Ancestry Stuff

Anybody do any of that DNA ancestry testing stuff. I'm thinking about it. I already know a ton about my family, on my dad's side anyway. Going back to before the Revolutionary War. Mostly German English-Irish Scottish ancestry. Two grandfathers and an uncle that I know of fought in the Civil War. My mother's side of the family I know almost nothing about except they are partly German.

What do these tests tell you. If you had it done did you think it was worth the cost. Were there any surprises. I was just reading that there are more people in the United States today of Irish descent then there are people living in Ireland. So that has to come back in a lot of people's DNA results. It sounds like something that you paid money for, wait for the results, and then say what did I need any of this information for. Boring.

Quote: EvenBob

Anybody do any of that DNA ancestry testing stuff. I'm thinking about it. I already know a ton about my family, on my dad's side anyway. Going back to before the Revolutionary War. Mostly German English-Irish Scottish ancestry. Two grandfathers and an uncle that I know of fought in the Civil War. My mother's side of the family I know almost nothing about except they are partly German.

What do these tests tell you. If you had it done did you think it was worth the cost. Were there any surprises. I was just reading that there are more people in the United States today of Irish descent then there are people living in Ireland. So that has to come back in a lot of people's DNA results. It sounds like something that you paid money for, wait for the results, and then say what did I need any of this information for. Boring.

Obviously the test tells you your general ancestry. It’s $60 and takes a second to spit in a vial. Don’t overthink this

Quote: EvenBob

<snip>Two grandfathers and an uncle that I know of fought in the Civil War.<snip>

The U.S. Civil War??? How old are you? ;-)

My great-great grandfather and his brother both served in an Illinois regiment. Since my family likes to play the odds, I also had ancestors fighting for the Confederacy.

Dog Hand

My results came back 99% chimp, but I also share 60% of my DNA with bananas.

My one grandfather fought the Germans in WW!, my other grandfather fought the British during the Irish rebellion at the same time.
Family dinners must have been fun. The one who fought for the British died soon after the war and my grandmother was left with six kids, so she married a widower who had eight kids, most of them grown. Her new husband, who died in the 1930s must have been pretty old as his only child they had together was almost thirty years younger than his oldest half-brother.
I've never done the ancestor thing. Don't need it as all of my family has lived in the same parish in Ireland since the days of Vikings.
There are tombstones on the family plot that have disintegrated into an unreadable muddle. While on a trip there in the 1980s, I stopped in the local church to get a copy of my grandmother's birth certificate to apply for an Irish passport. They have paper records dating back to Christ's birth, or so it seems. It was pretty amazing.
Some people claim that the Irish saved civilization as the monasteries was able to save all the books that were destroyed elsewhere in Europe during the Dark Ages. Legend has it Chris Columbus scoured Ireland for ancient maps before taking his journeys west.
About twenty years ago, my Uncle was diagnosed with a medical condition they nickname The Viking Claw, as it supposedly only affects people of Scandanavian ancestry so I assume someone someplace inter-acted with some raiders.

Quote: Ace2

Obviously the test tells you your general ancestry. It’s $60 and takes a second to spit in a vial. Don’t overthink this

So it's a waste of time as I thought.

Quote: EvenBob

So it's a waste of time as I thought.

Turns out you were right after all. Again. It must get boring.

Quote: billryan

The Viking Claw, as it supposedly only affects people of Scandanavian ancestry so I assume someone someplace inter-acted with some raiders.

About 20 years ago I was diagnosed with the Viking Claw. The pinky finger and ring finger on my right hand started to contract and it gave the appearance of a claw.

I went to the VA doctor and I thought I had some rare condition. The doctor then gave me a pamphlet that described DUPUYTREN'S CONTRACTURE. (Rare condition? LOL)

The procedure to cure this was usually surgery. They had just approved a new drug that was injected into the hand. Since it was a new procedure, they asked if I was willing to try it. I agreed and the procedure was successful.

I am neither Irish or Scandinavian. My ancestors came from eastern Europe.

Quote: EvenBob

Anybody do any of that DNA ancestry testing stuff. I'm thinking about it. I already know a ton about my family, on my dad's side anyway. Going back to before the Revolutionary War. Mostly German English-Irish Scottish ancestry. Two grandfathers and an uncle that I know of fought in the Civil War. My mother's side of the family I know almost nothing about except they are partly German.

What do these tests tell you. If you had it done did you think it was worth the cost. Were there any surprises. I was just reading that there are more people in the United States today of Irish descent then there are people living in Ireland. So that has to come back in a lot of people's DNA results. It sounds like something that you paid money for, wait for the results, and then say what did I need any of this information for. Boring.

The one and only EB. Takes a rare talent to ask that many questions without a single question mark.

Quote: FatGeezus

About 20 years ago I was diagnosed with the Viking Claw. The pinky finger and ring finger on my right hand started to contract and it gave the appearance of a claw.

I went to the VA doctor and I thought I had some rare condition. The doctor then gave me a pamphlet that described DUPUYTREN'S CONTRACTURE. (Rare condition? LOL)

The procedure to cure this was usually surgery. They had just approved a new drug that was injected into the hand. Since it was a new procedure, they asked if I was willing to try it. I agreed and the procedure was successful.

I am neither Irish or Scandinavian. My ancestors came from eastern Europe.

Vikings settled from Scandinavia throughout Europe. Vikings ruled in Russia and Poland, as well as intermarrying with their Germainc cousins. One of my Jewish fraternity brothers was diagnosed with this years ago, before treatments were easily available and took an early retirement. A few years ago he got a DNA kit as a gift from his daughter and his predominantly eastern European ancestors had a splash of Norway in it.
I'm not sure it only affects people with that heritage, but it is most prominent in them.