How accurate are these DNA ancestry tests?

[Gwilt160981]

Hubby did one of these tests and a lady emailed him claiming her grandad and his grandad were brothers. She sent over the family tree to find that my hubby's grandads isn't the name stated on her tree. As I checked it out on data entry records that his birth mother name is different to what is on her tree, and his grandads date of birth was 1912 not 1907. Only thing they do share is surname. Anyone else find these tests reliable? I was thinking of doing one myself but don't want to waste £50 to £70 on a ancestry DNA if its confusing matches.

*mother's name was different on her tree

If the tests show a DNA link then there is one, BUT it takes a bit of work to suss it out. I share over 3750 cm with my DM, so I would expect a link to a GP to be about half that. I have other matches with 4th cousins down around 10cm.

I don't really understand what you are saying about the match.

The actual linking that the company does through DNA is 100% but the rest is dependent on the info people put on it
sounds like someone has put wrong info on.
MY uncle has done this and one mistake on a DOB made the whole thing after that inaccurrate

I'm.adopted and did it not realising it linked by DNA and ad to remove myself as I almost caused my birth mum to be exposed( I was a secret)

The lady who messaged my husband reckoned her grandad and his grandad are brothers. I checked it all out and the mother of her grandad doesn't match to my hubby's grandad.

Genetic genealogist here.
In terms of dna relationships they are accurate.
Ethnicity estimates, far less so.
This site is your friend re centimorgans and relationships: dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4

ah i see. so is rhat through the DNA marching part?
if so it could be theres a fsmily secret somewhere along the line

I know it can expose some family stuff which can be really awkward.

I think there has been some mix up on the other ladies tree, To be honest.

Really hard to say without all the information to hand.
Does this person show up on your husbands dna matches?
If so how many centimorgans and segments do they share?

Thanks for that link I've bookmarked it.😬

She does show up on the matches but can't work out how she's related because the great grandparents she has with the same surname aren't to do with my husband. The great grandfather she's got died down a mine, where hubby's great grandfather is buried elsewhere and his great grandmother wasn't what she got.

It's got to be a very very distant cousin but not on same blood line. Where I don't know.

Sounds fishy!
But what are the shared CMS and segs, as this is what will help establish the relationship.

I'll have a look later as hubby's at work he will have to log into his account 👍 I think it said 3rd cousin or something but will look later.

No worries
You'll get to the bottom of it.
I love a good mystery!
If you are on Facebook there are a number of good DNA/genetic genealogy groups full of great advice, where you can ask questions and seek advice.

I found it accurate, in that it linked me up with cousins from my DF's side, and I got back in touch with cousins from DM's side. The newest ethnicity is dead on accurate from where the majority of my ancestors are from.

That said, some people get ideas into their heads about things and small details - like accuracy - are ignored. I had one possible match this morning, so looked at the details and several people think that this woman, who lived a hand-to-mouth existence on a small croft with about 20 children, was the daughter of a local Earl. Eh - don't think so.

This woman probably is distantly related to your DH, but I would just ignore her, as she seems to be one of these people who ignores the details. Forget her.

The DNA aspect is very accurate. I am adopted and have found both of my birth parents. Neither of them had tested but I was able to work it out from various second/third/fourth cousin matches. My birth father has now tested to help me sort matches more easily between maternal and paternal and we have developed a great relationship. I think a third cousin match share great great grandparents but there are lots of other possible relationships at that level of dna eg second cousin once removed. I have usually found that AncestryDNA underestimate the closeness of the relationship though.

Ah the bad side of ancestry is definitely the tree grabbers, those who just randomly chuck stuff in and reckon they have it right and claim random relationships and second marriages that make no sense at all.

You really just have to ignore that sort. The DNA is pretty accurate especially in the closer relationships. There are thankfully a lot of good members on ancestry who are helpful and considerate.