# ancestry

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæn.sɛs.tɹi/ · frequency rank #14,881

## Definitions
1. The state of being ancestors.
2. Birth to a noble or high-ranking family, or to someone of honorable descent.
3. A series of ancestors; the people from whom one is descended.

## Etymology
From Middle English auncestrie, from Old French ancesserie. See ancestor.

## Easily confused with
- **ancestor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ancestor-vs-ancestry)
- **ancestors** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ancestors-vs-ancestry)
- **ancestral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ancestral-vs-ancestry)

## Common misspellings (13)
`acnestry`, `anccestry`, `ancesrty`, `ancesstry`, `ancestrry`, `ancestryy`, `ancesttry`, `ancestyr`, `ancetsry`, `ancsetry`, `anecstry`, `anncestry`, `nacestry`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ancestry