Venturing into the exploration of one's genealogy through iGENEA can rewrite narratives and bring immense revelations about ancestry and self-identity
Family name Booth
As a Booth descendant, I had a firm acceptance of my British roots, envisaging that the Booths had been firmly planted in England for centuries. The iGENEA testing process allowed me to challenge these preconceptions, replacing them with a woven narrative of transitions and movements across continents. For instance, I found that my Booth ancestors migrated to the British Isles from Scandinavia during the Viking Ages. This unexpected revelation redefines my initial narrative, casting my ancestors not as sedentary farmers but as explorers, travelers and brave adventurers.
The DNA testing service of iGENEA also illuminated the socio-economic status of my ancestors. The Booth family, originally of Old Norse origins, was shown to be of the noble class during the medieval period. This new understanding of elevated social stature heightened my interest in historical events and societal norms of the time, inspiring me further to dig into the annals of the past.
A surprising turn, my DNA test linked my lineage again to Scandinavia, this time in the figure of the legendary Harald Fairhair, the first King of Norway. This sprouted more questions than it gave answers to, driving my intrigue into the saga of my ancestry further.
In the process, my sense of identity evolved from the boundaries of England to encompass the expanses of the northern seas, historical halls of maritime explorers, and the crowns of the Viking Kings. Revisting my identity, the DNA test at iGENEA allowed me to teeter between the pride and humility of my newfound ancestry. My undertakings revealed the value of understanding one's roots, and the profound influence it has over your comprehension of your place, your past, and inevitably, yourself.
Through my recent experience with iGENEA, I have discovered surprising and remarkable aspects of my ancestral lineage within the Booth family. This journey of self-discovery weaved an intricate story of global migration, shifting socio-economic landscapes, and unanticipated historical connections that go beyond the records of family history. My perception of self, heritage, and place within the world evolved as I delved deeper into my genetic history. This review shares the remarkable insights provided by the iGENEA DNA test and the effects it had on my understanding of my Booth ancestors and myself.
K. Booth