DNA test to show family origins

[pwa]

Can't see why of any interest. As my memory pretty much confirms what i was told I assume I know where my parents and grandparents originated and that's enough for me.
Apart from two children and two nieces I have no other relatives known to me. Fine!
But then I don't know when my father died nor where he is buried, suits me.

It is a personal thing. I actually find people's lineage quite interesting. When I meet people with unusual surnames that sound a bit exotic, I always wonder where they originate, but you have to know someone well enough before you ask questions like that.

[Vorpal]

Yes my wife did one. Due to her dark skin colour and looks we were expecting some kind of exotic result to 'give us a clue'. English / Norwegian was the major result so no clearer to unravelling the mystery not even a hint. The family tree actually provided more clues but it wasn't represented in any way in the DNA result.

Vikings were very diverse, and many Vikings and mercenaries with origins from all around the Vikings' trading range settled in Norway. Also, traders form other countries came to Norway and settled there, and a a few ship wrecks contributed to the diversity. Despite the image of blonde hair & blue eyes, more Norwegians are brown haired & brown eyed, and many have darker skin than we think of Northern Europeans having. People who can trace their ancestry in Norway back centuries may have an appearance that you would more associate with the Mediterranean, or even further away.

[thirdcrank]

Vikings were very diverse,

Interesting to hear.

I thought they were the original chauvinist pigs

[ossie]

Yes my wife did one. Due to her dark skin colour and looks we were expecting some kind of exotic result to 'give us a clue'. English / Norwegian was the major result so no clearer to unravelling the mystery not even a hint. The family tree actually provided more clues but it wasn't represented in any way in the DNA result.

Vikings were very diverse, and many Vikings and mercenaries with origins from all around the Vikings' trading range settled in Norway. Also, traders form other countries came to Norway and settled there, and a a few ship wrecks contributed to the diversity. Despite the image of blonde hair & blue eyes, more Norwegians are brown haired & brown eyed, and many have darker skin than we think of Northern Europeans having. People who can trace their ancestry in Norway back centuries may have an appearance that you would more associate with the Mediterranean, or even further away.

Thanks , it was mentioned further up the thread, fascinating and may be the clue she was after. My wifes sister also did one of these tests and Norway / Scandinavia also featured . I would describe their appearance as Mediterranean as is their brother, indeed the fathers side of the family . The 'Norwegian' link has since been a bit of a joke in the house but it appears there might be something in it !

[thirdcrank]

Quite a lot of countries have spread their people around the globe, "We British" being a good example and not only did we spread British natives but we spread "natives" from other countries as well. It's hardly surprising that others like Vikings sailing up and down raping and pillaging did the same, albeit on a smaller scale.

[Jdsk]

I'd be interested to know what percentage of Neanderthal is in my DNA

I don't know if any of the commercial providers yet give a score! Anyone?

But at the same time as us discovering that we carry Neanderthal DNA we've discovered that the stereotypes were wrong. : - )

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

When I meet people with unusual surnames that sound a bit exotic, I always wonder where they originate, but you have to know someone well enough before you ask questions like that.

Me too. I often ask.

Jonathan

[thirdcrank]

I suppose they can now be asked for their DNA profile to prove they aren't imposters

[Vorpal]

Thanks , it was mentioned further up the thread, fascinating and may be the clue she was after. My wifes sister also did one of these tests and Norway / Scandinavia also featured . I would describe their appearance as Mediterranean as is their brother, indeed the fathers side of the family . The 'Norwegian' link has since been a bit of a joke in the house but it appears there might be something in it !

Jdsk said 'early'. I wasn't quite sure what he meant, but the early, dark skinned hunters gathers were around 7000 and more years ago. The Vikings were 8th -11th centuries, roughly.

Swedes and Finns tend to be fairer than Norwegians and Danes. There's a kind of joke here that Norwegians bleach their hair blonde and Swedes dye theirs brown, and both are trying to be more exotic.

Interestingly, there are a couple of towns in Norway that were, for many years quite remote, where the population looked (and still somewhat do) Spanish. The reason for this was a couple of Spanish Armada ships wrecked there in the 16th century.

[fastpedaller]

I'd be interested to know what percentage of Neanderthal is in my DNA

I don't know if any of the commercial providers yet give a score! Anyone?

But at the same time as us discovering that we carry Neanderthal DNA we've discovered that the stereotypes were wrong. : - )

Jonathan

Is that part of a wheel from a Neaderthal bicycle?

[pwa]

I'd be interested to know what percentage of Neanderthal is in my DNA

I don't know if any of the commercial providers yet give a score! Anyone?

But at the same time as us discovering that we carry Neanderthal DNA we've discovered that the stereotypes were wrong. : - )

Jonathan

Is that part of a wheel from a Neaderthal bicycle?

A very early example of crank arm failure. If you think aluminium can let you down, you should have been around when bone was the thing!