Mike Sainsbury CG
- DNA
- Family History Research
- Speaking / Presenting
- DNA
- Family History Research
- Tutor / Coach
- Adoption / Unknown Parentage
- Investigative Genetic Genealogy
- Tutor / Coach
- DNA
- Family History Research
- Available for virtual events
- Handwriting / Palaeography
Have you taken a DNA test but don’t know what to do next? I can help!
Are you searching for an unknown biological parent or grandparent? I can help!
Research expertise. I use DNA analysis and historical research to find unknown relatives in present-day, or back in time.
Professional certification. I'm the only Board-certified genealogist in Canada who's currently accepting clients (Directory of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®). I'm also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
International and forensic experience. I'm an experienced genetic genealogist who's been solving DNA cases since 2019. I typically work on cases in the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada, including estate cases that require heir tracing and affidavits. Available for investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) work in Canada.
Citizenship and heritage. I’m a dual British-Canadian citizen with roots in England (Somerset, Sussex, Wiltshire, Yorkshire), Ireland and Northern Ireland (Armagh, Donegal, Leitrim, Tyrone), Scotland (Barra), Ontario, Quebec, New Netherland, and New England.
AI-savvy. I can use artificial intelligence tools to create engaging podcast versions of client reports. This makes them fun to listen to and share!
Certified Genealogist and CG are registered trademarks and the designations CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by Board certificants who meet competency standards.
- Australia
- Canada
- England
- United States
​★★★★★ Mike helped me solve a long unsolved mystery. He is very professional. I thoroughly recommend him. (UK client, 2025)
★★★★★ Mike Sainsbury is wonderful! If more than 5 stars were available in this rating system, I’d give them all to him! He is thoughtful, kind, thorough, detailed, well-credentialed, super competent and humane in his pricing. What more could I ask?! I give him my highest recommendation and gratitude! (US client, 2025)
★★★★★ I can thoroughly recommend Mike Sainsbury and his business dfh DNA Family Help. Mike was recommended to me when I hit a brick wall trying to trace the ancestry of my paternal grandfather. With expertise in genetic genealogy, Mike was able to pinpoint who he thought the father or my adopted grandfather was. Targeted DNA testing confirmed his hypothesis and solved a 100 year old adoption-related mystery! (Australian client, 2025)
★★★★★ Mike is a great professional. He provides his clients with excellent reports, thorough, very well documented and referenced. I definitely recommend him and would work with him again for further genealogical research. (Canadian client, 2025)
★★★★★ “Exceptional Research & Outstanding Service!
I recently worked with Mike Sainsbury to research my family history, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their expertise, professionalism, and attention to detail. The report on my ancestor was incredibly thorough, well-researched, and thoughtfully analyzed. It was clear from the depth of information and conclusions provided that an immense amount of effort went into both the research and the final report.
One of the highlights was the included GEDCOM file, which is exceptionally comprehensive and has helped me visualize and organize the data in a meaningful way. It’s an invaluable resource that will continue to benefit my research.
Beyond the exceptional work, I truly appreciated Mike’s responsiveness and promptness in completing the project and answering my questions along the way. Their dedication and passion for genealogy are evident, and I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for meticulous and insightful family history research.” (Canadian client, 2025)
★★★★★ “Mike Sainsbury at dfh DNA Family Help provided my husband with a wonderful Christmas gift – a deep dive into his background, and a chance to work with Mike to get closer to finding the identity of his grandfather, as his mother was adopted. Mike provided a podcast “teaser” that I played on Christmas Day, announcing the investigation and the techniques Mike would use to explore my husband’s background. They met and discussed an approach. Mike used advanced techniques to narrow possibilities and introduced my husband to an additional database and sources of information. Mike built on my husband’s ancestry DNA results and refined them with the context and research details he gathered. Along the way Mike was always extremely responsive, professional, conscientious, and obviously genuinely interested in and passionate about genealogy. My husband now has information about my mother in law’s background and with Mikes assistance is continuing the search for his ancestor. He feels reinvigorated by the work Mike did with him and we feel confident we can reach out to Mike for further assistance. Mike is extremely collaborative and really tailored his work to my husband’s needs and wishes, building on some initial investigation my husband had started. We got an amazing price for the high quality, in depth work Mike did which included a detailed report with information about references and resources. This was the best gift I could have given my husband and I would do it again in a heartbeat.” (US client, 2025)
★★★★★ “Mike and his services are top notch. I am adopted and was looking for confirmation to who my maternal Grandfather is. Mike quickly was able to provide these answers , his report is amazing!
Mike communicated through email and phone. Kept in touch throughout his research as well. Client services top notch. Finally I felt heard and that I had the best chance for answers.
Fortunately through my DNA , there was enough for Mike to work his magic and confirm my Grandfather.
Genealogy is challenging, yet as an adoptee, I feel there’s an added level of unknown frustration. I can now move forward finally, researching the correct person.
Highly recommend that you reach out to Mike , if there’s a way … he will find it.” (Canadian client, 2024)
★★★★★ “I can’t thank him enough for all the work he has done ! He is very professional, open and straightforward! He was VERY easy to work with, and always made sure you knew exactly what he was doing and how long! It was so easy to communicate things with him , and I can’t thank him enough for all the work he has done for me! I’ll forever be grateful!” (Canadian client, 2024)
★★★★★ "Mike has given me a very detailed report on my 3rd great-grandmother. An amazing array of source records were quoted. He has provided me with everything I asked for and more." (UK client, 2024)"To understand DNA and all it can provide, is truly a gift, and you got it! Thank you so much!" (Canadian client, 2024)
Wow I really don't know what to say, I spent most of yesterday in a daze, my mother and adoption father died some 30 years ago and over that period I've been trying one way and another to find my roots without success. Then suddenly you've done it so quickly. (UK client)
A huge thank you for all your work and being so generous with your time! (UK client)
- Family History Research Center (on-site searches of digitized content that can only be viewed at a FamilySearch center or affiliate library)
- Les Archives nationales (Québec) (catalogue searching; copying requests)
- Library and Archives Canada (digitized content; copying requests) National Archives (UK)
- Discovery catalogue (digitized content; copying requests)
- Saskatoon City Archives (on-site)
- Saskatoon Public Library - Local History Room (on-site)
- University of Saskatchewan Library; historic Canadian newspapers on microfilm see list: Newspapers on Microfilm (alphabetical)
- 21st Century
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
- 18th Century
- 17th Century
- 16th Century and Earlier
English, reading knowledge French
Certified Genealogist® #1193 (2024 to 2029)
Professional Genealogist (IAP Career College) 2023
BA, MA, MLIS