I was curious and did an AncestryDNA test and just got my results. I had been told that I was Scottish, Irish, German and French (in that order; Scottish and German from Dad, Irish and French from Mom) and that my Great Grandmother was Blackfoot Indian. I always embraced what I thought was my Native American Heritage.
The results were surprising. The highest percentage was Great Britain, followed by Scandinavia, East Europe (specifically Greek and Italian), Ireland, West Europe (that would be the French and German) and (Drum roll) the Middle East.
I suspected that my Fathers' Mother had Scandinavian because she told stories about being teased for her 'China Man' eyes as a kid; she has the eyefolds that I read is not just Asian, but results in cultures living in harsh cold climates - this ancestry seemed more likely to me than Asian.
I didn't expect Middle Eastern at all; not sure which side of the family that came from. My housemates said they could see the influence in the face and nose; I have a very prominent and straight 'aquiline' nose; I got that from my Dad, but his Parents have bulbous noses. I could see that heritage coming from my Mom's side; Mom is almost olive-skinned.
I'm disappointed though that I 'lost' a heritage I thought I had. Mom swears that Great Grandma was Blackfoot though, because she and her siblings remember her telling stories and smoking her pipe in the house. Great Grandma was supposed to be from a group of families that migrated from the Montana area, up into Canada, and down into the Champlain Valley (Vermont). The history of the local Abenaki and Algonquin people even reference the arrival of the Blackfoot. I am wondering if Great Grandma was perhaps a person of European Descent who lived with an identified with the tribe, explaining the lack of Native American DNA.
Taking that test has been an interesting experience. Although, it is neat to find out that I'm pretty much a Viking! Guess I should take up raiding
The results were surprising. The highest percentage was Great Britain, followed by Scandinavia, East Europe (specifically Greek and Italian), Ireland, West Europe (that would be the French and German) and (Drum roll) the Middle East.
I suspected that my Fathers' Mother had Scandinavian because she told stories about being teased for her 'China Man' eyes as a kid; she has the eyefolds that I read is not just Asian, but results in cultures living in harsh cold climates - this ancestry seemed more likely to me than Asian.
I didn't expect Middle Eastern at all; not sure which side of the family that came from. My housemates said they could see the influence in the face and nose; I have a very prominent and straight 'aquiline' nose; I got that from my Dad, but his Parents have bulbous noses. I could see that heritage coming from my Mom's side; Mom is almost olive-skinned.
I'm disappointed though that I 'lost' a heritage I thought I had. Mom swears that Great Grandma was Blackfoot though, because she and her siblings remember her telling stories and smoking her pipe in the house. Great Grandma was supposed to be from a group of families that migrated from the Montana area, up into Canada, and down into the Champlain Valley (Vermont). The history of the local Abenaki and Algonquin people even reference the arrival of the Blackfoot. I am wondering if Great Grandma was perhaps a person of European Descent who lived with an identified with the tribe, explaining the lack of Native American DNA.
Taking that test has been an interesting experience. Although, it is neat to find out that I'm pretty much a Viking! Guess I should take up raiding
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