Would You Rather Use a Worksheet? (The Leeds Method)

The Leeds Method uses a spreadsheet to sort your DNA matches into groups based on how the matches are related to you. The spreadsheet is called a Color Cluster Chart as seen below:

However, not everyone is comfortable using spreadsheets. And, some people would just prefer to use paper and pencil – or a worksheet and colored pencils. Fiona Brooker at the Memories in Time website recently created a worksheet for the Leeds Method.

Leeds Method Worksheet

Below is an example of a worksheet that has been filled out with the same information as the original example shared above. This chart also includes columns for:

• • the number of shared centimorgans,
  • tree vs no tree (I used “X” for no tree, “U” for unlinked tree, and “T” for tree),
  • and a notes field (where I wrote how many people were on the matches’ tree).

At the top is an area where you can name your Color Clusters.

Leeds Method Match Surnames Worksheet

Fiona also created a worksheet to help identify a surname that is repeated within a Color Cluster. In this Green Group you can see the surname Dickson is repeated in many of the trees. So, the Green Group is likely related to the test taker through the Dickson surname.

Tip: If you do not find a repeating surname while using the 8 great grandparent surnames, you might expand the search to the 16 great, great grandparents.

It’s Free!

Fiona has generously offered these worksheets for free on her site. Just click on the link to her Memories in Time website here.

She also has more detailed instructions as to how she uses these worksheets to with the Leeds Method:

• • “Sorting Your DNA Matches with the Leeds Method – Part 1”
  • “Sorting Your DNA Matches with the Leeds Method – Part 2”

P.S. I now have a new Facebook group: “Leeds Genealogy” (not Leeds Genealogy Group). Hope to see you on Facebook!