52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025 – Week 9: Family Secrets

NOTE: I accepted the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge headed by fellow genealogy blogger Amy Johnson Crow. The idea behind this challenge is that you will receive email prompts, a word or phrase, every week, and you find something about your research or family history to write about.  Click HERE to read my first 52 Ancestors blog post in 2019.

Many times when I tell people that I do genealogy research, the first question is have you found any family secrets? I am always taken aback when I’m asked this question because I didn’t start my research with the intent on finding family secrets. That was the furthest thing from my mind. But I have come to learn that for many people that’s the first thing they think of when they hear family history or genealogy research.

When I think of family secrets, I think of Non Paternal Event (NPE). I just learned about NPE a few years ago. It’s not something that is discussed much in the family history/genealogy world. NPE is when a person learns that their presumed parent (usually the father) isn’t their biological parent after they have completed a genetic DNA test. Genetic DNA tests are more popular than ever, and with genetic testing can also come some surprise discoveries or family secrets. Now that I know about NPE, I always tell people that ask me about genetic testing can be two fold, in that you can learn new information and discover DNA connections. But there is also a chance that you could learn some information that is very unexpected.

If you do happen to discover a family secret while researching your family history, just know that many people have discovered family secrets. These types of discoveries can provide opportunities for healing, new connections, and understanding.

Click HERE to read my thoughts on a memoir about NPE, Inheritance – A Memoir of Genealogy Paternity, and Love