Readers Respond: April 2022 e-News DNA Quiz
by Michelle Dwyer Cohen
We had our largest survey response ever to the April 2022 DNA quiz. We asked readers to share their thoughts with us about their DNA test results.
Responses are below. Similar answers have been combined, and some have been anonymized to protect our readers’ privacy.
Answers to “Why did you take a DNA test?”
- To find out where my ancestors came from and to confirm or disprove family lore and where the records were taking me/To enhance and verify my genealogical research
- I wanted help breaking through a genealogical brick wall (Editor’s note: this was by far the most popular response)
- Thought it would be interesting, found out some health related issues also
- I wanted to know who, where and about my ancestry.
- I wanted to see if it would help me in my genealogical quest!
- Find distant relatives
- To find my heritage ancestry origins and ethnicity percentages
- Find GGGrandfather’s/mother’s biological family
- Extra way to find family. Paid for male to test because we have adopted grandfather.
- The results are to be believed. Many mistakes in census records.
- To potentially find other descendants from common ancestors and learn more about countries/regions in my ancestry.
- I had already had Y-DNA and autosomal DNA tests done for my uncle and brother. I was curious to see how mine would compare.
- Mostly, just curious. But it opened up a whole can of worms I never expected. Like I was adopted and never knew until age 67!
- To discover my ancestors’ origins, to connect with cousins and other relations, and finally, to feel more connected to my ancestors who went through so much just to get me here today.
- My sister asked me to. Otherwise, I would not have and would never recommend that anyone else take one.
- I took my autosomal test to assist in building out my tree as I was getting started. Nearly two years later I submitted my Y-DNA test to learn more about my surname family as well as my haplogroup origin.
