Understanding Native American Ancestry: Genetic vs. Family Lore

My DNA from Ancestry says I am 3% Native American. Like most people, this Native ancestry was part of our family lore. My paternal grandmother always said her paternal grandmother was full-blood Native American. Does the 3% fit that time frame?

Generational Breakdown

Understanding how the 3% Native American ancestry fits into the context of family lore is important. Each generation back typically halves the percentage of ancestry you inherit from a specific ancestor. For example:

if your great-great-grandmother (paternal grandmother's grandmother) was full Native American, you would inherit 12.5% or 1/8 of her DNA. if she was only part Native American, the percentage would be lower.

Estimating generational breakdowns can give us a clearer picture. If we assume your paternal grandmother's grandmother was indeed full Native American, you would expect a much higher percentage than 3%. However, if she was only part Native American, or if other ancestors contributed to that percentage, it could account for the 3%.

Genetic Variation

DNA tests can also result in varied percentages due to the complexities of genetic inheritance and the reference populations used by testing companies. The percentage you receive can be influenced by how these companies categorize and analyze genetic data.

The generational breakdown would look like this:

Generation 1: 100%, 1/1, 3rd great-grandparent Generation 2: 50%, 1/2, 2nd great-grandparent Generation 3: 25%, 1/4, great-grandparent Generation 4: 12.5%, 1/8, grandparent Generation 5: 6.25%, 1/16, parent Generation 6: 3.125%, 1/32, hypothetical you

This hypothetical example assumes perfect inheritance. In reality, inheritance is random. While possible, you could inherit zero DNA from a specific ancestor through random genetic recombination.

Context of Family Lore

Family stories about Native American ancestry are common and often contain a mix of truth and myth. Your family's oral history might have some basis in fact. The actual genetic contribution could be less than expected due to mixed heritage or the number of generations that have passed since that ancestry.

In summary, the 3% Native American ancestry could fit within your family history suggest that the Native American lineage may be diluted over generations or that the family lore may not reflect a direct lineage. For a more precise understanding, consider additional genealogical research or exploring other family lines.

Genetic inheritance is complex, and even with perfect paper pedigree DNA, probabilities play a crucial role in inheritance. So, while 3% could fit, it may also be one generation off from a perfect paper pedigree analysis.