If you’ve begun searching for answers about your paternal lineage, you’re not alone. Recent statistics show that 1 in 4 children grow up without a father figure in the home.
Not every person hopes to reunite with their biological father, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Yet finding the answers to your paternal lineage can be inherently important because biological fathers contribute half of our genetic material. Understanding your paternal genetics is crucial in identifying potential inherited medical and psychological concerns, which can be passed down from either your father or mother.
The resources available on Ancestry® include historical records, DNA test kits, and professional genealogist services to assist you in your search.
How to Find My Dad: Getting Started Without Much Information
It may feel overwhelming to begin a search without much information about your biological father, but there are more tools out there to help than one might expect.
Any information can be helpful. A name or a hometown can do a lot for your search, as you can narrow your scope when looking through various records.
Knowing your father’s last name can be significant, as it is a key piece of information for searching public records and archives for more details.
If you’re adopted and your name is different from the one you were given at birth, this may add a layer of complexity. You’ll likely need to begin the search for your biological father by learning as much about your birth as possible. You might try to seek out your own birth certificate or any other supporting records that could exist.
You could also find valuable information in a variety of sources. For instance, if you believe your father was in the military, you may be able to find your dad’s military records. These can be a source of many details, including:
- A person’s name
- Their date of birth
- Their hometown
- Important health information
- Any awards earned during their service
Information about military personnel can be found in public records, newspapers, and announcements.
How Can I Find My Biological Father With DNA Testing?
AncestryDNA® could be one of your best tools. Once you’ve taken your DNA test and received the results, you can see DNA matches on the AncestryDNA website. Although matches include a general idea of how closely related you are to people, directly connecting with your biological father would require him to have taken an AncestryDNA test and have DNA matches turned on. If he didn’t, there may be a chance that one of his relatives did.
If you find a close relative of your father, you can try to make contact to ask them questions and potentially narrow down your search. However, it’s important to understand the weight this choice might carry. Making contact with a potential paternal relative can have a profound impact on everyone, either positively or negatively. Determining whether the risks of this course of action are worthwhile is a personal dilemma.
If you decide to forgo reaching out to a potential relative, you still have options. For example, you could simply use their name to conduct a new search with more specific details.
How Can I Find My Biological Father Without DNA?
If your results didn’t turn up a close relative match, there are alternative avenues to try. Online platforms, public records, and even social media can be used to track down leads, find clues, or verify results.
Genealogical research and ancestral records can help you during your search for your biological father and after. Once you know who he is (or have found him), you can build a family tree that uncovers your complete family heritage.
Seeking Assistance and Support From AncestryProGenealogists®
As you seek out information about your biological father, you may notice that some details are more challenging to discover. Although genealogy research requires some patience and an understanding that some details may not be immediately available, you can leverage an experienced professional to assist in your search.
AncestryProGenealogists® can connect you with a genealogy professional to help you discover your biological father and extend your family tree with their expert knowledge.
Using Ancestry® to Learn Your Paternal Story: A Powerful Resource
Ancestry® is a powerful resource in the journey to find your biological father. The combination of DNA data and historical records may help you find clues faster and lead to connections on your paternal side.
Embark on your own journey to reconnect with your biological roots and grow the missing half of your family tree with a free trial of Ancestry. Although the free trial offer doesn’t include DNA testing, it does include genealogical tools to help you begin your journey.