Resources

Exploring Your Pennsylvania Roots with AncestryDNA's Genetic Communities

Your AncestryDNA genetic communities combined with your other records can create powerful evidence of relationships and family trees going back hundreds of years.

Denyse Allen

05 Apr 2024 • 5 min read

For genealogists researching their Pennsylvania ancestry, AncestryDNA's genetic communities is essential.

AncestryDNA allows family historians to visualize familial connections beyond the basic DNA match list. This feature takes DNA testing to the next level, providing a window into the historical migrations and communities that shaped your ancestors' lives.

What Are Genetic Communities?

Genetic communities are groups of AncestryDNA members likely descended from a common ancestor in the same region and time period. These communities are identified through advanced DNA analysis, which can trace patterns of migration and settlement. For researchers, being linked to one or more of these communities can offer specific insights into their ancestors' journeys and lifestyles.

The Significance for Pennsylvania Genealogy

Pennsylvania, with its history of over 300 years of immigration, is home to numerous genetic communities identified by AncestryDNA.

From the early settlers of Central Pennsylvania to the Amish Country, Pennsylvania settlers, each community tells a story of migration and settlement that could be crucial to understanding your family's history. These genetic communities provide a context that goes beyond individual records, offering a glimpse into the collective lives of our ancestors.

AncestryDNA can confirm the accuracy of your existing family tree or suggest new directions for your research, especially if your family history intersects with multiple communities across Pennsylvania.

How to Use AncestryDNA Genetic Communities in Your Research

Review Your Genetic Community Assignments: Start by exploring the communities AncestryDNA has associated with your DNA. Each community comes with a detailed description, including the time period and common migration paths. Make sure to take screen shots for your records.
Cross-reference with Historical Records: Use the information about your genetic communities to guide your search for historical records. Look for documents that coincide with the locations and time periods of your assigned communities. If you have people of the same name in two different locations, the one with the genetic community that matches you is likely the correct ancestor.
Connect with Relatives within Communities: AncestryDNA allows you to see how you're connected to others within the same genetic community. Reaching out to these individuals can provide personal insights and additional information on shared ancestors. This is particularly helpful with brick wall research.
Keep an Eye on Updates: AncestryDNA continuously refines its genetic communities based on new data. Regularly check for updates to your DNA results, as new connections and communities may emerge, further enriching your understanding of your ancestry.

You can also learn how to use genetic communities in research in this video episode: Target Your Research with Genetic Communities.

Current Genetic Communities in 2024

Pennsylvania’s genetic communities started with about a dozen communities in 2018, and now numbers over eighty distinct groupings.

This is the current list of AncestryDNA genetic communities for Pennsylvania ancestry:

Early Connecticut & New York Settlers
Rhode Island, Southern New York, and Northeast Pennsylvania Settlers
Southern Ontario, Northern New York & Northern Pennsylvania Settlers
Early Pennsylvania Settlers
Early Settlers of Central Pennsylvania
Early Settlers of Eastern Pennsylvania
Early Settlers of North-Central Pennsylvania
Early Settlers of Western Pennsylvania
Eastern Ohio River Valley & Northern Blue Ridge Mountains Settlers
Southeast Pennsylvania & Northern Maryland Border Settlers
Southern Pennsylvania & Amish Country, Ohio Settlers
New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania Settlers
Mid-Atlantic Settlers Philadelphia, South & Central Jersey Settlers
Northern Mid-Atlantic Settlers
Bradford County, Pennsylvania & Southern Tioga County, New York Settlers
New Jersey, New York & Pennsylvania Border Settlers
Northeast Pennsylvania Settlers
Northeastern Pennsylvania & South Central New York Border Settlers
Southern New York & Northern Pennsylvania & New Jersey Settlers
Southwestern New York & North Central Pennsylvania Settlers
Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia & Maryland Settlers
Adams County, Pennsylvania & Carroll County, Maryland Settlers
Allegheny & Butler County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Area Settlers
Bedford, Blair & Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Berks County, Pennsylvania Settlers Cameron & Eastern Elk County, Pennsylvania Settlers Central & Eastern Pennsylvania Settlers
Central & Eastern Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Central & Northern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Central & Western Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Central Eastern West Virginia Settlers Central Pennsylvania Settlers
Centre & Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Centre & Clinton County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Clarion & Venango County, Pennsylvania Area Settlers
Clearfield, Centre & Clinton County, Pennsylvania Border Settlers
Clinton & Lycoming County Pennsylvania Settlers
Columbia & Western Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Columbiana & Mahoning Counties, Ohio & Western Pennsylvania Border Settlers
Dauphin, Cumberland, York & Adams County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Eastern Allegheny & Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Eastern Central Pennsylvania Settlers
Eastern Centre & Southern Clinton County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Eastern Crawford & Western Warren County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Eastern Jefferson & Western Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Eastern Mercer & Western Vernango County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Eastern Pennsylvania Settlers Eastern West Virginia & Northwestern Virginia Settlers
Eastern West Virginia, Western Maryland & Northern Virginia Settlers
Fayette & Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Indiana County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Jefferson, Clarion, & Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Border Settlers
Lancaster County Area, Pennsylvania Settlers
Lawrence & Beaver County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Lawrence & Mercer County, Pennsylvania & Ohio Border Settlers
Lebanon, Dauphin & Berks County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Lycoming, Sullivan, Columbia & Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Settlers
North Central Pennsylvania Settlers Northeastern West Virginia Settlers
Northern Armstrong & Southern Clarion County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Northern Cambria County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Northern Somerset County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Northern Susquehanna River Settlers
Northern West Virginia, Southeastern Ohio, & Southwestern Pennsylvania Border Settlers
Northern West Virginia, Southern & Eastern Pennsylvania & Northern Maryland Settlers
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Northwestern Berks County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Northwestern Cambria County, Pennsylvania Area Settlers
Northwestern Pennsylvania Settlers
Northwestern West Virginia Settlers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Region Settlers
Schuylkill & Northwestern Berks County, Pennsylvania Settlers
South Central Pennsylvania & Northern Maryland Settlers
South Central Pennsylvania & West Virginia Border Settlers
Southeastern Berks County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Southeastern Ohio Settlers Southeastern Pennsylvania Settlers
Southern Armstrong & Northern Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Southern Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Southern Bedford & Fulton County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Southern Butler & Northern Beaver County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Southern Central Pennsylvania & Northwestern Maryland Border Settlers
Southern Central Pennsylvania Settlers
Southern Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Southern Somerset County, Pennsylvania & Western Maryland Border Settlers
Southern Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Southwestern Pennsylvania & Northern West Virginia Border Settlers
Southwestern Pennsylvania & West Virginia Border Settlers
Southwestern Pennsylvania Settlers
Southwestern Pennsylvania Wilds Settlers
West Central Pennsylvania Settlers
West Central Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Settlers
West Virginia, Pennsylvania & Maryland Border Settlers
Western & Central Pennsylvania Settlers
Western Clearfield, Southwestern Jefferson & Northern Indiana County, Pennsylvania Settlers
Western Maryland & Eastern West Virginia Settlers
Western Maryland & Pennsylvania Border Settlers
Western Maryland & Southern Pennsylvania Border Settlers
Western Maryland Settlers Western Pennsylvania & Eastern Ohio Border Settlers
York County, Pennsylvania & North Central Maryland Border Settlers

Your genetic communities combined with your other records can create powerful evidence of relationships and family trees going back hundreds of years.

Conclusion

AncestryDNA's genetic communities are a powerful tool for genealogists, especially those researching Pennsylvania ancestry. They offer a unique perspective on your family's place within larger historical and migratory trends, adding depth to your genealogical research. By integrating genetic communities with traditional research methods, you can uncover a more detailed and nuanced story of your ancestors' lives and legacies.

Sources

“List of AncestryDNA Regions,” Ancestry (https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/List-of-AncestryDNA-Regions#America : accessed 16 Feb 2024).

“AncestryDNA Communities,” Ancestry (https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/AncestryDNA-Communities : accessed 16 Feb 2024).