Discovering the Multi-Regional Roots of my Surname ‘Johnson’ through iGENEA DNA Analysis
Family name Johnson
Unraveling my DNA puzzle with iGENEA has been a profound journey into the depths of my surname's “Johnson” origin and history. The DNA analysis offered surprising revelations, ranging from Scandinavian to Jewish Ashkenazi and Eastern European roots, reshaping my understanding of my family name and its global footprint.
Taking a journey through the steps of my DNA exploration, as unveiled by iGENEA, turned out to be quite fascinating. The exploration began with a prick of my skin, an eager span of patience, and heaps of uncontainable curiosity. Upon receiving my DNA results, a big revelation was in waiting - unearthing the age-old mystery of my family surname "Johnson".
Initially, I believed that Johnson, owing to its predominant prevalence in Britain, stemmed solely from my British ancestors. I was accustomed to the notion that the name was an offspring of patronymic tradition where "Johnson" meant "son of John". With more than two billion people sharing this surname globally, it was hard to fathom any other origins. Yet, iGENEA's insightful analysis suggested otherwise, expanding not only my horizon but also my pride in my lineage.
What surprised me was the multi-regional origins signposted in my DNA profile. Evidence of Scandinavian roots in my genealogy highlighted the possible presence of Viking blood in my heritage. Scandinavian names in the ninth century often ended with 'son', hinting at the potential root of "Johnson".
My DNA analysis also indicated traces of Jewish Ashkenazi lineage. This hinted to an overlooked possibility of Jewish origins aligning itself with my surname “Johnson”. In Jewish communities, the name Johnson could have derived from "son of Johan", with Johan being a Jewish forename.
The Ashkenazi community, shadowed by the horrors of the Holocaust, saw an increase in name changes in a bid to escape persecution. This made me realize the heavier historical significance and resilience embedded in the roots of my surname.
Further elements in my DNA chart pointed towards Eastern Europe, specifically in areas of present-day Ukraine and Poland. This was a revelation that I was ill-prepared for, as Eastern Europe was a region I never thought would surface in the course of tracing back my surname's history.
Also noteworthy was the African connection in my DNA analysis where Johnson is a commonly found surname, predominantly among African-Americans, attributing back to the years of slavery. This fact surfaced harsh realities but also a sense of immense perseverance and strength that resonates within the history of my surname.
In embodied summation, iGENEA's DNA analysis experience was a history lesson, a geography class and a mirror into my anointed identity. It unwrapped the layers of geography and time, threaded into my surname, and forced me to consider my extended family spread across continents and cultures. It deepened the scope of "Johnson", beyond a common surname, molding it into a symbol of survival, resilience, and pride.
W. Johnson