Probably a dumb question.
 

I think I know the answer to this will be……….’no idea’, but here goes.
I have quite a few DNA connections that are ‘fairly’ close…219cM across 11 segments….that type of thing.

These people have no tree or they have half a dozen people. They also do not answer messages. Is there any way of finding where they fit with me? Remember in Australia we can’t look up birth less than 100 years ago, so I can’t think of any way of working back and often they have common names.

Can't answer your wuestion, but just wanted to say that I think many people do a DNA test because they "want to know where they came from". Once they have marvelled at the fact they are 2% Finnish or whatever, they lose interest. They never had any intention of pursuing their family history.

OC

I’m sure you are correct.

You could see if you can find them on Facebook and if so, whether it shows who their family members are. This has worked for me in some cases. Also Google to see whether they are mentioned in obituaries of family members.

Do they share match with any of your other DNA connections?

If they do can you tell which side of your family they are matching with?

Agree with Kite, but you have to choose the Google whacks.

Definitely correct. I know many people who have DNA tested for just that reason

How do I see that please?

I have had some success, with trying to work out some these people.

As Kiterunner said, you could try and find them on Facebook - look at their friends, see if you can find a parent or sibling. Also just google their name - it might come up in LinkedIn or Australian Business Registrations. Google will also pick up any public reports/newspaperarticles/find a grave etc since about 2005.

If you think they might have been over 18 in 1980 (which makes them, like me, over 60 now) you might be able to find them in the Australian Electoral Rolls on Ancestry (at home with their parents is always a bonus). Look in Trove for a birth notice and other family events (some of the smaller papers go past 1950s).

These things don't always work - I have two men called Paul who show high levels of shared DNA with my Dad, and one has a really unusual name, and I know what his job is and where his family come from (meaning I think I know which tree branch), but I cannot for the life of me get any further.

You should be able to tell which side of the family by looking at the shared matches (tab next to Trees and Locations) - if you can find just one name you recognise you can say Maternal or Paternal.


Di

Select the DNA Match so that it's is on its own profile page where you can see the tree.

There are three tabs above are Tree, Ethnicity and Shared Matches.

Select Shared Matches and all the matches that you share with this DNA Match will appear and go through them. Some you may know already and where they fit into your DNA and family so it will give you a clue which side the DNA Match you are baffled about may come from, some may have trees.