To ask if there's any way of finding out about my paternal grandfather's family? DNA check maybe?

[Juniper68]

Dad didn't know his dad. Apparently he died whilst his unwed mother was carrying him. No idea if that's true? Most are dead now on his side. Those left no nothing. It's always niggled me not knowing anything about dad's dad or his side. Dad would have had a different name.
I've seen people in programmes finding out allsorts from DNA tests. I have no idea where to start? There's only my sister and I left now plus grandchildren. It'd be great to know something.

Anyone know a way to do this? Where do I start? TIA

Ancestry DNA will show you other people in their data base who you are related to. With some sleuthing and by doing your family tree, you should be able to work out if any of them are related to your unknown relative. If they have their trees done then you might even be able to work out who he is but this isn't guaranteed. It depends if any of his family have done their DNA tests. Ancestry has the biggest database but you can then take the raw data and upload it into other sites that cross match against other databases.

I used it to prove who my Granddad's dad was as he wasn't married to his mother and wasn't in his life. We did already have a clue though as he was listed as a lodger I in one census and the children had his surname as a middle name.

Thanks I'll start there. I wish I'd done it years ago.

I found out who my paternal grandfather was using Ancestry DNA, having previously not even known his name. It takes time and determination and a fair bit of luck (I was able to narrow down my DNA matches due to other family members having also done tests) and I managed to find a second cousin who provided some answers. It’s definitely worth trying!

Thank you. Glad it worked for you

Ancestry is the best test to do as it has the largest database of UK test-takers.

When you get your list of matches the site cannot sort out who is on your mum's side, who is on your dad's side. You are trying to establish 1 unknown grandparent out of 4. You may not get any close matches at all. You are more than likely to have thousands at 4th-6th cousin level which is really very distant and you will share a tiny % of DNA with them, and a common ancestor going back potentially 200 years.

The DNA test is a great tool but is no substitute for basic genealogy. You will have to build a tree to work out where people fit in, and sort your matches into paternal and maternal side. It's going to take around 6 weeks for your results to come in, so use the time to start your research, join a few facebook groups and get your head around Centimorgans and cousin matching.

Similar story here - but interestingly, my dad has never been even one but curious about finding out who his dad is. He doesn’t even have a name, so I suspect it’s needle in a haystack territory.
Otherwise, we have a pretty unusual surname (of the man my grandmother had a later, very short-lived marriage to). We’ve had quite a lot of people contact us, from that branch of the family - quite a lot in Australia. We have to keep saying ‘nah, no relation’, but it does make me wonder sometimes…so, just a warning that even tracing a family tree isn’t fail safe, as dad’s christening record shows this man as his father, although not on his birth certificate.