News

25% -30% Off All FindMyPast Subscriptions

Several years ago, I established in my Master Thesis that FindMyPast offered the best value for money among 11 major family history websites, beating out Ancestry and several other big names. They also appeared to have the largest and most relevant collection of records related to the four names I was researching as a test in that study.

Join this Week!

This week, you can benefit from that brilliant collection and pay considerably less than your normally. would. This offer is open to new and expired subscribers. Great news for everyone.

You need to use the following links and codes to get the discounts. Using these links helps support the continued development of Ancestorian, the world's most loved independent family history social network.

Discount Links and Codes by Region

Australia - 25% Off

Discover the exciting stories of your family’s past with 25% off all subscription packages for Findmypast. Subscribe and save today, offer ends on Saturday 23rd November. Enter the discount code below to see the special prices!

Findmypast Australia - 25% off and Support Ancestorian

Start Date: Monday 18th November
End date: Saturday 23rd November

Discount Code: FW25ALLAU

Ireland - 25% Off

Discover the exciting stories of your family’s past with 25% off all subscription packages for Findmypast. Subscribe and save today, offer ends on Saturday 23rd November. Enter the discount code below to see the special prices!

Findmypast Ireland - 25% off and Support Ancestorian

Start Date: Monday 18th November
End date: Saturday 23rd November

Discount Code: FW25ALLIE

United Kingdom - 30% Off

Discover the exciting stories of your family’s past with 30% off all subscription packages for Findmypast. Subscribe and save today, offer ends on Saturday 23rd November. Enter the discount code below to see the special prices!

Findmypast UK - 30% off and Support Ancestorian

Start Date: Monday 18th November
End date: Saturday 23rd November

Discount Code: FW30ALL19

United States - 25% Off

Discover the exciting stories of your family’s past with 25% off all subscription packages for Findmypast. Subscribe and save today, offer ends on Saturday 23rd November. Enter the discount code below to see the special prices!

Findmypast US - 25% off and Support Ancestorian

Start Date: Monday 18th November
End date: Saturday 23rd November

Discount Code: FW25ALLUS

 

Ancestorian Has Cut Down our Tree

Along with removing tree from the name (Ancestorian > Ancestorian), we have cut down the tree in our logo.

Online Community

Ancestorian is not a family tree hosting site... we are an online community of Ancestorians (family historians, ancestry researchers, genealogists) who interact with each-other, helping our fellow Ancestorians through the swapping of knowledge, stories and soon... documents, books and records - in our 'first of it's kind' community library. 

Therefore. it is fitting that we don't have a tree in our logo or name anymore, so that there can be no confusion. 

We hope you like the new identity as much as we do.

Greg, Judy, Lesley and Ann

Evidentree Celebrates Our 1st Birthday

This is no April Fool's joke, Ancestorian turned 1 today.

We hope you will celebrate with us by reaching out to your fellow family historians in your Ancestorian groups and friends lists.

Features Being Worked On

We have been quiet for a few months but this doesn't mean things aren't still moving behind the scenes. We are still working on getting our community library ready for launch. Also, we are making constant improvements to the speed and usability of the site.

RootsTech London - 24-26 October

Greg Scowen, the founder of Ancestorian, has been invited to attend RootsTech London as an ambassador. This means that we will have the chance to see you there.

This also means that we will update you with new information about RootsTech London as and when it becomes available. We will also be offering some tickets for the conference to members in a competition. More on that as we get closer to the time.

Comprehensive Review, Comparison and Explanation of Major DNA Tests

Regular readers will possibly know that I am a big fan of the DNA Geek blog. Once again, they have not disappointed, releasing their comprehensive 2018 guide to DNA tests. 

Three Types of Tests

The DNA Geek post briefly explains the 'types' of tests that are available for genealogy testing; Autosomal DNA, yDNA (paternal) and mtDNA (maternal) and helpfully suggests to newcomers that they will mostly be wanting to undergo Autosomal testing in the first instance. 

Autosomal tests are offered by many companies but there are five major players that should be considered. I have personally tested with three of these and have uploaded my DNA to the other two. 

Five Serious Testing Company Options

Each of the five major players in genealogy DNA testing has features and benefits that differentiate them from each other. DNA Geek compares these and provides a helpful explanation and recommendation of which they would choose for testing under which circumstances. 

I have to say, their advice is very much in line with my own opinions - formed through my experiences and that is discussions with Ancestorian members.

The five companies considered are; Ancestry DNA (see below), FamilyTree DNA, Living DNA (see below), 23andMe and MyHeritage DNA. Links to regional sites of these follow (where available):

Read the Full Comparison

Head over to the DNA Geek site to read the full post. And don't forget to subscribe to their Blog - they regularly provide information that is pertinent, up-to-date and interesting for family historians - be they new to genealogy and DNA or experienced researchers.

Black Friday: Genealogy Deals Compiled in One Place

It's Black Friday!

Black Friday - Special Deals Starting on the 23rd November

Every year, Black Friday rolls around and folk all over the globe scramble to make the most out of the incredible deals that are to be had.  Family historians are no exception, pouncing on heavily discounted DNA test prices and, occasionally, on lowered subscription fees.

We've tried to compile as much information on deals that could be of interest to you in one place, here at Ancestorian. 

Please note that many of these deals won't show until the 23rd hits your locale. If that is the case, please return on Friday and follow the link then. 

Here goes...

DNA Tests

It seems that every DNA testing company is vying for our attention. The deals we know of are as follows:

Ancestry DNA

From Ancestry:

Let's help more people discover their unique family stories with what will be the holidays' most memorable gift. Only Ancestry:

  • Has helped 20 million members connect to a deeper family story

  • Combines the world's largest online collection of family history records with the largest consumer DNA network in the world

  • Delivers 2x more geographic detail than any other DNA test

Australia - Ancestry DNA - $88

United Kingdom - Ancestry DNA £49

Canada - Ancestry DNA $69   - 12:01am Eastern on November 23rd through to 11:59pm Eastern on November 26th

United States - Ancestry DNA $49 - midnight Eastern time on November 22nd through to 11:59 PM EST on November 26th

 

FindMyPast / Living DNA

From FindMyPast / Living DNA:

FINDMYPAST PARTNERS WITH LIVING DNA TO LAUNCH THE MOST DETAILED ANCESTRY DISCOVERY EXPERIENCE

  • Findmypast in collaboration with Living DNA, has launched the most advanced biogeographical ancestry discovery experience on the market
  • This British brand partnership uses cutting-edge science to reveal users’ unique British and Irish heritage across 21 regions and is the first to connect DNA to Findmypast’s archive of more than 9 billion historical records
  • Findmypast and Living DNA’s combined service allows users to pinpoint exactly where in the UK their family roots come from and then use the findings to explore their family history in extensive archives
  • Those who have already taken a DNA test can upload their tests and make discoveries that only Findmypast DNA can provide
  • Special introductory Black Friday offer (see prices below) - ends Monday!

United Kingdom: £79 £59 - Living DNA  UK   - ending midnight (GMT) Monday 26th November

United States: $89 $59 - Living DNA US   - ending midnight Monday 26th November

Ireland: €89 €59 - Living DNA IE   - ending midnight Monday 26th November

Australia: $129 $99 - Living DNA AU   - ending midnight Monday 26th November

 

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA)

Family Finder - Family Tree DNA  $39 with international shipping for $9.99 (domestic kits have return shipping included, International kits do not)

Y-DNA - Family Tree DNA  Starting at $99

mtDNA Family Tree DNA  Starting at $139

 

Subscriptions to Record Sites

Ancestry

United States - Gift Subscriptions 50% off  - midnight Eastern time on November 22nd through to 11:59 PM EST on November 26th

It doesn't matter where you live, you can still use a US subscription the same as UK etc.

Also, it is possible to buy a gift subscription for yourself.

 

Books, Printers, Scanners, Cameras, Albums, Scrapbooks, etc at Amazon

Amazon runs fantastic time-limited deals and other promotions on Black Friday. This can be a perfect time to pick up that new camera you need to take photos of gravestones or to replace your printer that never seems to reproduce the colours you want. There are also often reference books that you might need in the sales.

The best way to be alerted of special items coming up for sale - in advance of many other users (you sometimes need to be first in to get the bargains) is to be a member of Amazon Prime.

Luckily, you can sign up for a Prime trial for free. If you cancel within 30 days, you won't be automatically renewed and you have paid nothing for the 30 days of benefits that you only get with Prime.

You can sign up for  a free Prime trial here: