What's the difference between DNA and genealogy in family research?

Genealogy is the study of your family history using historical records. From poignant military service records to descriptive newspaper reports, key genealogy sources are used to build a family tree and understand the milestones of your ancestors' lives.  

Genealogy research traces people through time and place. It can show you where your great-grandparents got married, how they earned a living, what their family looked like, and even what house they lived in. Using a wide range of records and newspapers, it's about understanding the world in years gone by, and your own family's place in it. 

In contrast, DNA testing uses your genetic material to identify biological relationships. This is known as genetic genealogy.  

Genetic genealogy testing companies typically gather a genetic sample (like your saliva) and test it for genetic markers passed down through the generations. From this information, they estimate your ethnic origins and connect you with genetic matches across the globe. The three most common types of test are autosomal DNA tests, Y-DNA tests, and mtDNA tests. 

DNA analysis can prove - or disprove - suspected family connections. While it lacks the historical aspect of genealogy research, it can supplement it by confirming whether you share a lineage with someone or guiding you towards migration patterns within your family tree.  

Evidence type 

Genealogy relies on family history records and digitised newspaper pages. DNA, on the other hand, uses biological evidence to trace genetic ancestry.  

Scope 

Unsurprisingly, the information you'll uncover from a family tree versus your DNA test results varies widely. With family history records, you can trace the lives of your ancestors, from big moments like births and marriages to what their day-to-day might have looked like. With a little sleuthing, you can uncover their occupations, personalities and the historic events that they lived through.  

Genetic testing, on the other hand, will reveal where your ancestors came from over thousands of years, offering a zoomed-out perspective on your roots.  

Limitations of family trees versus genetic genealogy 

Both genealogy and DNA testing have their limitations. Depending on when and where you're researching, record coverage may be patchy. You may hit a brick wall with your research (although this doesn't necessarily mean it's the end of the road). 

DNA, on the other hand, can't tell you about specific ancestors. You won't be able to uncover the name of your great-grandmother, but you will be given a hint that you're related to common ancestors who share part of her DNA.  

Genealogy has the power to tell you the 'who' and 'what' of your family story. DNA uses biological proof to uncover hidden connections, but lacks that personal hook that drives many of us to research our ancestry. 

You can maximise your discoveries by combining family history records and DNA discoveries. While records could point to a historical migration overseas, for example, DNA could confirm this scientifically. Conversely, DNA matches may point you towards a branch of the family tree you'd never considered, which you can then explore in the records. 

You might discover a previously unknown cousin through a mitochondrial DNA test. Parish registers and census records could then reveal that your families connect through a shared 2x great-grandparent who lived in a small Welsh mining town. 

If you're just starting out, genealogy is the simplest way to glimpse what your relatives' lives were like. Use family history records to uncover the names, places and stories that matter to you, and store what you find in an online family tree.  

Once your research is underway, you may wish to use DNA to confirm your research and reveal new leads. While DNA can provide the science, genealogy offers the stories that bring your ancestors' stories to life.