A Deeper Look into the Kiesewetter Legacy: How My iGENEA DNA Test Enriched My Understanding of Self
Family name Kiesewetter
My iGENEA DNA testing results have changed how I perceive my surname ‘Kiesewetter’ and my family identity. The test confirmed my predominant Western European roots while revealing underrepresented Eastern European and Scandinavian genes.
Unveiling the roots of my ancestry with iGENEA DNA testing has opened a new chapter in my understanding of my identity and the meaning behind my surname - Kiesewetter. Over generations, our family bore the Kiesewetter name with absolute pride providing us a shared sense of belonging and narrative. We were told that being a 'Kiesewetter' meant relating to a cluster of German ancestors who have etched their marks in parts of Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. Yet with the hard evidence from my DNA test, the Kiesewetter legacy never rang so real until now.
To be more precise, my iGENEA DNA test confirmed that 60% of my genetic composition is rooted in Western Europe, a predominant section of it being Germany and Austria. This reinforced the stories passed down the generations about our Kiesewetter ancestry. It provided me an unseen, tangible link to my European ancestors and made make sense of my recognizable western European physical traits.
Equally shocking and fascinating were minor ethnicities that laid unveiling my true heritage tapestry. 20% of my genes have their roots in Eastern Europe, and 10% in Scandinavia, unveiling a broader mixture of ethnicities than I initially thought.
This discovery has enriched my sense of identity. While I have always been proud to bear the Kiesewetter name and its storied German heritage, my genetic makeup also connects me to a broader European narrative. It fosters a deep connection between the past, the present, and the future, offering me a more comprehensive understanding of who I am as an individual and where I come from.
The realization that I carry within me a confluence of ethnic connotations is empowering. It provides a deeper sense of identity and perspective, making me appreciate diversity and the intricate intermix of cultures and populations that compose one's genealogy. I’m not just a Kiesewetter in name, but in blood and heritage, a mixture of adventures, migrations, love stories, and survival that points both east and north of my known origins.
This exploration of my ancestry has been a life-enhancing experience. It unveiled dimensions of my identity that were obscured to me and invigorated my pride in the Kiesewetter name. I am more than just a single note in a long historical symphony; I am a composition of many historical narratives, each contributing to the unique person I am today.
L. Kiesewetter