In 2026, researching one's roots has become more accessible than ever, yet it still requires a professional approach. As noted by the renowned Ukrainian genealogist Serhiy Fazulyanov, the modern researcher must be a generalist: an archivist, historian, geographer, and even a detective. In the era of digitization and genetic technologies, DNA tests play a key role, becoming a powerful tool for those trying to piece together their family history.

The Myth of Percentage Ethnic Origin

Today, the market offers numerous companies proposing to determine ethnic origin. For many, especially in the US and Europe, the norm is to receive a report stating that a person is 20% German, 5% Norwegian, and 15% Irish. However, according to experts, these "pictures" and percentages are often a marketing ploy. The real value of a DNA test lies not in abstract ethnic areas, but in finding genetic matches with other people who have also been tested.

DNA as a Key to Documentary Search

An autosomal test, which analyzes 22 pairs of chromosomes, allows for finding matches with relatives who lived approximately 250–300 years ago. This is a critically important time period, as it is precisely during this time that most archival documents have been preserved. A DNA test does not replace work in archives but stimulates it. Upon discovering a genetic relative, a researcher can contact them, compare family trees, and find missing links. Often, this leads to both parties having the opportunity to significantly expand their family trees.

Restoring Female Lines and "Lost" Surnames

One of the main problems of traditional genealogy is the difficulty of tracking female lines. Upon marriage, a woman changed her surname, and her maiden name was often lost in documents, especially if we are talking about several generations ago. DNA tests allow overcoming this barrier. Genetic matches often indicate kinship specifically through the female line, helping to identify ancestors whose names were hidden behind husbands' surnames. This requires painstaking work with documents, but the result is worth it.

Testing Strategy: Why It Is Important to Test Older Relatives

Experts recommend starting genetic research not with oneself, but with the oldest family members. Since we inherit 50% of our DNA from each parent, testing grandmothers and grandfathers (or parents) provides a wider spectrum of matches. Testing children in this context is less effective, as they will not bring new information but merely duplicate parental data. Furthermore, multiple inheritance can create complex patterns that are easier to decipher with data from the older generation.

Contradictory Data

The question of the accuracy of ethnic determinations remains controversial. On the one hand, large companies such as Ancestry and MyHeritage claim that their algorithms are becoming more accurate thanks to huge databases. On the other hand, professional genealogists, such as Serhiy Fazulyanov, emphasize that the percentage of ethnic affiliation is often approximate and can change depending on the database against which the DNA is compared. It is important to understand that this data is merely a guide, not a historical fact.