MyHeritage updates DNA estimates

 

MyHeritage. DNA estimates for KDJ. v2.5. Jan 2025.

Back in July 2024, MyHeritage announced its DNA ethnicity estimates would be updated. There were some problems with version 2 of their update, and it appears they've spent the last six months refining the approach and created a new build to version 2.5. The new version of the ethnicity estimate has now rolled out to the kits I administer on MyHeritage. I provided a pre-update review of the kits I manage in September 2024. This post takes a look at the changes.

After waiting since the summer, I had anticipated the version 2.5 update would be released by Rootstech in March, so this was a welcome surprise. For my Dad's results, shown above, I think this seems more accurate than the previous estimates. His top result is 38.7% English, followed by 30.6% Scottish and Welsh. Irish is at 8.7%, with a genetic group concentration in County Cavan and Leitrim (which is directly north from Roscommon and Longford). The next highest percentage is 7.5% Dutch. We have several Dutch lines going back to the 1600s, including the Du Trieux family. I'd expect his Irish percentage to be higher.

The next group is Germanic 5.8%, along with a surprise, Breton at 3.9% French is at 3.0%, and Danish at 1.8%.

MyHeritage. BAJ results v2.5. Jan 2025.

My Mom's update shows the top result as Spanish, Catalan and Basque 25.3%. In Europe, the results appear as English at 19.6%, followed by French at 11.6%. Scottish and Welsh comes in at 10.6%. She has Breton at 7.5%, then Portuguese at 6.6%. Danish and Dutch are each 2.3%. In the Americas, she has South Central America 12.0%, and Mexico 2.2%. She also has genetic groups with high concentrations for Chile, Mexico (Sonora), Arizona and Southern California; and Northwestern Mexico and USA (Arizona and California). South Central America at 12% doesn't seem quite right and feels like it should be switched with the Mexico percentage.

For my results, I now have Scottish and Welsh 31.5%, English 30.3%, French 5.9%, Spanish, Catalan and Basque 5.8%, South Central America 5.2%, Dutch 4.9%, Portuguese 4.6%. Breton comes in at 4.3%, Irish 2.4%, Germanic 2.2%, Danish 1.9%, South Italian 1.0%. For genetic groups, I have Chile, Mexico (Sonora) and USA (Arizona and Southern California), Northwestern Mexico and USA (Arizona and California), along with a cluster of Midwestern and Southern USA groups.

Overall thoughts: The European results generally seem pretty close to what I'd expect, but there are some unexpected percentages, such as Breton and South Central America seems just too high. There are differences from the latest AncestryDNA Ancestral Regions.