A DNA test can do two valuable things for a Norwegian family history: connect you with living relatives—across the large Norwegian-American diaspora and in Norway itself—and confirm the lines you have traced on paper. What it cannot do is name your farm or build your tree; for that you still need the records. Norwegian DNA also has its own character, from the Scandinavian picture to the question of Sami ancestry. This hub explains which test to choose and why.
Which test, in one line
For most people with Norwegian ancestry, AncestryDNA and MyHeritage are the two to consider first. AncestryDNA has the largest database—best for finding cousins, especially across the Norwegian-American Midwest. MyHeritage is strong in Europe and accepts free uploads. Learn more in the best DNA test for Norwegian ancestry.
The main options
- AncestryDNA — biggest match database, best for diaspora cousins, integrated with trees and hints.
- MyHeritage — strong European reach, a chromosome browser, and free uploads from other tests.
- 23andMe — health-and-traits focus; weaker for tree-building, with real privacy considerations (below).
- FamilyTreeDNA — the specialist for Y-DNA and mtDNA lineage testing.
On 23andMe: the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2025; a nonprofit founded by its former CEO (the TTAM Research Institute) acquired its assets and it now operates as a nonprofit, but the episode drew lawsuits over genetic-data privacy and legal scrutiny has continued. Your results would not be wrong, but if long-term custody of your genetic data matters to you, read the current privacy terms and know you can request deletion.
Ready to test? Our recommended kits and current discounts are on this DNA hub. New to it all? Start with the best DNA test for Norwegian ancestry.
A note on Norwegian DNA
Norwegian results have their own character. Ethnicity estimates within Scandinavia are broad—Norwegian, Swedish and Danish ancestry overlap heavily and are hard to separate—so expect a broadly “Norwegian and Swedish” or Scandinavian result rather than a precise figure. Some Norwegians, particularly from the north, also carry Sami ancestry, a distinct and sensitive topic we treat carefully. Read the estimate as interesting rather than precise, and lead with the records.