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Family Finder™ Matches Guide

Family Finder™ Matches Page Quick Overview

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  1. Matching - Filter Matches by relationship type. 
  2. Detail View/Table View - Select whether you want to see details for each match individually or to view your matches in a sortable table. 
  3. Comparison check box - Select up to seven matches to compare in the Chromosome Browser. 
  4. Matches section - Displays your Family Finder matches and their information. 
  5. Export CSV - Allows you to export a CSV file of your Family Finder matches. 
  6. mceclip1.png - Click to view which matches you and your match have in common or not in common. 
  7. Family Tree icon - If your match has a public Family Tree, you can click this icon to view it. 
    Family_Tree_1_.jpg - Signifies that your match does not have a public Family Tree.
    Family_Tree_2.jpg - Signifies that your match does have a public Family Tree. 
  8. Note icon - Click on this icon to add/edit a note for your match. 
    Note_1_.jpg - Signifies you do not have a note added.
    Note_2_.jpg - Signifies that you do have a note added. 

Detail View Vs. Table View

The difference between the two views is as follows:

  • Detail View - Displays detailed information individually per match.  
    • You can use the Sort by button in the upper-right corner of the page to sort your matches. 
  • Table View - Displays your matches' information in a table.
    • You can sort the table by each column header in ascending or descending order. 

Match Information Overview

The following is listed for each match:

  • Name - Displays the name of the Family Finder tester that you match. Matching suggests you share one or more recent common ancestors through any of your ancestral lines. 
  • Birth Surname - Your surname at birth. For genealogical purposes, it is important for you to include your family name (e.g., maiden name).
  • Note: On the Detail View, below a match's name, the DNA tests your match has taken are displayed. In both views, You can click on your match's name to see the following information:
    • Email - Your match's email address.
    • Earliest Known Ancestor - Your match's self-reported earliest known paternal and maternal ancestor. 
    • Haplogroup - Y-DNA and mtDNA haplogroup. Your match's mtDNA haplogroup is only displayed if they have taken an mtDNA test. 
    • Ancestral Surnames - Your match's self-reported ancestral surnames if they have provided this information.
  • A symbol indicating whether your match is Paternal (paternal.jpg), Maternal (maternal.jpg), or Both (both.jpg). These are only displayed once you have activated the Family Matching feature. Learn more. 
  • Ancestral Surnames - Self-reported last names and their locations in your match’s genealogy. Shared surnames are highlighted and may lead to a common ancestor.

  • Haplogroup - Displays the following:
    • Y-DNA Haplogroup - Y-DNA haplogroups represent a shared paternal line ancestor who might have lived recently or thousands of years ago (for Y-DNA tested males only).
    • mtDNA Haplogroup - mtDNA haplogroups represent a shared maternal line ancestor who lived thousands of years ago (for mtDNA tested matches only).
  • Relationship Range - Most probable genealogical relationships between you and the match, predicted based on your shared DNA. Linked relationships are shown below this range.

  • Shared DNA - Centimorgans (cM) are a unit of genetic linkage between you and the match. A higher shared cM value indicates a closer genealogical relationship.

  • Longest Block - Centimorgan value of the longest segment of shared DNA between you and the match. A higher value indicates a closer genealogical relationship.

  • X Match - Shared DNA on the X chromosome. A male’s  X matches are typically on the maternal side, while a female’s can be on either side.

Family Matching  

You can click on the Family Matching tabs to view your Paternal, Maternal, and Paternal/Maternal matches. Click here to learn more about Family Matching. 

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Actions

In both views, Actions are listed to the far right of your match's information.

The following actions are available: 

  • mceclip1.png - Click to view which matches you and a match have in common or not in common. 
  • Family Tree icon - If your match has a public Family Tree, you can click this icon to view it.  
    • Family_Tree_1_.jpg - Signifies that your match does not have a public Family Tree. 
    • Family_Tree_2.jpg - Signifies that your match does have a public Family Tree. 
  • Note icon - Click on this icon to add/edit a note for your match.  
    • Note_1_.jpg - Signifies you do not have a note added. 
    • Note_2_.jpg - Signifies that you do have a note added. 

Relationship Filter 

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The relationship filter is located in the upper-left portion of the page.

This filter allows you to filter matches by: 

  • All Matches – Displays your genetic matches cousins at all levels of matching.
  • Immediate Relative – Displays your matches in the Immediate Relative range.
  • Close Relative – Displays your matches in the Close Relatives range.
  • Distant Relative – Displays your matches in the Distant Relative range.
  • Remote Relative – Displays your matches in the Remote Relative range.
  • X Matches – Displays your matches who also match with you on the X chromosome.

Search Options

The Search field is located in the upper-right corner of the page.

You can search for matches using the following options: 

  • All - Search for matches using all search options. 
  • Name - Search for matches by name. 
  • Ancestral Surname - Search matches by self-reported surname.
  • mtDNA Haplogroup - Search for matches by mtDNA haplogroup. 
  • Y-DNA Haplogroup - Search for matches by Y-DNA haplogroup. 

Sort Options 

You can sort your matches by: 

  • Table View - Click a column header to sort your matches in ascending/descending order by column details. 
  • Detail View - In the upper-right corner of the page, click Sort by. Then select the option for which you want to sort your matches. You can click the option again to toggle between ascending and descending order.

The following sorting options are available: 

  • Relationship Range 
  • Shared DNA
  • Longest Block 
  • X Match
  • Y-DNA Haplogroup 
  • mtDNA Haplogroup
  • Most Recent Matches 
  • Assigned Relationship
  • Ancestral Surnames 

Filter Options 

The Filter option is located at the top, center of the page next to the Family Matching tabs. When you click Filter, the filter slide-out menu is displayed on the right of the screen. 

The following filters are available: 

  • Family Tree Type 
  • Match Date 
  • Test Taken

Comparing Matches in Chromosome Browser

You can select up to seven Family Finder matches to compare in the Chromosome Browser. 

To compare a match: 

  1. On the Family Finder Matches page, select the check box located to the left of your match's name. You must select at least one match. 
  2. On the popup window displayed at the bottom of the page, click Compare Relationship
  3. You are directed to the Chromosome Browser to view your DNA segment comparison. 

For more information on the Chromosome Browser, see Chromosome Browser

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