Frequently Asked Questions About Results

Overview of Results Page at Worldfamilies.net: 
(This explanation explains the Results Pages that are hosted at Worldfamilies.net.  Projects hosted at FTDNA or elsewhere may have differences.)

When the Project Administrator is notified by FTDNA that your results are ready, he/she will post them on the Surname Project's Results Page. 

(It may take a few days for your results to appear on the Results page, as there can be delays in notification and in posting.  Email your Project Administrator if your results do not appear on the Results page within a week after you have received notification of your results from FTDNA).

1. The first column is "ID" or sometimes the kit number, which is a number assigned to track the individual within the project.
2. The "Name" column is intended to list the "Earliest Known Ancestor" - which we prefer.  If we can't find this in the field in "Preferences" on your Personal Page at FTDNA or through a pedigree posted on the Worldfamilies.net Pedigree Forum, we post the initials and last name of the participant.
3. Haplogroups (abbreviated as "Haplo" in the Results table):
   • A Green Haplogroup result was determined by actual testing - with a SNP test (pronounced "snip")
   • A Red Haplogroup result has been estimated by FTDNA - using their internal database.  In order for them to predict a haplogroup, there must be at least a 12/12 match to a SNP tested result
   • A Black Haplogroup estimate was determined by some other estimating procedure
   • Sometimes, there is no haplogroup estimate - which is shown with a "-".  In those cases, FTDNA will (at their expense - and on their own timetable) arrange for a SNP test to determine the haplogroup
4. The Marker Panels
   • The band across the top of the chart shows DYS numbers (addresses) for the markers tested.
   • Under each DYS number, a number is shown which shows the number of times that pattern repeated at that marker on your test results. 
5. Color
   • If two or more results are considered a "match", they will be shown with matching markers in the same background color.
   • Markers within a "match" which have different results will be shown with contrasting colors.
   • A specific color has no meaning - other than showing a match.
   • Different genetic groups (lineages) are shown in differing colors.
6. Lineage:
   • A Lineage is "declared" when two men are matching 23/25 or better. 
   • A "Lineage" is a genetic family who share a recent common ancestor.  
   • The men in the Lineage "match".
   • Results shown together in a color group and assigned to a Lineage share a "recent" common ancestor
     • Generally since the advent of surnames (c1100) and probably in the last 2-400 years - or less. 
     • The common ancestor could be the earliest ancestor on the oldest pedigree or could have lived as little as one generation earlier - or could have lived centuries earlier than any of the known ancestors. 
   • The coloration of a Lineage is simply to show matching.  A specific color has no meaning - other than showing the match.
7. Mutations
   • Generally an exact copy of the yDNA is passed from father to son, but occasionally, and at random, a slight difference may occur, called a mutation.  Typically this mutation will show as a difference of one count, but there are special cases where it can be greater than one. 
   • Mutations from the typical result (which is probably the haplotype of the common ancestor) are shown in a contrasting color.
   •  
   • Mutations with no match have no significance at this time- but may be useful at some future date.
   • Where the mutation is matching a mutation from another result within the Lineage, the match likely indicates a more recent shared common ancestor (or a "branch" within the Lineage.) - as the two men probably both inherited the mutation from a recent common ancestor. 
8. For general information on Results
   • Understanding Results FAQ 
   • Compare and Analyze Your Results
   • Interpreting Results
   • Reading and Comparing Results

Overview of your Results at FTDNA: 

Family Tree DNA makes results available to participants both electronically and by regular mail. When the lab completes a test, they upload the results to their database and notify you via e-mail that the results are available online. The online results are accessed from the login box on FTDNA’s home page.  A certificate and a report are sent by regular mail. The certificate contains the name of the tested individual, the results, and, in the case of the Native American or Cohanim test, shows whether the results were positive or negative. To see examples of the certificates, click here    

Your results will look something like this:

Understand the results table labeling.

• Panel-- this is a grouping that FTDNA uses for testing.  Results are posted in Panel groupings.
  • The 12 marker test consists of Panel 1
  • The 25 marker test consists of Panel 1 and Panel 2
  • The 37 marker test consists of Panels 1, 2, and 3.
  • The 67 marker test consists of Panels 1 through 6.
• Locus--simply the sequence that FTDNA uses to report the markers.
• DYS#--DNA Y-Chromosome Segment--the prefix for most marker addresses
  • Markers--the common name for the addresses on the chromosome segment where the testing is done
  • The table uses the shorthand of just the number, i.e. 393, but we report an individual marker using the DYS prefix, i.e. DYS 393
  • Some markers are "multi-markers" meaning that multiple values are reported for this marker, for example 385a and 385b.
• Alleles--the count reported at the marker (number of times that the pattern repeats)

There are several ways to compare your results to others:

Finding your matches

Now you want to understand what these numbers mean in comparison to other people's test results. 

• For those who tested at 12 markers:
  • Matches of less than 9/12 – the two participants do not share a common ancestor*
  • Matches of 9/12 - there is a tiny chance that the participants share a common ancestor. You'll need to test at 37 markers to find a true shared genetic match that starts with such a low match. (The author has not yet seen a 9/12 become an accepted genetic match - but has heard of one case)
  • Matches of 10/12 – there is a small chance that the participants share a common ancestor. Increase to 25 markers and re-evaluate
  • Matches of 11/12 and 12/12 – there is an improved chance that the participants share a common ancestor. Increase to 25 markers and re-evaluate
  • CAUTION: a 12/12 match - even with the same surname - can be a random match. If a solid paper trail connects the 12/12 match, you can be reasonably certain of shared ancestry, but without the connecting paper trail - you can only be sure by upgrading to at least 25 markers
• For those who tested at 25 markers:
  • Matches of less than 21/25 – the two participants do not share a common ancestor*
  • Matches of 21/25 & 22/25 – there is a small chance that the participants share a common ancestor. Consider all of the traditional genealogy insights and try to obtain more participants to represent the affected families. Upgrade to 37 markers
  • Matches of 23/25, 24/25 & 25/25 – there is a high probability that participants who share a surname share a common ancestor. If there is no shared paper trail, a comparison at 37 or 67 markers can be useful.
  • You may also refer to the chart prepared by Family Tree DNA: Click Here
• For those who tested at 37 markers:
  • Matches of less than 31/37 – the two participants do not share a common ancestor*
  • Matches of 31/37 and 32/37 - the two participants have a small possibility that may share a common ancestor from the early days of surnames. This is an area with little clear insight. An upgrade to 67 markers is encouraged
  • Matches of 33/37 - some researchers consider this to be a match and some don't. If there is a shared common ancestor - it will be more than a few 100s of years ago. Upgrade to 67 markers for additional clarity.
  • Matches of 34/37, 35/37, 36/37 & 37/37 - the participants share a recent common ancestor
  • You may also refer to the chart prepared by Family Tree DNA: Click Here
• For those who tested at 67 markers:
  • Matches of less than 60/67 – the two participants probably do not share a common ancestor*. This is still being studied - but unless your match is nearly 60/67 and you have some reason to believe there is a shared ancestor since the advent of surnames - you should consider your near miss as "no match"
  • Matches of 60/67 and 61/67 - the two participants may share a common ancestor from the early days of surnames. This is still being studied
  • Matches of 62/67 and better - researchers consider these to be a match - indicating a shared common ancestor
  • You may also refer to the chart prepared by Family Tree DNA: Click Here

*We mean a common direct paternal ancestor within the historical period of surnames."

What if you have NO Matches!

• Did you compare your results in all the ways we suggest:
  • To the rest of FTDNA's database
  • At ySearch
  • At yBase
• Upgrade, if needed, to at least 37 markers
  • Most of the mutations may be in the first markers
• Test your most distant known cousin
  • Confirms your most recent common ancestor
  • Reassures you of your results
  • Or- identifies a "Surname Discontinuity"
• Test a known descendant
  • Of a family you think you match
  • Of a family living in the area where yours lived
• Join your Geographic and Haplogroup Projects

• Still nothing?  Settle in--"wait"--keep checking.
   

   

How to Contact your Matches

• Don't "bother" 12 marker matches
  • Most researchers do not consider 12 markers enough to be conclusive
  • If that's your only, or an important match, ask them to join you in upgrading to see if the match holds.
• Tell them...
  • Who you are
  • How you match
  • Who specifically that you match
  • Your ancestry
• Ask them
  • For their help
  • To define their ancestry
  • To work together

For more information on understanding your results, click here.

At this point, you may decide you need to upgrade.  Learn more about upgrades.

Learn how to unite with your matches to discover your history.

Analyze your results

1. Look first in your Personal Page by clicking on "Y-DNA Matches"
   • You'll always see all of the other results in your surname (the default setting provides comparison only within the surname.)
   • You'll also be able to select a preference (in your "User Preferences") that allows you to compare against all others of all surnames who have also opted in to the FTDNA internal comparison.
   • Look in the public databases
     • Ysearch (FTDNA's public database - open to all) Click on "Y-DNA Matches" and look for "Click here to upload to Ysearch.org"--near the middle of the page.
     • www.ybase.org is another public database open to all.  You will have to manually load your markers and will have to adjust some to fit their nomenclature.
2. FTDNA will send you automated messages when you have a match (either with only your surname project members or to their internal "opted-in" database) - depending on your selection.