In genealogy, a top ancestor is the oldest ancestor in a continuous sequence of ancestors. This means, that a continuous line of parent-child connections exists between the top ancestor and the subject of the genealogical study, such as a living person. However, the top ancestor's parents are not (or not yet) known.
Top ancestors are sometimes used to describe the status of a genealogical research project, or in order to compare the availability of genealogical data in different times and places. Often, top ancestors are implied to be patrilineal. If a patrilineal dynasty is considered, each such dynasty has exactly one top ancestor.
| subject | dynasty | top ancestor | date of top ancestor's death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom | Wettin | Dietrich I of Wettin (in link its map to Judah (son of Jacob) | 10th century |
| Charles, Prince of Wales | Oldenburg | Elimar I, Count of Oldenburg | 12th century |
| Charlemagne | Carolingian | Bishop Arnulf of Metz | 640 |
| Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom | Este | Otbert I, Count Palatine of Italy | 975 |