GEDCOM: The Universal Language of Genealogy Data
If you’ve spent any time in genealogy software or online family tree platforms, you’ve almost certainly encountered the term GEDCOM. You may have clicked “Export (more…)
Y-DNA Testing: STRs, SNPs, Haplogroups, and the Big Y-700
Y-DNA testing is the most powerful tool available to genealogists for tracing the direct paternal line — the father’s father’s father’s line stretching back through history…
MyHeritage Upgrades Ethnicity Estimates: What’s New in v2.5
On February 2, 2025, MyHeritage released the most significant overhaul of its ethnicity analysis system since the platform launched DNA testing…
Coming Soon: New Articles for Genealogists
The Dillman Family Association (DFA) blog is about to get a lot busier. Over the next several weeks we are publishing a substantial series of (more…)
One Tree to Connect Them All: Why Serious Genealogists Should Give WikiTree a Serious Look
If you’ve spent years building your family tree — carefully citing sources, chasing down courthouse records, and untangling brick walls — you’ve probably heard of WikiTree…
Using AI to Plan a Multi-State Genealogy Road Trip
Planning a multi-state genealogy road trip is a logistical challenge — multiple archives, varying hours, competing priorities, and the constant uncertainty of what you’ll actually find when you get there…
Understanding DNA Tests for Genealogy: Types, Purposes, and Costs
A guide to the three types of genealogical DNA tests — autosomal, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial — explaining what each reveals about your ancestry, which companies offer them, and how prices compare as of 2026.
DFA Website Update: A Complete Review and Refresh
We have completed a thorough review and update of the Dillman Family Association website, fixing broken links, updating outdated content, and improving the experience for all visitors. Here is a summary of what changed.
Ancestry Updates Regions
Ancestry.com has updated the number of Regions that your DNA can be associated with — a significant change that affects how researchers interpret their ethnicity estimates…