My DNA results are in and they are largely what I expected. My ancestry is 51 percent Central European - which includes Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Since nearly all the ancestors on my mother's side are from Germany and Belgium, this isn't surprising.
Also not surprising is the fact that 38 percent of my ancestry is from the British Isles, which includes England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. On my father's side, there are many ancestors from Ireland as well as England.
The one surprise is that 8 percent of my ancestry is from Eastern Europe, an area that includes Poland, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus and Ukraine, among other countries. Since I have not identified any ancestors who came from this area, some early ancestors must have migrated from there to either Germany, Belgium, England or Ireland quite a long time ago. The information provided regarding the DNA results states that your personal DNA sample may include DNA that is not reflected in your family tree because it dates from thousands of years ago.
There are a few empty spaces on my family tree. I have one great great grandfather on my father's side that I have been unable to identify, and one set of great great great grandparents on my mother's side who are not identified. In addition, there are many ancestors who go back further than that who remain unidentified.
Although my husband has not had his DNA analyzed, we already know we share roots from the British Isles and Central Europe, as he has ancestors from England and Switzerland. We now know we share Eastern European roots. His results, were he to have his DNA analyzed, would show at least 25 percent Eastern European Ancestry and probably the same from the British Isles.
I was a little disappointed that there was no Native American ancestry as I had heard occasional rumors of that possibility. But there is 3 percent of my DNA that is labeled "uncertain," so perhaps that is still possible.
As part of the report I was given the names of other family trees on ancestry that contain, with 95 percent certainty, some of my distant cousins. Now I will decide whether or not to reach out to any of them. Perhaps they will be able to provide more clues to solve the remaining family mysteries.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
DNA
I took advantage of a special offer by ancestry.com and am having my DNA analyzed. Here's the kit that they sent me to collect a sample of saliva.
It's a simple procedure. You just collect a small sample of saliva, seal the sample up in a special bag and enclose it in the pre-addressed and stampled padded envelope.
I've already received notice that they received my sample and will send me my results via email in 4 to 6 weeks.
So what can I expect to learn? First, I will learn the various ethnicities that make up my ancestral history. While I already have a pretty good idea of who my ancestors were and the countries they came from, there may be some surprises - perhaps I'll find that rumored but unknown Native American ancestor. Or I might find that some ancestors came from Eastern Europe before they made their way to the British Isles or Germany.
I'll also be directed to potential ancestors on other ancestry.com family trees who share some of my DNA patterns.
I don't really expect any surprises, but I'm anxious to see the results nonetheless. It's just one more clue to solving the family mystery.
It's a simple procedure. You just collect a small sample of saliva, seal the sample up in a special bag and enclose it in the pre-addressed and stampled padded envelope.
I've already received notice that they received my sample and will send me my results via email in 4 to 6 weeks.
So what can I expect to learn? First, I will learn the various ethnicities that make up my ancestral history. While I already have a pretty good idea of who my ancestors were and the countries they came from, there may be some surprises - perhaps I'll find that rumored but unknown Native American ancestor. Or I might find that some ancestors came from Eastern Europe before they made their way to the British Isles or Germany.
I'll also be directed to potential ancestors on other ancestry.com family trees who share some of my DNA patterns.
I don't really expect any surprises, but I'm anxious to see the results nonetheless. It's just one more clue to solving the family mystery.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Book is Finished
A few days after we returned from Ireland, the completed family history books were delivered.
After nearly two years of research and writing, it was gratifying to see the finished product.
The book contains several sections, including sections on the ancestors and descendants of Anton Eterovich (Terich) and Madalena Yeseta, my husband's grandparents. It also includes sections on their brothers and sisters, and their descendants, complete with pictures. There is a section on the history of the island of Brac as well as a section on the history of Bohemia, the two places from which the ancestors came. There is also a section on Croatian immigration and a description of Los Angeles in 1910, when most of the Croatian ancestors arrived. In the center of the book are 9 pages of wedding photos spanning a century. Finally, there is a large section on Croatian recipes.
After receiving the books, I prepared them for mailing. Earlier, I had recieved checks from the relatives for the book and postage. Nearly 40 relatives asked to have the book mailed, so on a Saturday, my husband and I carted 4 boxes of books in padded envelopes into the local Post Office. Since then, I have heard from a number of relatives who are thrilled with the book.
I have also personally delivered a few of the books and my husband and I will be going to a book signing party this Sunday. I'm really looking forward to that.
In future posts I will outline how I went about researching, writing and designing the book, for any of you who might be interested in writing a book of your own.
After nearly two years of research and writing, it was gratifying to see the finished product.
The book contains several sections, including sections on the ancestors and descendants of Anton Eterovich (Terich) and Madalena Yeseta, my husband's grandparents. It also includes sections on their brothers and sisters, and their descendants, complete with pictures. There is a section on the history of the island of Brac as well as a section on the history of Bohemia, the two places from which the ancestors came. There is also a section on Croatian immigration and a description of Los Angeles in 1910, when most of the Croatian ancestors arrived. In the center of the book are 9 pages of wedding photos spanning a century. Finally, there is a large section on Croatian recipes.
After receiving the books, I prepared them for mailing. Earlier, I had recieved checks from the relatives for the book and postage. Nearly 40 relatives asked to have the book mailed, so on a Saturday, my husband and I carted 4 boxes of books in padded envelopes into the local Post Office. Since then, I have heard from a number of relatives who are thrilled with the book.
I have also personally delivered a few of the books and my husband and I will be going to a book signing party this Sunday. I'm really looking forward to that.
In future posts I will outline how I went about researching, writing and designing the book, for any of you who might be interested in writing a book of your own.
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