Deep Dive: AncestryDNA 2025 Origins Update

Why do my DNA results change?

Your DNA itself stays the same, but our cutting-edge science and technology are always improving, and this update is a perfect reflection of that.

This year’s update is powered by an expanded reference panel—the massive database of DNA samples we compare your DNA to. We’re using a new combination of genetic and genealogical data to grow our reference panel to over 185,000 samples. This allows us to take many of the broader, existing regions and break them down into new, incredibly detailed ones. 

What’s the new science?

In the past, we prioritized adding people to the reference panel who had taken a DNA test and linked that test to a detailed family tree. We were really interested in trees that went back several generations to the same place—a single country, or even a part of a country. Looking at these peoples’ DNA was a great way to find genetic patterns that were shared among people from specific geographic areas. However, it also limited how many people we could add into our reference panel, since lots of people haven’t linked their trees to their DNA tests.

After extensive experimentation and investigation, we discovered that by making use of our own DNA test results, we could supplement AncestryDNA test takers who had trees with those who didn’t. Specifically, we started by looking at people who had detailed trees—ones that went back several generations—and noted the birthplaces of those ancestors. Then, we found other people with whom they shared lots of DNA and very similar Origins results. Even if those other people didn’t have trees, it was still a strong scientific probability that they shared very similar family origins to the people we did have detailed trees for.

How does the new science break down broad regions like Ireland?

Our new approach lets us boost the power of a few people with detailed trees and turn that into all new ancestral regions. Consider Ireland, for example, where this year we broke our previous single Ireland region into four new Ireland regions—Connacht, Donegal, Leinster, and Munster—and one Northern Ireland & Central Scotland region. In the past, we had lots of people whose trees pointed back to these four provinces, but not enough people to create separate reference panels for each to stand as their own ancestral region.

Using our new approach, we were able to find lots of people in our database who were genetically very related to those who had built trees, but maybe hadn’t yet built their own or linked their tree to a DNA test. By adding the genetic data for the people who didn’t have trees to those who did have trees, we finally had enough people to create separate reference panels for separate regions of Ireland.

If you want to learn more about the science behind this year’s update, check out our new Ancestral Regions whitepaper.

What types of changes could I see in my results?

Many members may see some of their larger, more general regions broken down into multiple, more specific regions. For example:

• Our Eastern Europe region is now converted into multiple new regions like Northeastern Poland, Southern Poland, Eastern Czechia, Slovakia, and Western Ukraine.
• Our Germanic Europe region has been separated into more specific areas like Northwestern Germany and Southern Germanic Europe and Central and Eastern Europe.

This gives members incredible detail to where their ancestors may have lived, and where to take their family history research. If you’re curious about changes to specific regions check out our FAQ for more details.

You may also find yourself asking why a region you expect to see, based on your family tree, isn't showing up. It’s important to remember that the regions we identify are based on genetic populations, which often formed across modern geopolitical borders. The name of a region, like Northwestern Germany or Acadia, is a simple label for a complex genetic population that may span a wider area than you'd expect.

So, when you're exploring your new results, be sure to click into the region details and look at the actual polygon on the map, not just the name. This will show you all the places that this genetic population might cover and help you connect your DNA story with your family's history.

Why are my Ancestral Origins results organized differently?

To help you navigate the many new regions you may find in your results, we're introducing a new format called macro-regions. These are larger, stable groupings—such as “Nordic” or “Celtic & Gaelic”—under which your new, super-specific regions will be nested. This intuitive design makes your results easier to scan, helps preserve familiar regional identities, and provides all the incredible new regions' details.

Your new AncestryDNA Origins update has arrived, what new discoveries can you make? Plus, be sure to check out your Regions by Parent, showing you which regions you inherited from each parent, just one of many features powered by our innovative SideView* technology.

*Some AncestryDNA features may require an Ancestry subscription.