inherited properties shared with others of your bloodline
"The scientist studied the ancestry of the rare flower to understand its genetic traits shared with other species in the same family."
Condition as to ancestors; ancestral lineage; hence, birth or honorable descent.
"The noble family placed great importance on their distinguished ancestry when selecting a suitable marriage partner."
In plain English: Ancestry is your family's history and where you come from based on all of your ancestors.
"Many people feel proud when they discover their ancestry includes brave soldiers from old wars."
Usage: Ancestry refers specifically to your family's line of predecessors rather than the individuals themselves. Use it when discussing where you come from historically, not for describing specific relatives like parents or grandparents.
The word ancestry comes from the Old French term ancesserie, which entered English through Middle English as auncestrie. It originally referred to a line of predecessors or forebears and has maintained that core meaning in modern usage.