Currently accepting clients for...

• DNA
• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting
• Writing /Publishing

Matthew Waterfield is an Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist (AIGG) based in the United Kingdom. He was one of the first investigative genetic genealogists in Europe and has worked on dozens of John and Jane Doe cases from multiple countries. He also works with clients outside of law enforcement as a professional genealogist, specialising in genetic genealogy and British research.

He has extensive experience in helping to identify unknown parents or more distant unknown ancestors using genetic genealogy, including cases where only low DNA matches are available. He also takes on clients who need assistance with building a family tree or finding living relatives, his expertise being British and American research. Matthew has carried out research for TV shows such as Long Lost Family, The Body Detectives, Waking the Dead etc., in addition to regularly giving talks on IGG and other topics.

He is currently taking on both individual and organisational clients, so people are welcome to contact him via the Email Member function on this page or via his website at www.silverwellresearch.com/contact/.

Testimonials

• "Matthew is the perfect balance of professionalism, thoroughness, and passion. He meticulously combed through records to identify key family information that, for decades, had been a complete mystery to me. Because of his care, concern, and extreme expertise, I have details to help me complete a delicate and complicated puzzle as well as ideas for how to approach what I know will be difficult conversations. He didn't just provide me with names, dates, and locations but also carefully crafted recommendations for what to do next. Matthew is a master at what he does, and I am forever grateful." - Bridgett, Arizona, USA
   
• "Matthew was enormously helpful, with his logical process of elimination, in identifying the father of my elderly cousin who is in her 70s. At this time of life she did not expect to find out who her birth father was but, with DNA technology and Matthew to hand, the job was a whole lot easier than expected. Would highly recommend him." - Sharon, Kent, England
   
• "Matthew's kind and meticulous nature is, without a doubt, what makes me put forth my personal recommendation to anyone in need of a professional genealogist." - Judy, Queensland, Australia

Publications/Media
Matthew has previously participated in TV and podcast interviews to discuss his work as an investigative genetic genealogist. He has also been interviewed by media outlets in the UK, the US, Canada and Ireland about his work. Some of these features are listed below:
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• AZ Family (https://www.azfamily.com/2024/10/24/womans-remains-discovered-1988-east-queen-creek-identified/)
• BBC Sounds (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0dnys34)
• CBC News (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/how-dna-from-popular-ancestry-websites-helped-toronto-police-find-this-woman-s-name-1.6362181)
• Forensic Magazine (https://www.forensicmag.com/589239-DNA-Doe-Project-ID-s-2-Remains-Found-in-Tucson-in-2019/)
• Fox 7 (https://www.fox7austin.com/news/dna-doe-project-slaughter-creek-jane-doe-travis-county-john-doe)
• KETK-TV (https://www.ketk.com/news/your-dna-could-help-identify-jane-and-john-does-nationwide-heres-how/)
• Sunday World (https://www.sundayworld.com/news/irish-news/american-based-charity-says-irish-people-can-help-identify-woman-murdered-in-1992/509638725.html)

Lectures

• "Examining the Impact of Ethnicity on Case Solvability", in-person presentation at the Ramapo Investigative Genetic Genealogy Conference, Mahwah, New Jersey, USA (2025, upcoming)
• "DNA Doe Project: Solving Cold Cases with Matthew Waterfield", virtual presentation for the Society of Genealogists (2025, upcoming)
• "IGG in the UK: Prospective Advantages, Potential Challenges and Proven Solutions", virtual presentation at the University of Strathclyde's Advancing Genetic Genealogy Conference (2025)
• "The Death of John Ellis and the Rebirth of George Chapman", virtual presentation at the Society of Genealogists' NextGENeration Conference (2024)
• "IGG in the UK: Prospective Advantages, Potential Challenges and Proven Solutions", in-person presentation at the Ramapo Investigative Genetic Genealogy Conference, Mahwah, New Jersey, USA (2024)
• "Let's Talk About...Investigative Genetic Genealogy", virtual presentation for the Society of Australian Genealogists (2022)

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century

Languages
English (native), French (basic), Latin (basic), Polish (basic)

Honorifics/Credentials
Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist (AIGG), issued by the IGGAB in March 2025

Affiliations

• Silverwell Research
• DNA Doe Project, since March 2021
• Association of Professional Genealogists, since April 2021
• International Society of Genetic Genealogy, since June 2022

Degrees
BA in Religion, Politics and Society (International), University of Leeds