Understanding AncestryDNA® Origins/Ethnicity Updates 2025

AncestryDNA has updated its Origins (Ethnicity Estimates) once again, and genealogists everywhere are reacting! Some are thrilled, others… not so much. In this episode, professional genealogist Connie Knox explains what’s really going on with these new DNA results, how Ancestry builds their reference panels, and why your percentages may have changed.

We’ll talk about what you actually inherit (and what you don’t), how genetic networks work, and how these updates can still offer valuable clues about your ancestors’ migrations and geographic origins. Connie also shares why ethnicity estimates—while interesting—shouldn’t be mistaken for genealogical proof and shows how to use DNA clusters, groups, and matches to uncover meaningful records for your family history research.

You’ll come away understanding how to interpret these updates, what “Origins” really means, and how to make the most of your DNA results on Ancestry.

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