Is a subscription required?

No - the ethnicity estimate and DNA matches come with the kit. Some extra features and the historical records need a paid Ancestry subscription.

Can he delete his data later?

Ancestry says customers can download their DNA data, delete their results or have the saliva sample destroyed at any time.

Should I surprise him with it?

Ask first. It is his DNA and his choice, and setting up the account together makes the results something you share rather than something done to him.

For Him / Her / Kids

AncestryDNA Kit — a new project for the family historian

AncestryDNA Genetic Ethnicity Test Kit

Perfect for

Family historians
Retirees with time for a project
Curious minds
Christmas gift

Check it out

Price: $99.00

Price may change on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.

Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype

Why this gift works

A home DNA test: he fills a small tube with saliva, mails it back in the prepaid package, and Ancestry says results usually arrive within about six weeks. He gets an ethnicity estimate across more than 3,600 regions and a list of DNA matches - relatives who have also tested, from close family to distant cousins.

For the man who already talks about where the family came from, it gives him evidence, a map and often new branches to chase. It also gives the grandkids a reason to ask about the names and places he remembers.

Who is this gift for?

Great for

A man who keeps the old family photos in a shoebox
A grandfather who tells stories about where the family came from

Think twice if

He is uneasy about sharing his genetic data
A surprise relative would cause trouble in the family

Worth knowing before you buy

He needs to register the kit online before mailing the sample.
Results usually take about six weeks.
Records and some extras need a paid Ancestry subscription.

Why we like it

Turns family stories into a map he can see
DNA matches can open whole new branches of the tree
A project that can fill winter afternoons
Gives the grandkids something to ask him about

Questions people ask

He registers the kit online, fills the tube with saliva and mails it back in the prepaid package. Ancestry asks that he not eat, drink or smoke for 30 minutes beforehand.