Written by: Matthew Waterfield, AIGG, Founder of Silverwell Research

That is why I set up Silverwell Research, the first British provider of IGG. We are proud to have already begun working on cases here in Europe and we plan to expand our offering in the coming months. European cases, while solvable, will generally be trickier than North American cases, which means that specialist skills will be critical in order to provide IGG-informed leads in a timely and economical manner. Agencies here in Europe will need to work with a provider that not only understands the challenges of applying IGG to European cases, but also knows how to overcome them, and that is what Silverwell Research is able to offer.

I have worked on multiple cases where a John or Jane Doe found in North America has turned out to be the child or grandchild of European immigrants, and I’ve seen how country-specific expertise can make a huge difference on these cases. A case where a Jane Doe found in South Dakota turns out to have Swedish heritage is going to benefit from the expertise of someone familiar with those naming customs and migration patterns. Similarly, the key to identifying a Canadian homicide suspect with recent British ancestry might end up being a deep familiarity with Welsh baptismal records.

There will be many such cases in any country where European immigrants settled. Silverwell Research is open to working with any agency that wishes to utilise IGG, including those in the Americas and Oceania where cases like this will be common. But our primary focus is Europe, where the lessons learnt from these cases are primarily applicable, and we aim to work with agencies across the continent to help resolve their cases through the usage of IGG.

As one of the first investigative genetic genealogists in Europe, I’ve had the pleasure of watching a growing number of European nations utilise IGG in recent years. But how might the field develop in Europe as IGG is rolled out more widely? In North America, IGG is carried out by a patchwork of providers - companies like Parabon NanoLabs, non-profits such as the DNA Doe Project, in-house IGG units like that of the Toronto Police Service, and educational institutes such as Ramapo College have all helped to resolve cases. I would argue that each form of provider has its own advantages and disadvantages, making the ‘patchwork’ approach the most effective; different cases are best suited to different types of provider, while competition in the field breeds innovation and success. It is still too early to ascertain what frameworks different European countries will adopt for the usage of IGG, but they are not short of options to choose from.

As for the application of IGG to European cases, a one-size-fits-all approach has obvious shortcomings. The successful usage of IGG is contingent on a number of factors, but the main two are the availability of records and representation in the accessible genetic genealogy databases. And these two factors vary significantly across Europe, meaning different countries will face different challenges.

For instance, IGG involves building out the family trees of DNA matches before tracking down the descendants of families of interest, which often relies on documents like civil and census records. In the United Kingdom, most of these documents have been made publicly available and digitised; in Germany, these records are much less accessible.

As for the accessible genetic genealogy databases, DNA testing is more popular in some countries than others. While genetic genealogy has proven to be a popular pastime in Sweden, consumer DNA testing remains banned in France. Furthermore, with Americans disproportionately overrepresented in genetic genealogy databases, DNA testing among the diaspora will undoubtedly contribute to the resolution of cases in Europe. For example, an American with an Irish grandmother who takes a DNA test to learn more about his roots could prove to be a crucial third cousin match to a John Doe found in County Cork. In countries which experienced less emigration, however, these DNA matches from the diaspora will likely be rarer.

The key to addressing these challenges is to act according to the needs of each case. A case with a second cousin match is likely solvable without need for a specialist, but when your highest DNA match is a third cousin once removed, specialist skills will be vital. Silverwell Research understands this, which is why we have already begun working with talented genealogists with country-specific specialisms. These specialists can bring invaluable expertise to specific cases, and we plan on developing a wider network of contacts over the course of 2025. The recent launch of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Exam also means that agencies now have an effective way of assessing the proficiency of IGG practitioners, and Silverwell Research can guarantee that any case brought to us will be led by an Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist.