Why the label says what it says
The relationship Ancestry shows next to a match, such as “Second cousin” or “Close Family”, is a prediction. It comes from the amount of DNA you share, usually measured in centimorgans (cM), and from how that amount fits typical ranges. Ancestry’s own help page on estimates describes this approach.
Because many relationships overlap in shared DNA, the prediction is a range, not a verdict. A half sibling, an aunt and a grandparent can all share similar amounts. For that example, see how half siblings show up on AncestryDNA.
Can you edit it?
As far as we know, the DNA-based predicted relationship cannot be typed over or manually changed. Ancestry’s interface changes from time to time, so look at the match’s page and the current help center if you see an edit option. What you can do is attach your own information to the match so the real relationship is recorded.
Link the match to your tree
If you know how the person fits into your family, you can connect them to a person in your family tree. The general steps are:
- Open the match’s page from your match list.
- Look for the option to link or add the match to your tree.
- Choose the person in your tree who represents them, or add the person first.
Once linked, the match can appear alongside that tree person, which makes it easier to see how the pieces fit. Linking is more about organizing than overriding, so the DNA estimate may still show.
Use notes and groups
Even when the label itself stays the same, you can:
- Add a note such as “Confirmed half sister, same father, per her mother” with the source of your information.
- Add the match to a custom group with a color and name, for example “Dad’s side” or “Confirmed siblings”.
- Star the match so it stands out in a long list.
Groups and notes also help with larger sorting projects. Our article on AncestryDNA clusters shows how.
When the estimate seems wrong
- Compare the shared cM to published ranges, such as those in the Shared cM Project, and remember that several relationships overlap.
- Check the match’s profile age and tree, if available.
- Look at shared matches to see which side of your family the person belongs to. See Parent 1 and Parent 2 for sides.
- Be open to unexpected results. Sometimes the label is right and the family story is not.
If a tree or profile contains an error, you can usually only correct your own tree and notes, not the other person’s.
Can my AncestryDNA results change?
Your raw DNA does not change. However, match lists grow as more people test, and Ancestry occasionally updates its methods, which can shift predicted relationships, ethnicity estimates or sides. A match that looked distant can also look closer if a new analysis refines the segments.
FAQ
Can I change “Close Family” to “Brother”? Not in the label itself, as far as we know. Use a note or group.
Does linking a match to my tree change the DNA? No. It only organizes how the match appears.
Can I correct a relationship on someone else’s tree? Usually not. Only the tree owner can edit it, though you can contact them through Ancestry messaging.