ancestral Regions) results on October 9, 2025. Let’s just say—Ancestry definitely shook things up! My 2025 AncestryDNA ResultsHere’s a look at my brand-new 2025 results, which now include 11 ancestral regions:  My Ancestry 2025 DNA Origins Update, 1  My Ancestry 2025 DNA Origins Update, 1-2 You’ll notice that my English regions are now far more specific, broken into multiple new areas, while my Celtic and Gaelic regions—especially Scotland and Ireland—grew significantly. Comparing 2024 vs. 2025: What Changed?Ancestry’s new update completely reshuffled several of my regions. Here’s a quick comparison:  My Ancestry Ethnicity Update 2024-2025 Comparison Chart This year’s update replaced many of the broad continental or country-level regions with more precise subregions. For example, “England & Northwestern Europe” was broken down into Southeastern England, Northern Wales & North West England, East Midlands, North East England, and West Midlands. Similarly, “Germanic Europe” was divided into more refined zones like Southern Germanic Europe. My Reactions: Interesting, but a Little OffWhile I always appreciate the increasing detail in these updates, I have to admit—some of my new results made me pause. The surge in Scottish and Irish percentages felt a bit overestimated, especially since my paternal side has no known Scottish or Irish ancestry. My paternal great-grandparents were from Mexico and Germany (both families rooted there for many generations), and my other paternal great-grandparent line descends primarily from Germany and England. Although, who's to say where they were thousands of years ago, right? There is Irish and Scottish ancestry on my mother’s side, but this new update seems to have assigned some of it to my father’s line as well—where it doesn’t belong. Still, it’s a good reminder that DNA ethnicity estimates are just that--estimates. They’re based on evolving databases, shifting scientific models, and complex patterns of shared DNA that can cross regional borders. What’s New in the 2025 UpdateAccording to Ancestry, this update is “the most exciting and detailed one yet,” introducing over 3,600 global regions (up from about 2,200 last year) and powered by an expanded reference panel of more than 185,000 DNA samples. A few highlights of the science behind this update:
What This Means for GenealogistsFor genealogists and family historians, these updates can be both exciting and confusing. The increased detail can help narrow down migration patterns and regional origins, but it can also raise new questions—especially when percentages shift dramatically. When you see unexpected results:
Tracing My AncestryDNA Updates Through the YearsIt’s always fascinating to look back and see how much AncestryDNA’s ethnicity estimates have evolved over time. From the early, broad regional groupings to today’s ultra-detailed breakdowns, these updates tell as much about the advancement of DNA science as they do about our ancestral origins. 2014 to Summer 2018: The Early Years (Few Changes) From 2014 through mid-2018, my ethnicity results remained nearly identical. Ancestry made only one small adjustment in 2018, changing Italy/Greece to the broader region of Europe South. Other than that, there were no real differences for several years—until the first major overhaul later that same year. *Click to view
September 2018 to 2025: Major Updates and Refinements Ancestry rolled out its first significant ethnicity update in late 2018, which completely reshaped many users’ results—including mine. From that point forward, Ancestry continued refining and expanding its reference panels almost every year, introducing more precise regions and new tools along the way. Each update has reflected both technological advances and a growing database of DNA samples—culminating in the biggest update ever in October 2025. *Click to view
Final ThoughtsI love seeing how Ancestry’s science continues to evolve, and I’m always fascinated by how my results shift with each major update. Even though some of this year’s changes don’t quite align with my documented family lines, I’ll be exploring them further—particularly the English subregions, which now offer much more specificity. As always, I recommend saving your screenshots from each version of your ethnicity results, so you can track how your ancestry story evolves over time. More about DNA "Ethnicity resultsTo learn more about DNA "ethnicity" results, check out my post: Genealogy DNA Testing: Understanding Your Real DNA Ethnicity Results. More Genetic Genealogy/DNA ResourcesFind more DNA genealogy resources, tips, news, and updates under the Genetic Genealogy and DNA Category. More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Ancestry’s AI Image Transcript tool now works with more record types, including certificates and newspapers. Back in March, I shared news about Ancestry’s new AI-powered Image Transcript tool, which was first introduced as a way to transcribe journals, diaries, and letters uploaded to your family tree. At that time, its focus was primarily on family-uploaded narrative documents. But recently, I noticed something exciting: the tool now seems to handle more document types than it did at launch. While still in BETA, this update shows that Ancestry is actively working to improve and expand the capabilities of the feature. What’s New? Expanded Document Types Over the past week, I tested the tool with several different records—well beyond diaries and letters—and here’s what I found:
 Ancestry AI Image Transcript Update- Example 1, Death Certificate
 Ancestry AI Image Transcript Update- Example 2, Newspaper Article
 Ancestry AI Image Transcript Update- Example 3, Probate Record
 Ancestry AI Image Transcript Update- Example 4, BIble Page How Well Does It Work? The results were decent, especially considering the wide variety of documents I tried. That said, as we all know, AI is not perfect yet, and Ancestry’s version is no exception. There were plenty of mistakes—especially with older handwriting and dense formatting. Still, I was impressed by how far the tool has already come since its initial rollout. Why This Matters This expansion is exciting because it hints at where Ancestry is headed. The more document types the Image Transcript tool can handle, the more useful it will become for genealogists working with everything from family letters to official certificates and records. Even if the tool doesn’t yet provide perfect accuracy, it can serve as a time-saving first draft, helping us decipher difficult handwriting or lengthy documents. Final Thoughts Ancestry’s AI Image Transcript tool is clearly evolving. What started as a way to transcribe family-uploaded journals and letters now appears to cover a broader range of documents—including certificates, newspaper clippings, and probate records. While it’s still in BETA and prone to errors, the progress in just a short amount of time is encouraging. If you haven’t tried this tool in a while, it may be worth giving it another test—you might be surprised at what it can handle now. Have you experimented with different types of documents in the Image Transcript tool? Share your results in the comments—I’d love to hear what you’ve discovered! More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More AI Tips, Tools, and FeaturesLearn about more AI in Genealogy tips, tools, features, and resources under the AI in Genealogy category.
 Ancestry’s New DNA Matches by Cluster Feature in Beta Ancestry has just introduced a new feature for their AncestryDNA Pro Tools subscription called Matches by Cluster — a tool currently in Beta testing. This new option automatically organizes some of your DNA matches into groups that most likely share a common ancestor. If you’ve ever explored DNA clustering methodologies such as the Leeds Method or used third-party tools for cluster analysis, you’ll recognize the concept: grouping matches based on how they share DNA not just with you, but also with each other. Here’s an overview of how this new Ancestry feature works, what it currently offers, and my initial impressions after exploring it. How It Works Matches by Cluster analyzes your DNA matches and organizes them into clusters. The goal is to help you visualize and understand groups of people who may descend from the same ancestor or ancestral couple. Currently, the feature works within a specific range:
What I Noticed When I tested this feature on my own DNA results, Ancestry created seven small clusters for me — a mix of maternal and paternal side groups. The groups were relatively modest in size:
Currently, the clusters seem to center on matches connected to second great-grandparent couples, which may help those who are still establishing the broader framework of their DNA connections.  Ancestry DNA Match by Cluster Example- Groups Additional Insights
Who Might Benefit from This? This new clustering tool seems especially well-suited for:
Looking Ahead Because Matches by Cluster is still a Beta feature, it will be interesting to watch how it evolves. The ability to create custom clusters based on cM ranges or targeted matches will make this tool far more flexible and potentially more powerful down the road. If Ancestry expands this feature to include all matches across a broader cM range, it could become even more useful for identifying connections beyond the 2nd great-grandparent level and help visualize deeper ancestral ties that may not yet be obvious. Final Thoughts As with all tools, the value of Matches by Cluster depends on where you are in your research journey. For those newer to DNA or just beginning to get comfortable with organizing matches, this tool could offer helpful direction. For more advanced genealogists, it may serve as a supplemental tool while we wait to see how Ancestry expands its capabilities in future updates. I’ll be keeping an eye on this feature as it develops and will share further insights as new options are rolled out. Have you tried Matches by Cluster yet? I’d love to hear about your experiences and thoughts on its potential for your research! More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
4/6/2025 Exploring Ancestry’s New “Networks” Feature: A Powerful Tool for Connections Beyond the Family TreeRead Now  Visualizing connections beyond the family tree with Ancestry’s Networks feature Ancestry recently unveiled a new tool that has the potential to reshape how we document, visualize, and analyze the relationships surrounding our ancestors. Simply called Networks, this new Pro Tools feature allows researchers to build out dynamic relationship webs that go far beyond traditional family lines. Announced at RootsTech and currently in BETA, Networks is already proving to be a valuable resource for exploring the people who interacted with, lived near, or were otherwise involved in our ancestors’ lives—even if they weren’t blood relatives. In genealogy, we often say that it takes a village—not only to raise a child but also to build out a meaningful, contextual family history. Networks offers a new way to capture that village. What Is the Networks Feature? Networks is designed to:
A Real-World Example: Using Networks for Census Boarders I first encountered the Networks feature while working on a client case, and I decided to give it a try right then and there. In the 1910 census, I found a family living together—husband, wife, children—and several other individuals listed in the household. Among them were three men marked as the husband’s “brothers,” and two boarders. Oddly, I had found no additional records linking the three supposed brothers to the family.  Ancestry Networks Example 1- Boarders and Possible Brothers That’s where Networks came in.  Ancestry Networks Example 2- Creating a Network Using the new tool, I added all of these individuals to a network linked to the head of household. I treated it like a research workspace: I tagged each person, added census data as media, and even began building out mini-profiles for the three “brothers” and the boarders. Whether the census taker made an error or the relationships are genuine but obscured, this feature gave me the freedom to explore those possibilities without needing to force these individuals directly into the family tree structure.  Ancestry Networks Example 3- Adding People, Media, Sources, Tags, and Stickies to Your Network  Ancestry Networks Example 4- Creating Stickies (Notes) for Your Network Key Features That Make Networks Useful
How to Access the Networks Feature As of now, Networks is available only to those with an active Pro Tools membership on Ancestry and can only be accessed through the Ancestry website—not the mobile app. There are multiple ways to get to it:
Why This Matters Genealogy is as much about social context as it is about names, dates, and places. Networks fills an important gap in our research process by giving us a structured, visual way to explore the people who encircled our ancestors’ lives—those who may have had deep personal, social, or economic significance but don't appear in a traditional family tree structure. The tool may especially prove useful for:
Final Thoughts While still in BETA, Ancestry’s Networks feature is a useful addition for genealogists at every level. It encourages critical thinking, offers flexibility, and considers the complexity of human relationships—something every family historian grapples with at some point. Whether you’re piecing together a mystery in the census, mapping out an immigrant cluster, or just trying to figure out who that “mystery boarder” might have been, Networks gives you a new lens to view your research through. And sometimes, that fresh perspective is just what we need to break through a long-standing brick wall. Have you tried the Networks feature yet? Share your experiences—I’d love to hear how others are using it in their research! More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Ancestry’s New AI Image Transcript Feature in Action Ancestry has rolled out an exciting new feature currently in BETA: the Image Transcript tool! This AI-driven tool can transcribe handwritten journals, diaries, and letters that are uploaded to your family tree, making it easier than ever to preserve and read ancestral documents. While still in development, this tool shows great promise in assisting genealogists with historical handwriting recognition. How to Use the Image Transcript Tool Getting started with this feature is simple. Here’s how you can try it out:
🚨 Note: You may occasionally see an error message stating, “Unfortunately, we can't create a transcription. But this feature is constantly being upgraded to handle more document types. Please try again soon.” If this happens, you can try again later, or it may mean the document is currently unsupported. Putting It to the Test I’ve taken some time to test out this feature with different types of documents, and the results have been quite promising! 🔍 Mid-1800s Bible Page During RootsTech, when Ancestry first announced this tool, I uploaded an old Bible page from my 3rd great-grandfather’s Bible, filled with mid-19th-century handwriting. To my surprise, the tool performed quite well, successfully transcribing a significant portion of the text! While not perfect, it still captured much of the content, and as this tool improves, I expect even better accuracy over time.  Ancestry AI Image Transcript- Example 1-1  Ancestry AI Image Transcript- Example 1-2 📝 1960s Letter Just a couple of weeks later, I tested a handwritten letter from the 1960s, provided by a client. The results were even more impressive! The tool transcribed nearly everything correctly, with only two minor errors. This could be due to either the handwriting being clearer or the AI having already improved in just a short period.  Ancestry AI Image Transcript- Example 2-1  Ancestry AI Image Transcript- Example 2-2 Final Thoughts While still in BETA, Ancestry’s Image Transcript tool is showing great potential. As it continues to develop, it could become an essential resource for genealogists looking to extract text from historical handwritten documents with ease. Whether you’re working with centuries-old diaries or more recent family letters, this tool may soon save you time and effort in reading and preserving family history. If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go and see how well it works for your documents! Have you tested the Image Transcript tool? Share your experiences in the comments! 📌Note:Since the Image Transcript feature is still in BETA, not everyone may have access yet. While Ancestry announced this feature during their RootsTech Innovation and Tech Forum 2025 session, they did not mention it was in BETA at the time. However, because it is still being tested and refined, availability may vary by account, subscription level, and possibly even location (U.S. always seems to be first). If you don’t see the feature yet, keep checking back! Update (9/14/2025)Update: Since my March post about Ancestry’s AI Image Transcript tool, the feature has expanded! It now handles a wider variety of documents—including certificates, newspapers, probate records, and Bible pages. Check out my latest blog post, Ancestry Expands AI Image Transcript Tool Beyond Letters and Diaries, to see how it performs with these new record types. More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More AI Tips, Tools, and FeaturesLearn about more AI in Genealogy tips, tools, features, and resources under the AI in Genealogy category.
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Welcome to the BlogWelcome to Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family! Here you'll find genealogy research tips, family history resources, DNA insights, technology and AI tools, genealogy news, and stories from my own research journey. Whether you're just starting your family tree, exploring your ancestry, or tackling a challenging brick wall, my goal is to help you discover, understand, and preserve your family's story. Categories
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