Michelle Leonard

Michelle Leonard is a professional genealogist, DNA Detective, freelance researcher, speaker, educator, author and historian. She has extensive experience both in the traditional and genetic genealogy spheres and runs her own genealogy and DNA consultancy business Genes & Genealogy. She specializes in the use of DNA testing for genealogical purposes and, in particular, solving all manner of unknown parentage and unknown ancestor mysteries using a combination of DNA results analysis and conventional research methodologies. Her business also focuses on the utilization of DNA testing to verify and enhance family trees and the teaching of genetic genealogy techniques via a variety of mediums.

Additionally, she undertakes one-on-one and group DNA coaching sessions, DNA consultations, traditional family history research, living relative tracing, lecturing, the creation and teaching of DNA courses, podcasts, webinars, speaking engagements, media consultation, historical and television research, bespoke family history books, and article, blog and book writing commissions. 

Michelle has been a leading member of the international genetic genealogy community for many years and is widely regarded as one of the UK's most experienced DNA detectives. As a pioneer in the field, she has a wealth of practical experience in adoption, unknown parentage, misattributed parentage (MPEs/NPEs), donor conceived, foundling and more distant and complex unknown ancestor mystery cases as well as a proven track record of combining DNA and traditional genealogy research to solve previously unfathomable mysteries that paper records never could. Michelle has worked on a vast number of DNA cases and has a high success rate.

Her first involvement with using DNA for genealogical purposes came well over a decade ago when she spent several years working on the ground-breaking Fromelles Genealogy Project tracking down appropriate DNA donors to identify WWI soldiers buried in a mass grave in Northern France. She also served as the Genealogical Consultant on the official Fromelles documentary "WW1: Finding The Lost Battalions" and stil regularly works on military identification cases.

She is also a co-author of "Tracing Your Ancestors Using DNA: A Guide For Family Historians" published by Pen & Sword in June 2019 and regularly contributes articles to publications such as Family Tree Magazine (UK) for whom she has also written a 52-page 'DNA Workbook' to accompany her popular 'DNA Bootcamp' courses. 

Michelle is a very experienced public speaker and lecturer. She regularly speaks, both in person and virtually, at major genealogy events such as Rootstech, Family Tree Live, The Genealogy Show, Who Do You Think You Are? Live and Genetic Genealogy Ireland. She also speaks for global audiences virtually via webinars and e-conferences for established providers such as Legacy Family Tree Webinars and she regularly gives virtual presentations for family history societies and groups around the world. 

Additionally, Michelle is the official genetic genealogist of ancestryhour.co.uk and was one of the hosts of the hour itself on Twitter.  

Michelle holds an M.A. in English and Modern History from the University of St Andrews and a PgCert in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Scottish Genealogy Network (SGN) and the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG).

Family history is Michelle's passion in life and she loves helping people solve DNA mysteries and uncover more about their ancestors and heritage.

You can follow Michelle on her Genes & Genealogy Facebook page, X (Formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

Services

DNA Services:

Michelle offers a wide range of DNA and genealogical research services and accepts clients on a global basis. She has worked on and solved hundreds of UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand based DNA mystery cases.

If you are looking for an experienced DNA specialist, Michelle's services are specially tailored to the individual client's needs and what will work best for their particular case. She offers comprehensive and shorter DNA evaluations during which she undertakes detailed DNA detective work on the case,  a DNA conclusions review service for those who wish an expert to check their conclusions, one-on-one consultations, DNA coaching sessions and DNA and traditional research at an hourly rate in blocks so there is never anything open-ended. She accepts adoption, unknown parentage, NPE/MPE, illegitimacy, foundling and more distant unknown ancestor mystery cases. 

She can also provide analysis of autosomal DNA results and tuition on how best to work with them. She offers online coaching sessions on DNA and Genealogy topics on a one-on-one or group basis.

DNA Education:

If you want to learn how to do it yourself, then Michelle can teach you! Michelle has a vast amount of experience in the world of DNA and genealogy education. She creates and teaches DNA courses on a regular basis for education providers such as Family Tree Magazine (UK) and Family History Academy. The most well-known of these are her eight-week intensive DNA Bootcamps and two-week Masterclass courses for Family Tree Magazine (UK). If you would like to join one of Michelle's Bootcamp courses, keep an eye on her social media feeds for date announcements. The next 'Original' DNA Bootcamp will begin on 25th September 2024 and there will be masterclasses in April and May 2024. 

Michelle is also a consultant genetic genealogy coach and instructor for Diahan Southard's Your DNA Guide. She leads Q&A and one-on-one coaching sessions for Your DNA Guide's flagship DNA Skills course and occasionally teaches classes for the popular Study Group.

Speaking Enquiries: 

Michelle is a very experienced public speaker and lecturer and is happy to accept commissions to speak virtually on a number of different topics most particularly DNA testing for genealogy, Scottish genealogy research and the Fromelles Genealogy Project. Michelle is a very experienced webinar presenter and happy to take on webinar and online conference and workshop commissions. She has an extensive list of lectures she can offer to societies, groups, conferences and genealogy education providers. Please contact Michelle directly if you would like to book her as a speaker for your group or event.

Writing Commissions: 

Michelle is also a freelance book, article and blog writer and welcomes commissions to write articles for family history or historical publications and websites.

As an experienced author Michelle also offers bespoke personalized family history books - she can write up family histories and create detailed professionally printed books your family will treasure. She has created everything from short 20 page booklets containing just basic information all the way through to 300 page deluxe full histories.

Traditional Research:

If you are looking for traditional genealogical assistance, Michelle also has a great deal of experience in this field and her specialisms are Scottish, English/Welsh, Northern Irish and Irish family history research. She can compile family trees, assist with brick walls and carry out archival research; She is based in Glasgow, Scotland and ideally situated to access records in Archives in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

Michelle also offers a family tree review service; it is always a good idea to have a second set of eyes evaluate your work and with this service you get a professional genealogist checking you are on the right track and giving you hints and tips on how best to improve your tree.

Additionally, Michelle is a living relative specialist and offers a tracing service; she is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as a data controller under the Data Protection Act 1998 (Registration Number ZA256420).

WW1 Soldier Research:

As a result of her work on the 'Fromelles Genealogy Project' and other military cases, Michelle has considerable experience in regards to tracing the families of soldiers for DNA identification purposes and regularly works on new WW1 and WW2 soldier cases when new battlefield remains are uncovered.

Media Consultation:

Michelle offers media consultation services for print, radio, television and podcasts as a DNA genealogy specialist as well as research and consultation services for documentaries and television dramas.

Geographic Specialties

Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland