Unraveling My Potier Ancestral Roots: iGENEA DNA Test Sheds Light on My Hidden History
Family name Potier
The DNA test at iGENEA took me on an unexpected journey deep into the roots of my French ancestry, revealing surprising connections, stitching together untold stories of hardworking artisans and indigenous communities, and making me reassess my identity profoundly.
I’d always known my family had French ancestry, courtesy of the Potier bloodline. However, the extent of insight I acquired through the DNA test at iGENEA was unprecedented and intriguing. The DNA test unlocked new realms of knowledge about my family's origins, reigniting a flame of curiosity about my ancestry that continues to burn brightly.
The Potier lineage of my family stretched back to the Middle Ages' arts and crafts sector, evident in the very name 'Potier,' meaning 'Potter' in French. As much as I was fascinated by these untold stories of hardworking artisans, the most unexpected discovery was my ancestral roots tying me to the indigenous people in Canada. My Potier ancestors were European migrants with roots embedded deep in French Canada, prominently in the Quebec region. In making Canada their residence, they got woven into the societal fabric, marrying into the local Metis community and sharing a life.
This hidden piece of history made me understand the inherent diversity that collected in my genes, along with a sense of respect for my ancestors' adaptability and open-mindedness. I felt a profound appreciation for the cultural richness they welcomed and the diverse legacy passed down through generations. It was an emotional journey, reassessing my identity through these newfound connections.
Funnily enough, the DNA test also led me to acknowledge a vast, spread-out family that I had no prior knowledge of. I found distant cousins, aunts, uncles, exponentially larger than the small family I thought I had. This discovery was surprising and heartwarming, filled with instances of shared jobs, hobbies, and even family features that provided an unmistakable feeling of belonging.
The DNA test at iGENEA did more than give me historical data; it bridged the gap between my present and past while redefining my self-perception. It turned my focus inward to survey my own diversity and outward to connect with a larger family. My new understanding came with an inherent sense of pride and belonging that has forever changed the way I see myself.
R. Potier