Strengthening Family Bonds and Rediscovering History:The Personal Influence of my iGENEA DNA Test
Family name Coats
Attributing significance to one's surname can be a deeply personal endeavor. Armed with saliva and an envelope, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery with iGENEA to trace the origins of my surname 'Coats,' yielding results that served to strengthen family bonds and instill a newfound interest in my lineage and history.
When I swabbed the inside of my cheek and packed the sample into the envelope provided by iGENEA, I felt a thrill of anticipation. As someone bearing the surname 'Coats,' I was keen to uncover the layers of my ancestry and to better understand how my genealogy fits into the global human story.
The results outlined by iGENEA provided a wealth of information, sparking illuminating discussions with older relatives and heightening my sense of belonging. Notably, my DNA results indicated a substantial genetic mixture, predominantly from Northwestern European lines. This was an unexpected but pleasant discovery. I always assumed our family name, Coats, had solid Anglo-Saxon roots. Instead, we appear more cosmopolitan, our bloodline a tapestry of diverse threads drawn from across Europe.
Getting my genetic fingerprint has rendered a newfound respect and curiosity for the surname I carry. One of the historical figures with the surname Coats was James Coats, a pioneer in thread manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. Given my deep-rooted interest in history, this connection has personal significance.
Indeed, the surname Coats previously felt commonplace and devoid of intrigue. Post-DNA test, it's as if I'm part of an exciting, centuries-old mystery novel peopled, perhaps, with great merchants, fearless wanderers, or even rogue Vikings!
Moreover, the iGENEA DNA test sparked interest in my wider family, stimulating countless conversations and bonding opportunities. What was once an abstract interest in our roots has grown deeper and more personal. The sense of collective identity has strengthened.
Of course, the iGENEA DNA test isn't a comprehensive encyclopedia of our family's past. It doesn't negate familial stories passed down through generations, nor does it pin down our history to exact dates and people. Nevertheless, it provides an intriguing foundation and serves as a springboard for further exploration.
Overall, iGENEA has widened my view of the surname 'Coats' and strengthened my sense of familial pride. It's a stirring reminder that we're all part of something bigger, a continuously intertwining mass of human history.
D. Coats