Y-DNA – Matches allows you to view your match list from one of our Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) STR (short tandem repeat) tests: Y-DNA12, Y-DNA25, Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111. It contains lists of your matches (if you have them) at each level you have tested.

  • Genetic Distance – This is the number of marker differences between you and your match. Exact matches have a genetic distance of zero.
  • Name – This is your match’s name. This column also includes the following:
    • A link to your match’s personal profile. Click on their name to view their profile.
    • A link to their email address.
    • A link to the TiP program (for those with Y-DNA Results).
    • A link to add a note or a link to view/edit a note.
    • GEDCOM/Family Tree (if your match has one).
    • Testing levels for their Family Finder, mtDNA, and standard Y-DNA tests. Note that this indicates they have tested and not that they match you. You may check for them as a match on the respective matches page or on the Advanced Matches page.
  • Earliest Known Ancestor - This is your match’s earliest known ancestor on their direct paternal line.
  • Y-DNA Haplogroup - This is your match’s Y-DNA haplogroup according to their testing. If they have not taken a Y-DNA SNP test, we show a “-” dash.
  • Terminal SNP – A terminal SNP determines the terminal (final) subbranch on the Y-DNA Tree to which someone belongs. This is your match’s terminal SNP.
  • Match Date – This is when we matched you and your paternal genetic cousin in the Family Tree DNA database. If you and your match received results of different dates, it is the earlier of the two result dates.

You can sort each column by clicking on the column name.

The following filters allow you to choose the matching level and project:

  • Show Matches For – This is the database comparison for viewing matches: the entire database or a single project in which you participate.
  • Markers – This is the testing level for viewing matches: Y-DNA12, 25, 37, 67, or 111.
  • Distance – This is the genetic distance between you and your match.
  • Matches Per Page – This is the number of matches displayed on each page: 25, 100, 500, and 1,000.
  • Last Name Starts With – Allows you to filter matches by last name.
  • New Since - Allows you to filter matches the were matched to you since a specific date.

Note: Some of your matches may have chosen not to see or be seen by matches at one or more testing levels. They will be shown as Private.

Are all of my Y-DNA matches in the database shown on the Y-DNA - Matches page?

The Y-DNA – Matches page shows your relevant matches in the database who have signed the release form. There are several cases where some matches in the customer database will not be included on your match list. They are:

  • For the Y-DNA12 testing level, 11 out of 12 matches are shown only when both you and your match belong to the same group project.*
  • If you have chosen to match only against those in your group projects on the Account Settings page of your myFTDNA account, your contact information will only be shown to those in your projects.
  • If your match has chosen to match only against the group project on the Account Settings page of their myFTDNA account, their contact information will be shown only to those who belong to one of their group projects.
  • If you have chosen to turn off matching at a specific testing level (Y-DNA12, Y-DNA37, etc.), your contact information will not be shown to matches at that level.

* To best serve our customers who are adopted, we provide at the Y-DNA12 level both 11/12 and 12/12 matching to the entire Family Tree DNA database to those in the Adoptee Project. This is because they cannot know the best Surname project to join in advance of testing.

On the Y-DNA - Matches page, are only exact matches shown?

On the Y-DNA – Matches page, relevant matches are shown. Depending on the testing level, these are:

  • Y-DNA12 Matches
    • 11 out of 12 (A genetic distance of 1)*
    • 12 out of 12 (A genetic distance of 0)
  • Y-DNA25 Matches
    • 23 out of 25 (A genetic distance of 2)
    • 24 out of 25 (A genetic distance of 1)
    • 25 out of 25 (A genetic distance of 0)
  • Y-DNA37 Matches
    • 33 out of 37 (A genetic distance of 4)
    • 34 out of 37 (A genetic distance of 3)
    • 35 out of 37 (A genetic distance of 2)
    • 36 out of 37 (A genetic distance of 1)
    • 37 out of 37 (A genetic distance of 0)
  • Y-DNA67 Matches
    • 60 out of 67 (A genetic distance of 7)
    • 61 out of 67 (A genetic distance of 6)
    • 62 out of 67 (A genetic distance of 5)
    • 63 out of 67 (A genetic distance of 4)
    • 64 out of 67 (A genetic distance of 3)
    • 65 out of 67 (A genetic distance of 2)
    • 66 out of 67 (A genetic distance of 1)
    • 67 out of 67 (A genetic distance of 0)
  • Y-DNA111 Matches
    • 101 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 10)
    • 102 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 9)
    • 103 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 8)
    • 104 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 7)
    • 105 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 6)
    • 106 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 5)
    • 107 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 4)
    • 108 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 3)
    • 109 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 2)
    • 110 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 1)
    • 111 out of 111 (A genetic distance of 0)

* For Y-DNA12 matches, 11 out of 12 matches are only shown with both customers belong to the same group project.
However, to best serve our customers who are adopted, we provide at the Y-DNA12 level both 11/12 and 12/12 matching to the entire Family Tree DNA database to those in the Adoptee Project. This is because they cannot know the best Surname project to join in advance of testing.

On the Y-DNA - Matches page, what do the blue icons with a white tree indicate?

On the Y-DNA – Matches page, the blue icons with a white tree indicate that a match has uploaded their genealogy information as a GEDCOM file. You may view their information by clicking on the icon.

On the Y-DNA - Matches page, what do the (Y25), (Y37), (Y67), and (Y111) next to matches' names indicate?

On the Y-DNA – Matches page, the (Y25), (Y37), (Y67), and (Y111) next to your matches’ names indicates that they have tested at a higher level.

  • The (Y25) indicates that they have results for Y-DNA25 test.
  • The (Y37) indicates that they have results for the Y-DNA37 test.
  • The (Y67) indicates that they have results for the Y-DNA67 test.
  • The (Y111) indicates that they have results for the Y-DNA111 test.
On the Y-DNA - Matches page, what does (FF) next to matches' names indicate?

On the Y-DNA – Matches page, the (FF) next to a match’s name indicates that they have taken the Family Finder Autosomal DNA test.

My name is not on my Y-DNA match list. Why?
Your name is not listed on your Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test match list because you are not being compared against yourself. Only the names of your matches in the Family Tree DNA database are listed.
Should I contact my Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) matches?
Yes, you should contact your matches. Once you have Y-DNA test results, contacting your matches is the next step in using your DNA for genealogy. If you share a surname or match at 37 or 67 markers then your combined research efforts may lead to new genealogical discoveries.
Why do I match men with different surnames?
There are two reasons you may have a Y-DNA match with someone with a different surname. It may be that your connection is from a time before surnames were in common use. This is especially likely for groups where surnames were often not adopted until the most recent 100 to 200 years, for example, Scandinavians and Jewish populations. Another reason for surnames not to match is that there has been a surname change in genealogical times. That could be in either your match’s or your own line.

The main place that you will see matches with many different surnames is the Y-DNA12 Marker Matches section. The time to a common ancestor for these matches may extend beyond genealogical records and the adoption of surnames.

If you continue to match others outside your surname at the Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, and Y-DNA111 marker level, then there is likely to have been a surname change within the genealogical time-frame. Common causes for this include deliberate name changes and adoptions. For those matches at a higher number of markers (Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, and Y-DNA111), contacting your matches is the best way to learn more.

Why do I match men with a surname from my mother’s side?
As the Y-chromosome is inherited exclusively from one’s father, matching men with a Y-DNA test who share your mother’s maiden name or another surname from her lineage may be a coincidence. However, should you continue to match these men at higher levels of testing (Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, and Y-DNA111) then you may wish to investigate the possibility of an adoption or name change in your family.
I match men with the same surname as mine. What does that mean?
When you match men with the same surname as yours (or a variant) on a Y-DNA test, it means that you have potentially genealogically relevant matches. The best way to find out more is to contact your matches.
My Y-chromosome DNA results are back, and I have many matches. Why do I have so many?
Having many Y-DNA matches means you have a more common Y-DNA signature (haplotype). This can mean that your lineage has survived and reproduced well. As a result, many people share the same signature. Testing additional markers (Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111) will refine your list of matches to those that are genealogically relevant, meaning those with whom you share a common ancestor in 1 to 15 generations.
My Y-chromosome DNA results are back, but I do not have matches. Why not?
If you do not have Y-DNA matches, you may be the first person with your Y-DNA signature (haplotype) in our database. This means that no one else from your lineage has tested. As the database grows, you will continue to be compared against new results, and you will be notified by email of any new matches.
My Y-chromosome DNA results are back, and I have matches. What do I do now?
Once you have Y-chromosome DNA STR results, you should check the Y-DNA – Matches page. It will contain a list of any matches. These are your DNA cousins. Your matches’ family histories and traditions of their origins are important clues about your own family tree. Contacting your matches and responding to their inquiries will help you discover if you have a genealogical connection.

At higher testing levels (Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, and Y-DNA111), even when you cannot find a paper trail link to a specific named ancestor, the match offers a significant clue to where your family line originated.

The names and email addresses of your matches are listed in the Y-DNA – Matches  page. If you signed the release form then Family Tree DNA will notify you every time you receive a new match.