Both sets of grandparents immigrated to the US. I thought from Germany but now I think it was from Austria. We’re not sure. There are no family records and anyone who knows for sure is long gone. We have fragments of stories that vary.
One story involves a beer baron mysteriously impregnating a great-grandmother. (There is nothing mysterious about the act itself. We all know how it works.) Could Baron Heineken have grabbed a heiny that belonged to an ancestor?
There is the story about a grandfather being a troubadour in Germany. He would come down with his squeezebox and play the festivals all summer. Music talent?
We are mostly fair (as in lily white) to medium (a deeper lily white) in skin tone with blonde, red and brunette hair color. I have a cousin with natural platinum blonde hair. Perhaps a Norse warrior in there too? Those conquerors got around. Big time!
I’ve always had a natural curiosity about my ancestors. All of them. There was so much invading and pillaging going on that I could be anything. When I mentioned Genghis Khan as an ancestor, my brother wasn’t having it. I wasn’t thwarted though. There are enough other invaders who could have “corrupted” the gene pool. The Celtics, Romans, Huns, Goths, Franks and Magyars just to name a few.
I have an interest in getting a DNA test. There is no valid reason other than curiosity. It’s a start. After that I can start shaking the family tree and see what monkeys fall out.
With this in mind, I researched the tests. There is one that will tell me how much Neanderthal I have. Not sure I need that. I am very good at telling people they are Neanderthals. I can spot it a mile away! Knuckles dragging on the ground. Weird thought process. No test required.
Other tests give you medical data. Not sure I need that either. I’m past the age where it matters. Gotta die of something!
It’s the ethnicity I’m curious about. Austria is in the Alps and land locked. Could I really come from there? I’m a beach person and hills tire me out.
It’s beautiful. Looks a lot like the “Sound of Music” movie with the beautiful rolling fields full of lush greenery that they skip through to freedom. (Yes, I hummed the tunes while researching. It’s in my DNA! I’m not apologizing.)
And there are Viennese pastries too!
So far my fantasies involve being an heiress to a beer dynasty or singing in a rock band. I just have to keep my knuckles off the ground!
If you take the DNA Test . . . I hope you “pass” with flying colors!
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It’s hard to flunk a DNA test. Then again…I may have to keep it secret!
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What if you find you’re related to Trump? That would be an Epic Fail!
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I want to say it’s unlikely but there are surprises, good and bad!
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Gomer Pyle had it right . . . “Surprise. Surprise. Surprise.” 🙂
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I think this will keep bugging you until you do something to find out😊
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I think you’re right. Looks like most commenters went with Ancestry.com. What the heck. How bad could it be? Maybe a cat in my lineage. That would explain a lot.
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My brother did Ancestry for us and while he didn’t find anything relating to a change in our heritage, he did find some pretty interesting stuff.
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Thanks for the suggestion. We’ll see what comes out.
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Dear Kate Von Trapp…I can see you on that same mountain swirling and twirling just like Maria. As far as those tests go…I’m a bit of a mutt and know too much already, however…you could be a member of royal blood…the cats would surely love that, don’t you think? 🙂
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I think we are all mutts. When you read those historical books with the crusades and wars there were invaders all over. They were probably boinking all over the place.
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LOVE the term boinking. Says it all…:)
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I’ve spent many hours and hundreds of hours tracking my family on Ancestry.com . You may be surprised by how much you can discover if you start looking! Most recently I discovered that I’ve driven past my great grandmothers house several times when I’ve visited London. She’s been gone for decades, but the house is still there.
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Wow! That is cool. The house (in America) that my grandmother lived in is across the street from my niece’s home. It’s out of the family now but was for sale a couple years ago. I was able to go on-line and look at the pictures to see what upgrades they made. Looked really nice.
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Oh, now you have me curious. Definitely get the ancestry testing done, Kate. I want to read more!
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I will. Just have to decide who to go with.
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Corrupted? As a descendent of all that is Celtic, I’m sure you meant to say that the Celts enhanced your gene pool. 😁
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Yes indeed! I meant enhanced! In their own way, they all “enhance” to make us who we are. My cousin married someone of Hungarian descent and I swear he looks like Magyars that are pictured.
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You have me singing the song now! 🙂
I know I come from a Swiss/German background. At least that is what I been told. Who knows what surprises there may be. 🙂
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You never know!
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I would have mine tested, but afraid it might come back part dog, wolf maybe. Seriously though, I would love to research my line. Unfortunately there seems to be a heavy amount of procrastination in my lineage.
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I’ve been talking about doing this for years so we may be related!
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Hilarious! I love the part about you keeping your knuckles off the ground….and your fantasy ancestors. 😄
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My real fantasy ancestors include kindly farmers with my grandmother wearing an apron over her floral dress with sturdy black tie shoes baking cookies for her favorite granddaughter!
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Oh, how odd! I had just heard of this test because an old friend and her mother just did it and are waiting for the results. Sounds fascinating! 🙂
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It can be! Depends what you find!
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Recently, a woman I know found out she had a sister when she started to research her ancestry. I’m with you, I don’t need to know the information. I’ll be curious to see what you decide, Kate.
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I doubt if that will happen to me but you never know. I’m mostly curious about where my family came from.
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We have enjoyed Ancestry for both the DNA testing and research. The online data now available and the way linkages are suggested with other people possibly researching a distant family line has been rewarding. We’ve connected to family members who are very distant cousins but they help fill in information. Don’t start unless you are sure…it’s addicting!
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Thanks! I was hoping to hear from some who have done it and who they used. My family had mixed reactions to my announcement but I’m sure they’ll want to know the results.
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Sounds like you are red for Ancestry.com’s DNA test Kate!!
My family has come from the same 20 mile radius in Scotland dating back to the 1700’s. There is no wondering … and that feels good!
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Wow! Those are real roots! My grandparents immigrated in the 1890s. Before then I have no idea. I’m not even sure why they ended up in Pennsylvania. Maybe they had other friends or relatives here.
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Oh, I hope you do a test! Always fun to see the surprises that were left off the family tree.
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If I’m lucky, it’ll be good for a post or two!
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Definitely do not apologize! I have a sister who took a DNA test last year, and wants me to do the same. Her report showed some lines into northern Africa, which we both found fascinating. I’m waiting for her to do all the work in showing me how to get it done, and then I’ll follow suit. 🙂 – Marty
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I am your sister. No one in my family has done it (or will admit it). Which company did she go with?
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Oh, I’d have to ask her. And it’s not that I don’t want to know, but if I do she’ll spring into action too quickly for me. Once this comes up, I’ll definitely let you know, Sis.
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I did the Ancestry DNA test. Cost was about 80ish $$$. I am so pleased I did. Not only did it prove that I am part (ok a small part) Italian, but I have learned about cousins all over the world! How fascinating, my own mystery, my own story, unfolding. I still need to follow through with the genealogy part of this. Make my own tree, etc. and I have been lazy and not done it yet, but doing the test was my start.
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I didn’t know you did it. So funny, you don’t look Italian!
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I have a few friends who have had their DNA analysed with interesting results. I haven’t had it done, but it’s tempting (although, judging from my fair hair and skin, I don’t think I’d find anything too exotic).
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We may be related! Norse goddess maybe?
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I’ve heard good things about 23andme. I think they offer both ancestry and health.
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I know someone who used them an like it too.
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such tests are interesting and surprising ;o) and maybe you are related with a beer baron and there is fat check waiting for you somewhere between grossglockner and zugspitze?
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That would be nice!
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