Ethnic Ancestry:
Discover Your Roots with DNA

Most people are curious about their ethnic ancestry. Yet few of us have any real facts about the ethnic makeup of our ancestors.

Even if we know the ethnic background of one or two recent ancestors, we don't know our true proportions. What about our four grandparents? Our eight great-grandparents? And so on.

DNA testing can provide enlightening answers for us and our children. And in some cases that information can be used for financial gain.

Proving minority status can be helpful in race-based college admissions and job applications.

Members of certain ethnic groups may qualify for financial aid that’s not available to the general population of college students.

Others are seeking to prove their American Indian ancestry in order to share in the growing wealth of tribe casinos.

As a result of this demand, businesses have sprung up to offer DNA tests of ethnicity.

My site offers advice on choosing the right test and properly interpreting the results.

For a detailed introduction applicable to everyone see Ethnic DNA Testing.

New Population Finder for Ethnic Ancestry

Today, the most informative (and scientifically based) test for overall ancestry is Family Finder by Family Tree DNA. That's because the test now includes a fascinating report called Population Finder.

As part of the Family Finder test, you receive a Population Finder report where the company compares your DNA with over 60 reference populations from around the world. This is a biogeographical analysis of the DNA you received from ALL of your ancestors.

Population Finder is the most ambitious and scientifically valid ethnic DNA test available today.

The above link provides a concise overview. To get all the details on Population Finder you can follow this next link to Family Tree DNA and click on FAQ. Then scroll down to the section on Population Finder to learn more.

I also discuss this test on my Ethnic DNA Testing page.

African DNA Testing

I discuss DNA testing for African Americans and others of African heritage on my African DNA Test page. In addition to showing the specific African populations that Family Finder checks in the Population Finder report, I describe many other DNA tests that a person of such ancestry might consider for ethnic testing or genealogy purposes.

Native American Ancestry

People with known or suspected Native American ancestry are another group that I discuss in detail on this site. I explain several possible scenarios and describe how DNA testing can help.

See my page called Indian DNA Test.

Jewish Ancestry

If you want to confirm Jewish ancestry, read this article by the founder of Family Tree DNA.

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