Autosomal DNA (atDNA)

Autosomal DNA test is a fundamental tool in genetic genealogy. It enables finding close relatives across all ancestral lines, usually up to 5 or 7 generations back. I have personally tested with MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, and Ancestry; I also uploaded raw data to GEDmatch.

More details on autosomal DNA testing providers and on ethnic origin estimation on the subpages.

Discovered Kinship Connections via atDNA Tests

MyHeritage

Through the MyHeritage test, I found valuable connections:

  • A 3rd degree relative on the Pezdirc line, living in the USA (older generation).
  • A 3rd degree relative on the Pezdirc line from Slovenia (younger generation).
  • A 3rd degree cousin on the Simonič line, living in the USA.
  • A 3rd degree relative on one of the Gorenjska lines, younger generation (origin still being researched).
  • Over 6,000 other matches (most are too distant for quick identification).

FamilyTreeDNA

With an additional Family Finder test at FTDNA, I confirmed some existing and discovered new matches:

  • A 3rd degree cousin on the Simonič line from the USA (same match as with MyHeritage).
  • A 4th degree cousin on the Porenta line from Slovenia.
  • A 5th degree cousin, probably on the Erjavec line (Podpechan emigrants), living in the USA.
  • A 14 cM match on one segment on the Sedej line from Ravna Gora, which I triangulated into the Croatian part of the tree; his Sedej line originates from Spodnje Idrije. The match led me back to the Ravna Gora registers, where a marriage entry from 1811 explicitly states my ancestor Neža Sedej as born in Vojsko (oriunda ex Vojske, parochia S. Josephi) – the first vital record proof that one of my Ravna Gora lines originates from the Idrija region.
  • Over 1,200 other matches.

Ancestry

With an additional test at Ancestry, I confirmed some existing and discovered new matches:

  • A 3rd degree cousin on the Jekovec line, living in the USA.
  • A 4th degree cousin on the Starašinič line from the USA, who is also a 7th degree cousin on the Simonič line.
  • A 3rd degree cousin on the Simonič line from the USA (same match as with MyHeritage and FTDNA).
  • A 4th degree cousin on the Porenta line from Slovenia (same match as with FTDNA).
  • A 5th degree cousin on the Rakar line from the USA.
  • Over 7,550 other matches.

Example of a Successful Research

DNA testing allowed me to connect with the Pezdirc family in the USA. I knew they had emigrated, but I didn't know exactly where they had settled.

Even more surprising was the discovery concerning the Erjavec line. Based on DNA matches with Podpechan emigrants from the USA, who have Erjavec ancestors, and their family tree, I discovered that my ancestor Kisovec (who moved to Strahinj from the place Trata) does not originate from just any village with that name, but specifically from Trata near Gorenja vas. In the local vital records, I then actually found the sought-after Kisovec and his ancestors with the previously unknown surname Erjavec.

Ethical Aspect and Surprises

When testing the wider family, we encountered an unexpected revelation – for one test subject, we discovered an aunt who was apparently an illegitimate child of the grandfather or his brother. Such discoveries can cause dilemmas within the family regarding establishing contact. Genetic genealogy can uncover unexpected family secrets, which one should be aware of before ordering a test.

Example: How aDNA and Vital Records Work Together

For the Croatian branch (Ravna Gora, Gorski kotar), there are few matches because few people are tested there. The one that appeared – a match on the Sedej line – was small (14 cM can also mean a coincidence), but it showed where to look: in a marriage entry from 1811, it states that my ancestor Neža Sedej, wife of Luka Kordiš, was born in Vojsko (oriunda ex Vojske, parochia S. Josephi). DNA showed the direction, the record confirmed it. The full story will be published in an article for Drevesa magazine.

Further Research

  • Vital records of Spodnje Idrije and Vojsko (on Matricula from August 2026): baptism of Neža Sedej and connection to my match's Sedej line.
  • With a FamilyTreeDNA Family Finder test, I will test some more relatives from the wider family, primarily to determine their basic Y-DNA haplogroup. Later, we can purchase Y-DNA or mtDNA tests for these individuals without resending a sample.
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