Have you ever wondered about your family’s history and where you come from? With the help of Ancestry, a genetic testing company, you can now uncover the secrets of your past. But is Ancestry legit?
Ancestry is a legitimate company and is one of the most popular genealogy services in the world. They have been around for over 30 years and offer both online and offline resources to help you trace your family tree. Additionally, Ancestry is well known for having a large collection of records including census data, military records, historic maps, photos and more.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this popular genetic testing company to help you make the right decision for you.
What is Ancestry?
Ancestry is a genealogy company that helps people learn about their family history. When you sign up your provide the information you have about your family history, such as names, date of birth and location of grandparents, and the site helps you build a family tree.
In time the site provides suggestions based on historical records of other relatives to add to your tree.
The company also offers a DNA kit which can help unlock more information about your family history and help discover relatives you didn’t know existed.
What are the main services offered by Ancestry?
In the many years Ancestry has been around it has evolved it’s offering to give you the tools you need to research your family history.
1. Family Tree Maker
At the heart of the service is the Family Tree Maker. It can be used to find and research family history, as well as to create and share family trees.
The good news is the family tree maker is free to use, so if you already know a lot about your family you can quickly create a comprehensive document that can be shared with relatives to ask for their input.
To create a family tree, users simply add their own name and birth date, as well as the names and birth dates of their parents, spouse, siblings, and children.
Additionally, users can add data about their grandparents, parents, and ancestors. Once all the data is entered a visual representation of the family is generated.
2. Family Historian
Once the platform has some information about your family, it can search a wide range of documents to help you with your family history research.
When potentially relevant information has been found you’ll see a little leaf symbol on the relevant person on the tree. You can review some of the information discovered for free, but to unlock the full power of the site you’ll need to sign up for a membership.
In the UK you’re offered two types of membership:
- UK Premium: £13.99/month or £69.99 for 6 months. Provides access to all UK records
- Worldwide: £19.99/month or £99.99 for 6 months. Provides access to all worldwide Ancestry records
Its smart pricing, you’re unlikely to have the time to commit to an in-depth family tree in just 1 month, so offering up a discounted 6 month option is good for both Ancestry and its customers.
3. Records and Databases
Online genealogy refers to the act of researching one’s family history using the internet as a resource. This can be done in a number of ways, such as through online databases, forums, and genealogy websites.
Ancestry.com offers a wide range of historical records, including military and census data. Records can be searched easily and quickly using the site’s different features, but many require a paid memebership which gives access to:
- Census and electoral records
- Birth, marriage and death information
- Military records
- Wills and probate
- Immigration and travel information
- Schools, directories and church history
You can enter names in any database through Ancestry, and Ancestry will do the work for you to find any records that match what you’ve entered.
In addition to its large record database, Ancestry also offers a DNA database with over 1,500 global ethnic regions.
4. DNA Testing
AncestryDNA is a way to unlock more information and potentially connect you with unknown relatives. When ordered, you’re sent a DNA kit to collect a sample and send off for analysis. A DNA test can tell you about your ancestors and where they came from.
AncestryDNA offers 3 products:
- AncestryDNA: £79 – helps uncover your ancestry, learn more about your ancestors and make new family connections.
- AncestryDNA + Membership: £80 – as above but with 3 months Worldwide membership
- AncestryDNA + Traits: £94 – Everything above but with information regarding how your genes inclufence your personal traits.
Note that these prices exclude shipping costs. Also, be aware that if you get one of the options with membership you’ll need to cancel it to prevent it automatically rolling over into a new membership at the standard, higher, cost.
How does AncestryDNA work?
Step 1: You provide a DNA sample
To provide a DNA sample for Ancestry, you should read the privacy statement of the testing company and make sure you are comfortable with how they will use and store your information.
You can then follow the instructions on the Ancestry website to collect your DNA sample.
Step 2: Your sample is processed and analyzed
AncestryDNA test results are the result of a multi-step process that starts with you providing a saliva or DNA sample. The sample is then sent to a lab for analysis. The lab runs different tests on the sample to determine your genetic makeup.
The results of these tests are then interpreted by Ancestry’s team of scientists. They use this information to create your AncestryDNA report, which is made up of your Ethnicity Estimate and your DNA Matches.
Step 3: You receive your results
When you receive your results from AncestryDNA, you will see an initial report that details your ethnicity estimates and potential DNA matches in the AncestryDNA database.
The results may take up to 8 weeks to be processed, but some users have reported receiving their results in as little as 2 weeks.
You can read more about your results in the “Results” section on the Ancestry DNA dashboard. The “ethnicity” section on the dashboard provides information about local communities and their genetic diversity with yours. You can also explore videos and articles about Ancestry’s process to better understand why your results came out the way they did.
Your AncestryDNA test results are accurate to a certain degree, depending on the steps involved in testing. Reading your results in context with other information about your family can help you better understand your heritage.
Can I Trust Ancestry as a Legitimate Source for Genealogical Information?
Yes, Ancestry is a legitimate source for genealogical information. Many users have shared positive cdkeys legit review about the accuracy and depth of their records. With millions of historical documents and DNA data, Ancestry is a trusted resource for uncovering family history.
Pros of using Ancestry:
As a well established market leader there are a lot of advantages to using Ancestry:
You can learn about your ancestors
You can find out about the lives, families, and migration history of your family, uncovering information about distant relatives you may never have even heard of before.
Ancestry offers a range of tools to help you research your ancestry, including autosomal DNA testing and historical records.
You can find long-lost relatives
The site can be a great resource for finding long-lost relatives. You can create a family tree on the site and list the names of your parents, grandparents, and siblings.
This can help others find you if they are also researching their family history. Additionally, DNA testing can reveal hidden surprises about your family that you never knew before.
If you are looking for lost relatives, you can search forums on the Ancestry website that focus on specific surnames or locations where your family members may have lived.
You can also leave your own contact information on these posts so that others may be able to find you more easily.
You can learn about your health risks
AncestryDNA can be used to learn about possible health risks that you may not have been aware of. It is important to be aware of the potential consequences of taking a DNA test before doing so, as there may be privacy implications involved.
The accuracy of family history information on Ancestry.com may also be incomplete. Furthermore, the ability for sperm donors to remain anonymous could have negative consequences.
Any indicative health issues raised should be taken up with your doctor.
You can learn about your ethnicity
If you’ve watched any TV show that dives into someones past one of the more surprising elements is the ethnicity mixture.
The optional DNA will provide results that show which ethnic regions your DNA resembles.
Cons of using Ancestry:
Despite being a very well established and reputable company, some users have found the data is sometimes inaccurate or incomplete, which can be frustrating for users who are trying to research their family history.
For example, when searching for my deceased grandfather, I couldn’t find information regarding a date of death.
Although the site has a 4 out of 5 rating on TrustPilot, it’s not without it’s detractors with the main complaints being:
- Poor customer service: Many reviews mention poor customer service, which can make researching your family difficult.
- Slow Results: Some reviews mention that the DNA results were slow to arrive, and in some cases had to be chased up (which in some cases resulted in the poor customer service).
For example:
Absolutely rubbish, ordered my kit in November, returned my sample a week later. Monitored the App which said they were still waiting for my sample to arrive. Used online chat on 12 Jan and was told they did not receive my sample, lost in post and that this is a common occurrence they assured me a new kit would be sent, but nothing received. Used chat again on 29 Jan and was told they had received it and sample wasn’t good enough and that I needed to arrange another kit. Lost faith and requested a refund. Will use MyHeritage.com instead
https://trstp.lt/fbFCMOAer
Was given a new subscription to Ancestry uk on the 14th January 2023 as a birthday present the package I received was for Premium membership which states in the readout that ALL UK and Ireland record’s included But not as I found out any Military records
https://trstp.lt/zMtvR-8Eu
Have had three attempts to resolve the problem on the so called help/chat line which is definitely not fit for purpose Have sent three plus emails to Ancestry support no reply
Did take out a subscription myself a few years ago all seemed okay then But now it seems a complete rubbish and uncaring Site
There is even a record listing me as my own Son still no contact from ancestry
Your DNA could be hacked
As with any online service, any infomration you allow them to store could be stolen by a hacker. That includes your DNA information if you take a test.
What they’d do with this information is anyones guess, but it’s a risk to be aware of.
You might not like what you find out
Ancestry is a great tool for finding out more about your family history. However, there are some things you might not like about what you find out.
For example, DNA testing can reveal surprising secrets about your family, some of which you may not be happy with (“What do you mean I have a sister?!”).
The Bottom Line
Ancestry is a reputable website that provides access to a large online collection of family history records. The site is easy to use and offers a free trial so you can explore it before subscribing.
AncestryDNA tests can help you learn more about your family history and connect with DNA matches around the world.
Customer feedback in general is very positive, but be aware there have been a number of negative reviews that have highlighted there is work to be done in the customer service department.
- You can find information on your family tree and ancestry: With an Ancestry subscription, you could search over 27 billion records from over 80 countries.
- The website is easy to use: Has an easy-to-use interface that is suitable for both beginners and experienced genealogists.
- It has a 14 day free trial so you can try it out before subscribing: Allows you to explore the site without committing to a subscription plan
- Ancestry is a legit company: Ancestry has been around for many years, and their services are reliable and trustworthy.
Is Ancestry worth it?
The answer to this question will largly depend on how much time you have to invest in your project. If you pay for the service but then don’t have the time to use it, you’d be wasting money.
However, if you set aside time to build up a comprehensive family tree, take a DNA test and review all the hints and suggestions, you could well uncover a welath of information you’d never have known.
