

Most family history research begins with historical records: birth certificates, immigration documents, marriage licenses, and military files. These documents offer valuable insights, but they don’t always tell the full story. In recent years, DNA testing has become a powerful complement to traditional genealogy — providing new ways to explore your roots, confirm relationships, and connect with living relatives.
Here’s why DNA testing has become such an essential tool for building a complete picture of your family’s past.
DNA testing expands your genealogical research
Over the past two decades, consumer DNA testing has become a mainstream part of family history research. Millions of people around the world have taken at-home DNA tests and added their results to online databases, opening up new opportunities for discovery.
By comparing your DNA to others in the database, you may be matched with relatives you didn’t know existed — from distant cousins to half-siblings. This is especially helpful when paper trails are incomplete or missing. Even a single unexpected match can lead you to an entirely new branch of your family tree.
DNA helps confirm or correct your family-history research
Historical records aren’t always accurate. Names may be misspelled, ages reported incorrectly, or relationships assumed rather than documented. Sometimes family stories passed down through generations don’t quite align with the facts.
DNA testing adds a layer of scientific evidence to your research. It can:
- Confirm suspected relationships between family members
- Help clarify uncertain parentage
- Support or disprove longstanding family legends
For example, if records suggest you share a great-grandparent with someone else, a DNA match can help validate that connection — or point to a different lineage altogether.
DNA reveals ancestral origins you may not have known
One of the most compelling reasons people take DNA tests is to explore where their ancestors came from. DNA ethnicity estimates analyze genetic markers linked to different regions and populations around the world, offering clues to your deeper origins — sometimes far beyond what the documents show.
This can be especially useful when traditional records hit a dead end, such as in cases of adoption or migration with little documentation. A DNA test can help you understand the regions your family came from and guide you toward the right geographic areas to search for more records.
MyHeritage provides DNA results with a breakdown of your ethnic origins, including detailed estimates for populations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
DNA connects you with living relatives
In addition to analyzing ethnicity, DNA testing can identify shared segments of DNA between you and other people in the testing database. These DNA Matches can help you:
- Discover living relatives you didn’t know about
- Collaborate on shared family history
- Fill in gaps on both sides of the family tree
Even if you can’t trace the exact relationship right away, a DNA match can offer clues based on shared ancestors or geographic proximity — especially when both parties have built family trees or added historical records.
DNA is especially powerful when combined with records
While DNA testing can open new doors, it works best when paired with traditional genealogical research. Once you identify a DNA match, historical records — such as birth and marriage certificates — help you piece together how you’re connected. In turn, DNA can guide you to records you might not have thought to look for.
MyHeritage integrates DNA results with its historical record collections, allowing you to explore potential connections in one place. By combining these tools, you can build a more complete, accurate, and deeply personal picture of your family’s past.
DNA testing lets you research your past roots and present
Whether you want to explore ethnic roots or uncover the truth behind family stories, MyHeritage DNA testing can help you get what you need. Combined with in-depth research in historical archives and records, it can help you paint a much fuller picture of who you are, where you came from, and the legacy you pass on to future generations.