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Our Family DNA
I have always been fascinated with genetics. When I heard that I could purchase a DNA test that helps determine my genetic heritage I was thrilled. Given how affordable it is now I knew I had to try it. I purchased my first Family Tree DNA kit in 2013 and I was immediately hooked.
I have linked with a few distant cousins that have been very helpful with our family tree. Every so often a DNA match helps to confirm my research because they share an ancestor. I'm so glad that I have participated in these tests. Not only have we contributed to the science of it all, but we now have an idea about where our ancestors are from. A special thanks to the family that swabbed their cheek or spit in a tube to help me out. I really appreciate it.
I have linked with a few distant cousins that have been very helpful with our family tree. Every so often a DNA match helps to confirm my research because they share an ancestor. I'm so glad that I have participated in these tests. Not only have we contributed to the science of it all, but we now have an idea about where our ancestors are from. A special thanks to the family that swabbed their cheek or spit in a tube to help me out. I really appreciate it.
My Family Finder results were not as colourful as my Dad's, but the AncestryDNA test showed a little bit more of those regions he has. The lower percentages are trace regions. It's possible they are not recent at all and some members of the family may inherit more chunks of regions than others - like my sister's results suggest. AncestryDNA somehow manages to separate regions where Family Tree DNA blends regions together.
** These results have been updated - I will share these more refined percentages soon **
My Results
The Family Finder test "My Origins" suggests I am:54% British (Isles) - 39% Scandinavian - 8% Western and Central European
The AncestryDNA test suggests I am:
36% Great Britain - 29% Irish - 20% Scandinavian - 12% European West - 2% Iberian Peninsula
With Trace Regions of <1% European East - <1% European Jewish
My mtDNA results were U2 (HVR1). This is passed down from mother to child (male and female), but only the females pass mtDNA to their children. I inherited this haplogroup from my Mother which she inherited from her Mother going back in the same pattern about 50,000 years or more.
My Sisters Results
The AncestryDNA test suggests my sister is:31% Great Britain - 28% European West - 17% Irish - 17% Scandinavian - 3% Italy/Greek -
3% Iberian Peninsula - With a Trace Region of <1% European Jewish
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| My Family Tree DNA Results |
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| My AncestryDNA Results |
Dad's Results
My Dad took a Family Finder test for me. His results were actually surprising. His father's parents were from Newfoundland going back many generations. His mother has French Canadian, Irish, English and German-American roots. Her family has been in North America for a long time.
The Family Finder test "My Origins" suggests he is:
46% British (Isles) - 19% Scandinavian - 17% Eastern European - 13% Western & Central European - 5% European Jewish (Ashkenazi Diaspora)
I was very surprised by the Jewish trace region, I've never heard anything about this. 5% would suggest that maybe a 3rd Great Grandparent had Jewish Ancestry. This looks to be on his father's side. I have not been able to fully trace that far back on 2 lines, so it's possible.
The Family Finder test "My Origins" suggests he is:
46% British (Isles) - 19% Scandinavian - 17% Eastern European - 13% Western & Central European - 5% European Jewish (Ashkenazi Diaspora)
I was very surprised by the Jewish trace region, I've never heard anything about this. 5% would suggest that maybe a 3rd Great Grandparent had Jewish Ancestry. This looks to be on his father's side. I have not been able to fully trace that far back on 2 lines, so it's possible.
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| Dad's Family Tree DNA Results |
Dad's Y-DNA is R-M269, a very common haplogroup in Britain and Ireland. Y-DNA is passed from father to son only. One day I will upgrade this test to refine the results.
Paternal Grandmother's Results
My paternal Grandmother is mostly Irish with English, French Canadian and German-American roots. Her family has been in North America for a long time. Her French Canadian roots stretch back to original settlers as well as her Irish Canadian and American roots. She comes from a long line of North American pioneers.The Family Finder test "My Origins" suggests she is:
81% British Isles - 10% Scandinavian - 7% Middle Eastern (Asia Minor) - 2% Eastern European
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| Grandma's Family Tree DNA Results |
Asia Minor consists mostly of present-day Turkey, but it may include the coastal regions of Greece and the countries surrounding the Black Sea. This might be where my sister's Italy/Greece percentage comes from.
My Maternal Uncles Results
My Mom's brother was kind enough to take a Family Finder test for me.
His mother is from the Netherlands (ancestors mostly from North-Holland) and his father's mother was from England and his father from the USA. (Irish mother and American father).
The Family Finder test "My Origins" suggests he is:
50% Scandinavian - 50% British (Isles)
His mother is from the Netherlands (ancestors mostly from North-Holland) and his father's mother was from England and his father from the USA. (Irish mother and American father).
The Family Finder test "My Origins" suggests he is:
50% Scandinavian - 50% British (Isles)
**These percentages have been updated! New results soon **
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| Warren Uncle Family Tree DNA Results |
Y-DNA results show R-M269 which is very common for British and Irish roots.
Maternal Grandmother's Results
My maternal Grandmother was born in Holland. Both of her parents were Dutch. Her ancestors are mostly from Friesland in North Holland. I recently found a couple of distant German lines as well. I'm told by another researcher that some of her ancestors were Dutch Mennonites.
The Family Finder tests " My Origins" suggests she is:
73% Scandinavian - 27% Western and Central European
The Family Finder tests " My Origins" suggests she is:
73% Scandinavian - 27% Western and Central European
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| Nanny's Family Tree DNA Results |
** NEW 2019 **
Over the holidays, I took advantage of the sales at AncestryDNA. I asked my Nan to take the AncestryDNA test for me. She agreed and these are her results. As you can see they are a little more detailed than the results from FamilyTreeDNA and their "myOrigins" test. I also have new DNA matches that I can contact to help with our family tree, hopefully, I can learn more about her maternal side.
AncestryDNA test suggests she is:
50% English, Welsh & Northwestern European - 25% Germanic (specifically the Netherlands) - 21% Swedish - 2% Norweigin.
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| Nanny's AncestryDNA results - February 2019 |
I'm happy with these results. It makes sense given the family tree. The Sweden percentage will always be in the back of my mind going forward.
I know that my Nan has the haplogroup U2, I have already tested my own mtDNA. One day I will upgrade the test so that I can get a more detailed version.
Since creating this page I have also tested my Mother. I will add her results in the coming weeks.
Header image courtesy of pixabay.com
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