Unwrapping the Mystery:
Navigating Your New Holiday DNA Results
January is peak “DNA Season” in the genealogy world.
As thousands of kits gifted over the holidays are processed, our match lists are currently exploding with new names, faces, and – of course – mysteries.
For members of the Austin Genealogical Society, these new results are more than just a novelty; they are the keys to breaking down long-standing Central Texas “brick walls.” Whether you tested with AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, or FamilyTreeDNA, seeing a list of hundreds of matches can be overwhelming.
Here is how to stay calm and climb your new family tree with efficiency.
1. Don’t Panic Over “Unfamiliar” Names
Your top matches might be people you’ve never heard of. Before you assume the test is wrong, remember that DNA doesn’t lie, but trees often have gaps. A first or second cousin match with an unknown surname often represents a descendant of a great-aunt who moved away or a branch of the family that changed their name upon arriving in Texas.
2. Use the “Shared Matches” Tool
This is the single most important feature in genetic genealogy. Look at a new match and click “Shared Matches.” If that unknown person matches you and your known maternal aunt, you’ve instantly narrowed the mystery down to your mother’s side.
Many of our members use the Leeds Method to organize these groups. By color-coding your shared matches, you can visually cluster your relatives into four groups representing your four grandparent lines.
3. Focus on the CentiMorgans (cM)
Instead of looking at the relationship prediction (which is just a provider’s best guess), look at the total shared centimorgans (cM). This is the unit of measurement for DNA segments.
| Shared cM Range | Likely Relationship |
| 3,400+ cM | Parent / Identical Twin |
| 1,700 – 3,400 cM | Full Sibling |
| 400 – 1,200 cM | 1st Cousin, Grandparent, or Aunt/Uncle |
| 70 – 400 cM | 2nd Cousin |
Pro Tip: Use the Shared cM Project tool on DNA Painter to see every possible relationship for a specific cM amount.
4. Screenshot Everything
If you find a match with a robust public tree, save it or screenshot it immediately. Users often mark their trees private or delete their profiles once they realize strangers are looking at their data. Capture the information—especially the names of their great-grandparents—while it’s available.
5. Craft the Perfect “First Contact”
When reaching out to a new match, keep it short, sweet, and specific.
Avoid: “Hi, we are a match. Who are you?”
Try: “Hi! We share 150 cM of DNA. I see your family lived in Travis County in the 1880s. I am researching the Smith and Jones families from that area. Do those names appear in your research?”
6. Check Your Local Roots
Since we are here in Austin, pay close attention to matches with deep Texas roots. Many of our local families have been intermarrying in Central Texas for generations. If you see the same surnames popping up in multiple match groups, you might be looking at endogamy (where folks in a small community marry cousins), which is common in early Texas pioneer and German-Texan enclaves.
Join the Conversation
Need help deciphering a confusing match? The Austin Genealogical Society is here to help! Come to our next monthly meeting or join our DNA Special Interest Group (SIG) to swap stories and strategies with fellow researchers.
Happy hunting, and may your holiday matches lead you straight to your ancestors!
The Austin Genealogical Society meets monthly to share research techniques and local history. For more information on our DNA study groups and upcoming speakers, visit austingenealogicalsociety.or
