Rewriting History and Identity: Personal Insights Gained from My iGENEA DNA Test
Family name Bolte
Running my hands through the illuminating pages of my ancestral history, churned up by my exhaustive iGENEA DNA test results, evoke a sense of brilliant awakening. It highlighted the fact that the seemingly ordinary family name, 'Bolte', carries an extraordinary, rich, globally-relevant narrative intrinsically connected to my DNA make-up itself.
The iGENEA DNA test has facilitated a personal journey of historical exploration that stretched beyond the confines of a story bounded by the few generations of my family that are part of my conscious memory, to a much longer, more varied, and exciting past. It revealed a world where the surname Bolte transcends geographic boundaries, painting diverse pictures of people from different parts of the world that shares a connection through blood.
Before unveiling the DNA result, I harboured a mildly naive notion about the Bolte family tree – I considered it to be largely rooted within the confines of my country. However, the revelation burst my bubble and reiterated the reminder that the human race is essentially one: My DNA results seemed to say, "We are larger than nations, we are intrinsically global."
It was a pleasing surprise that my ancestry traces back to Northern Europe, apparently with strong connections to Scandinavia and Germany. The history of the Viking and Saxons, which were earlier mere stories read in school, are now wrapped in a whole new layer of personal significance. It is exhilarating to think of the possibility that renowned warriors and explorers of the past might share my bloodline.
What was name ‘Bolte’ for me has turned into more than just a tag that distinguishes me from others. It binds me to an ancient world, conveys a sense of belonging, and charts historical milestones. It now feels like an important part of my identity, closely knit with my genetic makeup.
This DNA test has also impacted the ways I see my immediate family. Our geographical location, language, and customs have provided us with a certain identity, but the DNA results have added a uniquely personal, yet universal tint to it.
Moving forward, armed with newfound knowledge of my deep-rooted past, I carry an added pride in my surname. It's not just a surname anymore, it's an integral part of my history, revealing a story that is global, transcending the present and the past, rooted in human migration, and exploration.
V. Bolte