Dictionary

kinship: Entities of common genealogical origin, whether biological, cultural or historic descent.
 
loci: Specific markers tested for in a DNA Sample during DNA testing.

matrilineal: Members of a family whose members are related through the female line.

most recent common ancestor (MRCA): When DNA tests between two different people show that they both share a common ancestor somewhere in the back of the family tree.

mtDNA: DNA located in organelles called mitochondria. Since there is usually no change in mtDNA from parent to offspring, mtDNA are powerful tracking tools for ancestry.

one-name study: A collection of vital and other biographical data about all persons worldwide sharing a particular surname.

one-place study: A branch of family history that focuses on the entire population of a single European village or community, rather than a single, geographically dispersed family line.

onomastics: The study of the origins and types of all proper names.