DNA match with no matches in common

[theworldsgonefeckingmad]

So as the title says I've got a match who doesn't fit anywhere... looks like we share a great grandparent or great great grandparent judging by the % match but this person doesn't have any of the in common matches that others have (using ancestry) what could explain this?! My first thought was a child born out of marriage so then adopted out but surely they would still have other matches in common?

Morning, OP. Just bumping this for you. Hopefully someone who knows more will be along soon.

Do they have a tree going back that far? Do you? Can you look at the family names/regions/ethnicities (maybe with help of thrulines) and look at their genetic communities too for clues.

Maybe testing with other companies will give more matches? Gedmatch is free, just download from ancestry and upload and explore.

How many cM is your match?
What kind of tree do they have available.
Have you tried the Leeds Clustering method with your matches?

An MPE situation would not explain this. It's likely to be just the way the DNA has been shared out through the generations.

@Ylfa

Do they have a tree going back that far? Do you? Can you look at the family names/regions/ethnicities (maybe with help of thrulines) and look at their genetic communities too for clues.

Maybe testing with other companies will give more matches? Gedmatch is free, just download from ancestry and upload and explore.

Unfortunately they haven't been online since February 2018 so I'm assuming it was probably a gift and they never bothered doing a tree, just got me curious how it would happen as I have got a very full tree

@Ubiquery

How many cM is your match? What kind of tree do they have available. Have you tried the Leeds Clustering method with your matches?

An MPE situation would not explain this. It's likely to be just the way the DNA has been shared out through the generations.

Ooh what's the Leeds clustering method? Sounds interesting, the match is 125cm I think, so shared great grandparent equivalent looking at other matches who I have found with similar cm match

Unfortunately they haven't been online since February 2018 so I'm assuming it was probably a gift and they never bothered doing a tree,

Have you tried messaging through Ancestry? Even if she doesn't log on, if she had a DNA test then she must have an account, so if you message her she will at least get an email to say that she has a message.

One of the risks of DNA tests is that it reveals information about previously unknown relatives, wrong side of the sheets etc. But 125cM is not closer than 2nd or 3rd cousin, which is pretty remote - quite possible that you've missed a link somewhere, especially as there's not so much info online for the last 100 years, to protect the living!

I would think it's a combination of not many descendants on that side of the tree, and those that exist are not very interested in family history

I have loads of matches with my Jewish ancestors, who had lots of children and tend to be interested in family history. However, very few related to my grandfather, who was an only child, and whose ancestors also had few children.

I think I was right before, at 125cM it can just be extended family and the way the DNA has shared out. My highest match with no shared matches is 171cM.

Try the Leeds Method (google a YouTube walk through) in case a future match is a breakthrough. Also extend your tree as much as possible, especially women as people tend to follow the male lines and not pursue other surnames.

Happy hunting

Oh, and with messages, include an email address in case she can read your message but isn't subscribed at the moment and can't reply.

@Ubiquery

Oh, and with messages, include an email address in case she can read your message but isn't subscribed at the moment and can't reply.

That's a good idea, il do that.

Thanks everyone I think you are right it'll be one of the great great grandparents who didn't have many children (or those who did sadly died early)