What does Ashkenazi mean?
"Ashkenazi" describes Jews from Central and Eastern Europe. Not every Jewish person from Europe is Ashkenazi, although most of them are. This term refers to a specific group of Jewish people who originally settled in the 10th century in the Rhineland, in what is now Germany. This group remained so isolated throughout history that their descendants form a distinct genetic population. The founding group of this genetic population was likely extremely small and happened to carry certain genetic mutations that lead to an increased risk of some otherwise rare genetic diseases. These mutations are more prevalent in modern Ashkenazi Jews than in the general population. Researchers believe that, as of 2024, Ashkenazi Jews make up about half of the global Jewish population. Despite some pretty pervasive stereotypes, you can't actually tell that someone's Jewish by looking at their facial features, hair, or skin color.
Tracing Family History
Talk to older members of your family. Your family members might voluntarily tell stories about your family's past, but you can't be sure how much they really know until you talk to them. They might be able to give you names and dates that can help you tremendously in your search for your ancestry. If you're able to talk to several family members and the same names and places keep coming up, that's a pretty good indication that those are good clues to go on (unless all of those family members heard their stories from the same person).
Look through any old family documents or photos. Photos and documents are most important for the clues that they'll give you that can help you figure out exactly where your family originated so you can trace their migration through Europe. Write down any names, dates, or places that you see—these will come in handy later. It helps if you have someone who speaks the language used in any European documents you find. They can help match names that were probably spelled phonetically in English with their proper spellings.
Use online genealogy resources to find your family's shtetl. You can search the Communities Database on JewishGen for free. Just type in the town names you know from your family documents. The database searches phonetically, so you'll get results of town names that sound the same even if you didn't have the spelling exactly right. This also means that you'll potentially have to look at several different shtetls to narrow it down to the one that is most likely your ancestral shtetl. While access to JewishGen is free, you do have to create a free personal account to search their databases.
Look up the names you know in the online databases. Within the shtetl you've isolated, you can start looking at the names of the people who lived there. If you already have names of ancestors, search for them and see what you find. At the same time, it's important to keep in mind that names can be misspelled or recorded incorrectly. As if that didn't make it difficult enough, many Jewish people didn't have consistent names that they were called all the time until well into the 1800s, which can make it even harder to trace back your lineage. Different countries also had different name conventions, so your ancestor's name might have changed as they migrated. Pay attention to how common the name is as well. If your search brings up the names of 20 people with that name who lived around the same time, you can't be certain that any one of those people is actually your ancestor without more information.
Dig deeper into your family's past through Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Local and regional SIGs are focused on specific Jewish towns and areas and dedicated to preserving documents and records. SIGs typically allow you to access their records for free, although some have not yet digitized all of their records. Many towns also have their own web pages and other information about them available online. Town web pages often have links to other resources that can help you track your ancestry. If your ancestors have come from a very small town, also look for information in the next town over or the nearest large town that would've been a sort of regional hub. You can likely find more information and more extensive documents there.
Getting Genetic Testing
Order a home test kit from a direct-to-consumer provider. Companies such as Ancestry and 23andMe offer inexpensive home DNA testing that can give you some clues into your ancestry and help you determine if you are of Ashkenazi descent. While these tests aren't necessarily definitive, they can give you a really strong clue as to your ancestry. Genetic testing can be particularly beneficial if you don't have any older biological family members you can speak to or if you were adopted and don't know your biological family. Keep in mind that the company you order your test from keeps your DNA in its database for continual analysis. Ancestry and 23andMe each hold one of the largest collections of human DNA in the world. Before you order a test, think about whether you want to add your DNA to a privately held company's database.
Send your sample back to the lab. These tests use saliva, so you'll either spit into a vial or swab the inside of your cheek to get a sample. Seal it up and send it in the prepaid envelope provided. Follow the instructions in your kit for more details on what you need to do to get your results. For example, you might need to download the company's mobile app and set up a profile. If your sample was somehow corrupted or you didn't provide enough, most companies will let you retake a sample at least once without having to pay again.
Evaluate your results to determine your genetic heritage. When the analysis is complete, your testing company will notify you to check your results. Most results are based on the DNA that company has collected, so nothing in the report is 100% conclusive. But it can give you some clues as to your background and genetic makeup. Consumer DNA test companies typically have resources on their website or through their app that will explain to you what each part of your results means. You might also have access to possible genetic relatives whose DNA is in the company's database. If you connect with these people, you might be able to learn more about your ancestry.
Tell your healthcare provider about your ancestry. If you find out through at-home genetic testing that you have Ashkenazi ancestry, it's a good idea to get carrier screening. This test will tell you if you have specific genetic variants associated with specific genetic diseases. In the US, carrier screening is often covered by health insurance provided you have Ashkenazi ancestry. Check with your insurer as companies have different policies. Although it's good to know if you carry these variants regardless, it's especially important information if you're planning on having children.
Why is Ashkenazi ancestry important?
Heightened risk of genetic diseases and some cancers The founders of the Ashkenazi Jewish ethnic group tended to marry within their own group, which increased the frequency of certain genetic mutations over time. As a result, there are some relatively rare genetic diseases that are significantly more common among people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Ashkenazi Jewish women have a 1 in 40 chance of having a genetic variant that predisposes them to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The top 5 most common genetic diseases among Ashkenazi Jews are Gaucher disease, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, familial dysautonomia, and spinal muscular atrophy.
Deeper understanding of your cultural history The history of the Ashkenazi Jews is one with a lot of holes in it—there's a lot that historians still don't know about this distinct genetic population. Finding out that you have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry opens the door for you to follow along as discoveries are being made that shed new light on the life of Ashkenazi Jews in 10th-century Europe and beyond. Learning more details about your past can make it more real for you and you'll feel as though you have a deeper understanding of yourself by learning about your ancestors.
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