Opening our DNA test results will forever anchor us to a specific time, place, and people. And this experience is being played out all across the U.S. You can tune into You Tube and watch videos of the curious reading their DNA test results for the first time. A range of emotions are portrayed — from outrage, to puzzlement, to satisfaction.The DNA, etched into our very bones, is immutable and, at times, very indiscreet.

Even though DNA often turns up surprising, and sometimes shocking, results, I didn’t expect any surprises. Here is myOrigins map from the DNA testing company FTDNA. It represents my paternal and maternal lines:

European. I didn’t expect anything different.  Anglos, Saxons, Normans and those pesky Vikings are showing up in my genetic makeup as can be seen from the swathes of light blue, green and pink on the map. This is a clear example of history writ in our “bones.” My DNA is marked with the history of the migrations of different populations as they settled Europe and Britain over 1,000s of years or so.

My siblings should have maps similiar to mine since we all inherited 1/2 our our DNA from each of our parents. The caveat is that it’s not necessarily the same half. One of us might get a bit more from southern Europe. Another from from one of those pesky Vikings! I didn’t test my sibs, but I did test my Mom.

Her map varies only slightly from mine. Her myOrigins map is below:

 

Her map shows a greater tilt towards Europe.  Everyone is accounted for, but just in different percentages. It should be noted that all of her ancestors of recent times originated from the British Isles. Just as my paternal Jackson ancestors did. We still see ethnicity from the northern and southern regions, indicative of migrations in and around Europe.

I expected my husband’s ethnic distribution to include 50% from the British Isles and 50% from Eastern Europe. His Dad’s line would be represented by their Ashkenazi Jewish roots. His Mom’s line, the Cummings, would be like mine with European and British Isles roots.  My husband expected his maternal DNA line to show almost exclusively Irish roots and a bit of Native American. The Native American wouldn’t be unexpected since his Cummings family has been settled in New England since the 1600’s. He wasn’t looking for any tribal designation, but just a hint of something from the native peoples.

Surprise!

My husband’s family map shows the Jewish roots to be 44%, and they break down to be 100% Ashkenazi. As expected. But there is not a hint of his Mom’s family  rooted in the British Isles! Where did they go? Were they all from France? And Norway?

 

The Jewish-Ashkenazi Diaspora region of blue is as expected.  The areas of Middle Eastern and Central/South Asian are probably indicative of much earlier Jewish migrations out of the Middle East.

Very surprised by the 0% ethnicity from the British Isles. Perhaps some of those earlier colonists were from Europe. There were, after all, Puritans who came from Europe and associated themselves with the Puritan exodus out of England. Before that were the Normans from France and the Angles and Saxons from Germany. And, of course, the Romans brought a wide variety of DNA with their legions of soldiers from all over the known world.

We were interested enough in the outcome of his FTDNA test that we opted to get involved with the big player in the genealogy business, Ancestry. They don’t necessarily use a better process, but just a different process with different population samples and methods. I also thought it would be interesting to see how their matching methods for probable cousins worked. After another long wait, his results arrived.

And now he was able to visualize his Irish, even if the Native American DNA did not show up. I still think the 5% showing from Great Britain is too small. We still have those Viking roots!

Sorofman-Cummings Family Ethnic Map from Ancestry DNA

Many of the differences between the two companies arise from the testing process. The results depend, in part, on the quality of the sample created for the comparison populations. Also, it is ever changing because all of us are taking part in and creating larger databases which change the interpretations. The greater the database the greater the accuracy of the data. For a really good explanation of the method for determining ethnic heritage, and its drawbacks, read the Roberta Estes article, here. She provides a very complete and well-written article on the subject. I won’t even try to paraphrase her.

Besides the ethnic mapping, we also have cousin matching from both companies. This helps to identify Most Recent Common Ancestors and provides more proof that we are telling the correct family history.  But we also tested the Sorofman line for its Y-DNA. The next article will focus on this family’s patrilineal ancestry determined by looking at inheritance of the Y-DNA.

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST!

Perhaps you would be interested in taking the plunge into the world of your DNA. You can learn about your own history and help to increase our knowledge of human history. There are three main companies offering this new kind of family history research. The companies we used to test were FamilyTreeDNA and  Ancestry. There is also 23andMe. National Geographic offers an ethnicity test with inclusive tests for both paternal and maternal lineages. Before taking the plunge, do the research. For a really good explanation of the method for determining ethnic heritage, and its drawbacks, read the Roberta Estes article, here.

Interested in reading more? I’ve added a few links below:

• ISOGG Beginners Guide
• Beginners Guide at the Wheaton Surname blog
• The Genetic Genealogist — anything there and also anything at Roberta Estes’, DNA Explained.
• WorldFamilies.net
• Who to test first?