I Am Not Who I Thought I Was!
@DeborahDiane (40052)
Laguna Woods, California
January 21, 2018 7:10pm CST
For Christmas, my husband and I bought ourselves DNA testing from Ancestry.com. Yesterday, we received our results, and they were not quite what I expected.
I was always told that my father was French-German. My mother believed she was mostly German, too, although she did not know her father, who died when she was an infant. When I was a young child, we lived in the German district of St. Louis.
When I received my Ancestry.com results, however, I discovered that my DNA shows 51% Great Britain, 25% German, 8% from Ireland/Scotland and 5% from Scandinavia. In addition to the above, among the small traces of DNA I had was some from Southern Italy, Eastern Europe, and European Jews.
As you can see, there was absolutely no DNA from France. I'm sure that is going to surprise my father when I share the results with him!
Guess my father is not quite who he thought he was, either! 
23 people like this
22 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Jan 18
I say I am Irish for the most part, although my grandfather claimed some blackfoot Indian. I am green eyed, freckles and love my taters! 
I have never cared because I am who I am and that cannot change.
I have never cared because I am who I am and that cannot change.8 people like this
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
22 Jan 18
@NJChicaa Huh, did not know that but me poor and probably gave up so much info and rights along time ago. I am with you that though on principle. I hate how intrusive these companies are becoming. Government, always worried about corporate America more than the government these days, but at the same time we know corporations run the government.
4 people like this
@NJChicaa (115972)
• United States
22 Jan 18
I agree. I am, IMO, what my family culture has been and that has been mostly Italian with some Swedish. As someone with a degree in biology, I would find it fascinating to know what my actual DNA results are but I wouldn't ever give up my information or permanent rights to a private company to get that information. I can live without it.
6 people like this
@NJChicaa (115972)
• United States
22 Jan 18
@crossbones27 read the article that I linked below.
5 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Jan 18
They can and will be used against you in a court of law.
4 people like this
@NJChicaa (115972)
• United States
22 Jan 18
@andriaperry Yup AND against family members as well! Imagine that. Some idiot family member does one of these stupid tests and the DNA evidence is used against YOU. 
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@NJChicaa - Asking them to destroy our DNA is a good idea. We did decide not to participate in the advanced program, which would have traced other genetic information, such as our risk of certain illnesses. We thought that was more information than anyone needed to know. Thanks for linking this article for me.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
These tests seem to be very accurate. It was interesting to me to get the results, since I did no know one of my grandfathers, and no one in my family knew much about him.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37716)
• Philippines
22 Jan 18
That's interesting to know. Are they really accurate? I think it's fun to try that DNA testing
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
22 Jan 18
Hard to fake DNA, imagine it is very accurate unless they mixed up the tests, which from what I heard is very rare.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@averygirl72 - ABC News tested the companies that test DNA. They sent a bunch of samples to the sites, but changed the names of the people so their names sounded ethnic, such as Hernandez and Chang. However, when the DNA came back from a variety of sites, they all got the same results and they did not seem to be affected by the ethnic sounding names. It sounds like they are pretty accurate.
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@crossbones27 - Yes, it seems very accurate. Nothing in our DNA seemed completely wrong ... like listing me as having Asian or African DNA. If there were any errors, they were subtle.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134393)
• Roseburg, Oregon
24 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane My Mother's side came over on the Mayflower.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jan 18
@jstory07 - That is cool. Your family must have a pretty clear idea about their ancestry.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@just4him - No, it doesn't really change who I am. I was just surprised not to find any DNA from France and to find, instead, some Scandinavian, Irish, Italian and Jewish DNA. However, the British and German DNA, of which I had the most, matches exactly what my family members have always told me. I found the test very interesting!
1 person likes this
@just4him (305896)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane I'm sure it was interesting. I wonder what mine would show. Hmm.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305896)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane So, it was good to find out some history through your DNA at least.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
22 Jan 18
DNA is a funny thing. Your dad could be French and you just didn't get the genes. Your father needs to take the test too. You should also take the raw DNA data and put it on others such as DNA Land, My Heritage and GEDMATCH for a more complete DNA result.
I was surprised to find I have some Jewish in me and not a drop of the Native American I was supposed to find. Mostly though I'm Irish, Welsh, and Scottish.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@irishidid - You are right. My Dad could have some French DNA and it didn't pass to me. I would love to get my Dad to do the test, while he is still alive (he is 89). It would be interesting to see his DNA, too. That is a good idea to also do the test with other companies. My husband was surprised to discover that he does have Native American DNA, although he has no idea where it came from.
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jan 18
@PriscillaKing - Humans can be very egotistical, although in my experience, no one really has a reason to be conceited about the "purity" of their background. Few of us are actually all that "pure."
1 person likes this
@PriscillaKing (53)
• Gate City, Virginia
23 Jan 18
Yes, there was a time when it was safer to identify dark complexions with (long gone) hypothetical Native American ancestors than admit having (equally long gone) African or Jewish ancestors. Blearrggghhh, humans.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
22 Jan 18
I find that neat, sounds like you are about to shock your family. Neat to find out where we came from. I would so do that if had any money.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@crossbones27 - We enjoyed doing it. I know that NJChicaa thinks there are risks involved, but we were willing to take them. We did not decide to participate in the advanced research, which could have involved more DNA samples, however.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@NJChicaa - I read the article. It has some very interesting facts to consider.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
22 Jan 18
I've been told I'm Scotch/Irish on my dad's side and mostly British on my mom's side. But I don't really know. I am content not knowing, since I have no children that will be looking into their family tree. My nephew is the only one who appears at all interested in that. Knowing where I came from isn't going to change who I am or what I think. I admit knowing would be interesting, but I don't care enough to spend the money.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
23 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane I know too much about one of them and not so much about the one I've only met twice as a child.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
25 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane I'm glad you were able to get some information. I can certainly understand why you wanted to get that DNA report. It's important to learn as much as one can about one's family medical history, if nothing else.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@bagarad - You are right that it doesn't really change who we are. However, it was interesting, especially since I know virtually nothing about one of my grandfathers.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
22 Jan 18
Now, it would be interesting to know how reliable and accurate those online DNA tests are. For what I have read, not really reliable. Researchers have asked to research twins, triplets and quadruplets (using fake names). Guess what? They were told they had different ancestors.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
23 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane I know how serious is a DNA test performed by a laboratory and how much it costs to have reliable results. Should I decide to check my ancestors I would go directly to a Swiss laboratory.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@LadyDuck - That is interesting, because here in the United States, ABC News also sent in DNA from twins, and even faked the names so they were different and sounded ethnic, and the DNA came out virtually identical. They did this with the two major DNA testers here in the US ... Ancestry.com and 23andMe. They said it was normal to have slight differences in the DNA of siblings who are not identical, because they could get different amounts of DNA from each of their parents ... one having more from the father and the other having more from the mother. I thought that was interesting, but they pointed out that is how they know specifically which member of a family may have committed a crime.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jan 18
@LadyDuck - That would be a good idea. The more reliable your results, the more confidence you will have in them.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
26 Jan 18
My mother has been tracing our roots over the last few years and has written a book for the family. It is really interesting reading, looking at the old pictures and reading about their lives and families. I always just say we are Heinz 57's, since we are such a big mix of everything.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Jan 18
I think that today the vast majority if people are a mix. I'm sure that book is very fascinating.
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
1 Feb 18
I tried this recently myself, because I was born in Scotland and then adopted in England and therefore have had little idea about where I came from. According to Ancestry I am 34% Western Europe, 32% Scottish, 16% Great Britain and 11% Scandinavia. However, I'm not sure what they mean by Great Britain, given that that includes Scotland anyway!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Feb 18
Yes, I wondered about the same thing. I had Great Britain, Ireland and Scotland and my DNA. That is a bit confusing. Sounds like our DNA is similar. We could be distantly related!!
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
23 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane If you were truly British then you would spend your time moaning about how much the wedding will cost the taxpayer 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jan 18
@WorDazza - Ha ha! Yes, you are probably right. Here in the US, we complain about how much it costs to provide all that security for our President and his large extended family, who are constantly on vacations somewhere. So, if I lived in Great Britain, I'm sure I would be moaning about the cost of the royal wedding! LOL
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@WorDazza - Ha ha! Since almost everyone in the US has DNA from someplace else, having DNA from Great Britain only increases my fondness for your country. Now, I can enjoy following events like the upcoming Royal wedding with even more interest! LOL
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jan 18
@JudyEv - It was fun to discover. I actually have such curly hair that I would not have been surprised to discover a little African DNA somewhere along the line, but none showed up. I was very surprised by the Scandinavian DNA.
1 person likes this
@cttolledo (5460)
• Legaspi, Philippines
24 Jan 18
Very interesting, your father will surely amaze by that result.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jan 18
Yes, I think my father will be very surprised!
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18925)
• United States
26 Jan 18
cool. I would love to do that, but haven't got around to doing it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Jan 18
I thought the results were fascinating!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Jan 18
Yes, it is very interesting to look back at our roots.
1 person likes this
@LindaCPearson (2241)
• United States
24 Jan 18
Interesting but I would not take the results of only one DNA testing before settling on my ancestry.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jan 18
@LindaCPearson - You make a good point. The DNA test was close enough to my family's history that it sounds realistic. However, I like the idea of following it up with a test from another company, too. Perhaps the next time one of the other companies has a big sale, I will do it again!
1 person likes this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 Jan 18
Very intriguing. I didn't know you can do that. I just checked this out and even though the test is simple I am scared to send a sample of my DNA anywhere. Next thing you know it ended up in a crime scene. But I am curious of my ancestry...or what the test say about it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jan 18
I can understand why anyone would be curious about their ancestors. It was fascinating to me!
@PriscillaKing (53)
• Gate City, Virginia
23 Jan 18
Anyone whose ancestors have been in the U.S. very long is likely to discover a wild mixture of DNA. Actually I'm aware of some fairly mad mixture even in Britain--before discovering DNA they counted people as being "pure" anything by tracing the male line of ancestry, which wasn't always accurately recorded...
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40052)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jan 18
@PriscillaKing - I think your are absolutely right. I'm sure that virtually everyone has a mad mixture in their bloodlines, unless they come from a very remote area with a centuries of intermarriage! LOL The tests are interesting, though.
1 person likes this
