The further you get back in your tree, the higher the chance that you and a relative share no DNA. It does not mean that you are not related, just that DNA from the common pair of ancestors has not been passed down to both of you. For example:
The probability that 5th cousins have no detectable DNA relationship is 69.8%
For more details visit this longer post.
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One response
I’ve had some matches that go back way farther than I thought they could and yet we can’t find a later relative. It seems the more I want that really old match, the less I get it. But if I have paper proof and plenty of matches, I get more. Count my blessings, I guess.