Often the place they stop is where the research trail goes cold (usually around the 16th to 18th centuries). And they may well prioritise the lineage that seems to have greater legs and more interesting tales.
I think my favourite one was with a British comedian, Alexander Armstrong. He'd always denied to his kids that they were truly 'posh'. Turned out his ancestors bankrolled a couple of Kings, acted as international spies for the Crown, and owned half of England back in the mists of time.
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