Ancient Origins

 

MyHeritage Ancient Origins. Feb 2025.

Following the release of MyHeritage's Ethnicity Estimate v2.5 last month, MyHeritage added another new tool providing ancient origin estimates, using analysis provided by IllustrativeDNA. For a more thorough overview, see this blog from YourDNAGuide (25 Feb 2025). I've had a chance now to look at my own results, compare them with the v2.5 update, the results of other tests I manage through MyHeritage, and earlier ancient origin tools on Gedmatch. I've also given this some thought in light of my recent YDNA and mtDNA results on FamilyTreeDNA.

While the Ancient Origins data does not immediately resolve current genealogical questions, I do find it really fascinating. I also like how MyHeritage has tried to make this information engaging and approachable with the use of AI-generated videos featuring "representative" illustrations of people who might have been in the historical population groups.

MyHeritage. 

FTDNA. Discover report on A2d2.

On my ancient origin breakdown, when I set the model as Global, I am able to change the migration period from Bronze Age to Iron Age to Roman era and to the Middle Ages. The results also provide a range for "genetic fit", covering from very close to distant for how close of a match my results are to the reference populations used. The number for my result is 0.612 (very close) when the slider is set to Middle Ages. This also shows I match to 15 different populations, which is pretty wild. It's not surprising that Iberian is in my top 3, although Balkans seems really high at #2.

Moving the slider to Roman Era, the genetic fit is still very close at 0.622. Roman Britain and Pict are the top two, followed by Roman Gaul, Italy and Illyria. At the Iron Age level, the genetic fit is 1.114 (close), with Insular Celt and Continental Celt the top two, followed by Iberian, South Amerindian and Colchean (present day Caucasus region).

There's also a breakdown by Hunter-Gatherer and Farmer population type and other advanced reports on genetic similarities, genetic distance maps, and links to the reference population reports. It's a lot of data.

I think the new MyHeritage Ancient Origins data is very similar to the ancient reports available on Gedmatch, but with perhaps newer data and a fresher look with the use of the AI-generated videos and maps. Even if the data isn't 100% historically accurate, I do think this is interesting and may help raise awareness among younger and newer DNA participants. This might help attract new populations to YDNA and mtDNA testing, which will lead to family connections in more recent times.

When I look at my Mom's ancient origins report with the migration slider set to Middle Ages, the genetic fit appears as 0.802 (very close). Her top two are Iberian and Insular Celt, followed by Italian, Germanic, South and North Amerindian. These make sense. For Roman Era, the genetic fit is even closer, .0548.

MyHeritage. Roman Era report.

On my Dad's report for Middle Ages, the genetic fit is 0.905 (very close). His top two make a lot of sense as well. Iberian is a bit of a surprise, along with .08% Sami.

MyHeritage. Middle Ages for KDJ.

I think seeing this shows our family potentially had a much deeper connection to the Iberian peninsula on both sides than I previously thought possible. Overall, it's cool. Will it help me solve some of my current research questions, probably not, but again I like that it's a new feature and it may grow over time.