Genealogy Reports: The Unexpected Surprises and What to Know Before You Buy

With the holiday season in full swing, many people are looking for unique gifts that go beyond the usual sweater or gift card. Genealogy and DNA testing kits have become a popular Christmas gift, and are also part of many New Year’s resolutions for those seeking to better understand their heritage or health.

Whether you’re adopted and trying to uncover your biological roots, or simply curious about where your ancestors came from, these kits offer the chance to uncover family secrets, deep-rooted connections, and even health risks.

But before you dive into the world of genealogy testing, there’s something important you should know: it might scare the sht out of you.* While learning about your ancestry or discovering genetic predispositions might sound intriguing, these reports often come with unexpected, sometimes unsettling revelations.

From finding family members you never knew existed to learning you have a genetic predisposition to certain health conditions, these kits can plant seeds of worry and confusion—sometimes even leading to full-on identity crises.

And let’s not forget that law enforcement agencies around the world have begun using these very same DNA databases to crack cold cases, which has led to the discovery of family members that people didn’t even know existed, all while shedding light on the more forensic uses of personal genetic data.

If you’re considering buying a genealogy kit this holiday season or as part of your New Year’s resolution, here’s what you need to know about the potential surprises you might face—along with a list of the top genealogy testing kits and Canadian pricing.

The Surprises You Might Find: Prepare for the Unexpected

1. Finding Family You Didn’t Know You Had One of the most thrilling aspects of a genealogy report is the potential to uncover lost relatives. But it’s not always the heartwarming reunion you might expect. Imagine discovering that you have half-siblings, aunts, uncles, or cousins you never knew existed. These revelations can lead to joy, but they can also trigger emotional challenges, especially if the new relatives bring up painful family secrets or uncomfortable truths. The sudden appearance of unknown relatives might raise difficult questions—like why you weren’t told about them or why your family didn’t share this part of your history. In some cases, your newfound relatives may not even be open to meeting you, leading to awkward or complicated situations. And in the worst-case scenario, the genetic connection could highlight the possibility of family members involved in crimes or controversial activities, which could leave you feeling disturbed or uneasy about your heritage.
2. Genetic Health Risks: A Seed of Worry Many DNA tests go beyond ancestry and dive into health. The reports often provide insights into genetic predispositions to conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and even mental health issues like depression or schizophrenia. While learning about these risks can be empowering, it can also plant seeds of anxiety and worry that linger long after you receive the results. For example, knowing you are at an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease or certain types of cancer can be overwhelming, especially if you are unsure of how to act on this knowledge. Even if you’re perfectly healthy now, understanding these risks can make you hyper-aware of your health, which might lead to increased stress or hypochondria. The psychological impact of knowing you’re genetically predisposed to certain conditions cannot be underestimated, as it can feel like a ticking time bomb in the back of your mind.
3. Unexpected Ancestral Origins Many people go into these tests with certain expectations about their ethnic background. But what if you thought you were 100% Irish only to find out you have significant roots in Central Asia or Africa? These unexpected ancestral origins can be both fascinating and disorienting. While some people might embrace learning more about their cultural heritage, others may find it challenging, especially if the results don’t align with their identity or what they’ve been told by their families. Additionally, uncovering connections to regions or groups that have experienced conflict or trauma may stir up uncomfortable feelings or even complicate your sense of belonging.
4. The Psychological Impact: Anxiety and Identity Crisis Beyond the immediate shock of new family connections or health risks, genealogy tests can have a lasting psychological impact. Whether it’s the shock of learning about health risks, uncovering family secrets, or having your identity upended by unexpected ancestral ties, these reports often force you to confront questions about who you are and where you come from. For some, this might lead to an identity crisis or heightened anxiety about the future. It’s important to be prepared for how you’ll process this information. Knowledge is empowering, but it can also be overwhelming. Whether it’s the fear of what your health results mean or the confusion that arises when family secrets come to light, the emotional toll of these discoveries can be profound. Make sure you’re in a mental space to handle what might be a lot of new, and sometimes unsettling, information.

Top DNA Testing Kits for Genealogy & Health Insights (With Canadian Pricing)

If you’re ready to dive in and explore your ancestry or health with one of these DNA kits, here are some of the most popular offerings, along with Canadian pricing. Keep in mind that the prices listed can vary depending on sales, promotions, and exchange rates, so be sure to shop around for the best deal.

1. AncestryDNA

• Overview: AncestryDNA is one of the most popular and trusted genealogy DNA tests, providing a detailed breakdown of your ethnic origins and connecting you to a massive database of family trees and potential relatives. While it doesn’t offer health insights, it excels at helping you trace your family lineage and build connections with distant relatives.
• Cost (Canada): Around CAD $129 (with seasonal sales often available)
• What You Get:
  • Ethnicity estimate
  • Matches with DNA relatives
  • Access to Ancestry’s family tree-building tools
• Why It Might Scare You: AncestryDNA can reveal connections to relatives you never knew existed, which may stir up complex family dynamics or unearth painful family secrets. The ability to build a family tree can also lead you down unexpected paths, with surprising or emotional discoveries about your ancestors.

2. 23andMe

• Overview: 23andMe is another top contender in the DNA testing world, offering both ancestry insights and health reports. This kit provides information about your genetic predispositions for various health conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and heart disease, along with an ethnicity estimate and DNA relative connections.
• Cost (Canada):
  • Ancestry + Traits: Around CAD $149
  • Health + Ancestry: Around CAD $249
• What You Get:
  • Detailed ancestry report
  • Health predisposition reports (includes carrier status, wellness reports, and traits)
  • Insights into genetic traits like lactose intolerance or eye color
• Why It Might Scare You: 23andMe’s health reports can be both empowering and anxiety-inducing. If you learn about genetic health risks, it can lead to worrying about the future. Additionally, uncovering distant relatives may bring up complicated emotional responses, especially if those relatives are involved in sensitive or controversial circumstances.

3. MyHeritage DNA

• Overview: MyHeritage offers a solid, affordable DNA testing kit focused on ancestry. It’s a great option for building your family tree and connecting with distant relatives. Although it doesn’t provide health reports, it’s known for its large database and high accuracy in ethnicity breakdowns.
• Cost (Canada): Around CAD $99
• What You Get:
  • Ethnicity breakdown
  • Matches with DNA relatives
  • Family tree-building features
• Why It Might Scare You: While the test results are straightforward, discovering unexpected relatives or learning more about your ancestral roots can still shake things up. It may challenge the family narratives you’ve been told and introduce new, possibly uncomfortable connections.

4. Living DNA

• Overview: Living DNA offers one of the most detailed ancestry reports available, with a focus on regional breakdowns, particularly in the UK and Europe. It also includes maternal and paternal line reports, allowing you to trace your family’s lineage on both sides.
• Cost (Canada): Around CAD $149
• What You Get:
  • Detailed ethnic and regional breakdowns
  • Maternal and paternal lineage reports
  • Insights into your ancestors’ origins within specific countries or regions
• Why It Might Scare You: The highly detailed ancestry reports can be exciting, but they may also stir up emotional reactions if you discover ties to unexpected regions, especially if those regions have a complex or turbulent history.

Genealogy Reports Are Powerful—But Prepare for the Unexpected

While genealogy and DNA testing kits can provide fascinating insights into your ancestry and health, they can also reveal unexpected and sometimes unsettling information. Whether it’s discovering unknown family members, uncovering health risks, or learning about ancestral origins that challenge your identity, the emotional impact of these reports should not be underestimated.

Before you take the plunge, it’s important to be prepared for both the exciting and the potentially uncomfortable aspects of the journey. With DNA testing becoming increasingly popular as gifts and as part of New Year’s resolutions, remember that knowledge is power—but it can also be overwhelming.

So, if you’re ready to learn more about your past—or even uncover family secrets you never knew existed—these kits might just be the gift or resolution that brings you closer to understanding your roots. Just be sure you’re ready for whatever surprises might come your way.