My Genetic Communities

This morning Ancestry DNA has rolled out their new feature called Genetic Communities. I have done the majority of my DNA testing at Family Tree DNA so I do not have very many tests I can check at Ancestry.

My mother is grouped into two communities. The first one is the Connacht Irish which is no surprise to me as that is the area her McMahon line is from, but the person that is highlighted within her circle is her great grandmother Mary Loftus.

The other group my mom falls into is the English Midlands. I immediately realize that it has picked up her Harrop line. Lewis Harrop was born about 1800 in Lancashire, England. Little is known about Lewis’ life other than he married in the USA about 1835 and came to Canada with his wife and kids in the 1850s.

 

A look at my results include the Connacht Irish like my mother but I also have Munster Irish. I thought my Donegal roots would show up but neither my brother or my results picked that up. I have two ancestor groups that fall into the Munster community, the Hodgins family from Tipperary and my Melody family from Galway.

 

I think my brother’s results were the biggest surprise. His first community like me and my mother show Connacht Irish. The surprise is the second community, Southern English. Our Norton family from Great Yarmouth is the connection to this area and my brother is the great great grandson of the immigrant ancestor!

Very cool to see this line show up. Once you have processed the results you can then explore your Genetic Community matches!

Well done, ancestry for giving us this added tool for exploring where our DNA takes us!

My only wish is that all the people I have tested at Family Tree DNA could somehow access this amazing new Genetic Community feature!