Tracing Roots

Ancestry Announces “Ancestral Origins” Update

AncestryDNA is rolling out a major update in 2025, promising more precise ethnicity breakdowns and refined regional groupings.

• The update adds 24 new regions across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Later this year, the “Ancestral Origins” feature will deliver even more detailed ancestral region mapping.
• What it means for you: Expect your ethnicity results to shift — possibly significantly — as the new models replace older estimates. Don’t be surprised if your family story gets “re-written.”

Ancestry is also offering its DNA service with 50% discount this month only.

23andMe Ancestry Composition Version 7

Despite its financial struggles, 23andMe has launched Ancestry Composition Version 7:

• Adds 33 new European populations and 6 in the Americas.
• Reduces “broadly” and “unassigned” categories, giving users more refined results.
• What it means for you: If you have 23andMe results, check back — your regional breakdowns may look very different under Version 7.

FamilySearch Expands Free Records in 2025

FamilySearch, the world’s largest free genealogy site, has announced plans to expand its free historical record collections this year.

• New digitisation projects are underway across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
• Website and app features are also being updated for easier searching and record linking.
• What it means for you: More free resources are coming — making FamilySearch one of the best places to begin or extend your research without spending a penny.

New Historical Record Releases

• Ancestry has recently added new collections, including Church of England parish records (Wiltshire, Suffolk) and expanded Korean War draft cards.
• MyHeritage added 540 million new records in May 2025 across 16 collections, building on the 1.2 billion records added earlier in the year.
• In Ireland, the Virtual Record Treasury project has reconstructed another 175,000 records once believed lost in the 1922 fire.
• What it means for you: More records = more opportunities. If you’ve hit a brick wall, it’s worth re-checking databases you last searched a year or two ago.

Final Thoughts

From corporate shake-ups to massive record releases, 2025 is proving to be a year of big change in genealogy. Whether you’re testing with DNA kits, exploring parish registers, or diving into free archives, staying informed helps you get the most out of your research.

At TracingRoots.co.uk, we’ll continue to track these developments — so you don’t miss the updates that matter most to your family story.