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:
P.S. I now have a new Facebook group: “Leeds Genealogy” (not Leeds Genealogy Group). Hope to see you on Facebook!
I am very interested in using this to separate my matches by family lines. I just haven’t taken the time to do it yet. My question is will I possibly be able to find an undetermined great grandfather with this method?
Hi, Debbie. Yes, This method can likely help you identify your great grandfather. When you work on the surnames section, instead of looking at the 8 great grandparent surnames for all of your matches, you should probably go back a generation and look at the 16 great grandparents. If this doesn’t work, you might try one of the automated methods which dig deeper & faster: AutoClustering at http://www.geneticaffairs.com or the Collins’ Leeds Method tool at http://www.dnagedcom.com
Hi there, i have created my spreadsheet for my mums DNA. Im struggling to interpret the chart. I have 4 columns with overlapping clusters. I have sent a PM to the facebook page Leeds Genealogy as I dont want to post it publicly. I would appreciate any guidance with this.
Thank you
Hi attempted to start a spreadsheet yesterday. Was watching one of the YouTube’s on doing it. What I am looking for is grandparents. I am adopted and apparently my court records are 100% false. I figured out a first cousin with my DNA but their mother was adopted with no info so the two of us would like to find grandparents and beyond. I have a list of second third cousins with DNA but I kind of lost where to start.
Hi, Kay. You need to look at those matches that you and your 1C share and find common surnames in their trees. Hopefully there are some good matches you can work with! And sometimes you have to build trees for your matches.
Best wishes!
Dana
I have been looking for my husband’s paternal family for six years. He is on all the sites. He is from Mexico. Small town with much endogamy.
Hi, Mary. I hav worked with endogamy in a small Mexican town. It’s difficult! There are multiple sites that can help you overcome this obstacle. One of my favorite resources is a video at Legacy Family Tree Webinars by Paul Woodbury called “Dealing with Endogamy.”
Best wishes!
Why would I have more than four coloured columns when going through my shared matches.
Hi, Theresa. I get asked that a lot. This should help: https://www.danaleeds.com/leeds-method-time-to-consolidate/
Dana
can the Leeds Method help you figure out your 4th Greats, they are the ones I am looking for in my Dotson line,
Hi, Mary! (I apologize…I’m not getting notifications of comments and forgot to check this week. I will get that fixed!)
As far as the Leeds Method and 4th greats…not specifically. But, if you don’t know what matches to focus on, it could help in that way.
If you’ve identified a lot of your matches, I’d recommend focusing on a DNA match that descends from your 3x great grandparent through a different line (i.e. different child) than you do. Then look at the shared matches between you and that person. Unless you have endogamy or pedigree collapse, all of these matches should either be other descendants of your 3x great grandparents, or related to your 4x great grandfather or 4x great grandmother. So the goal is to sort these matches.
Hope this helps! Dana
Thanks, I will look into them and see what comes,