Finding Identity and Ancestry in My Name: A Journey Sparked by My iGENEA DNA Test
Family name Gunn
When you think of personal identity, the first things that come to mind are your name, your experiences and the culture you grew up in. But what about the part of your identity that is tied to your genetics? What if your last name held secrets to your ancestral lineage? My iGENEA DNA test and the exploration of my surname 'Gunn' influenced my view of identity and heritage in surprising ways.
My exploration journey into personal identity sparked with the results of my iGENEA DNA test and took an intriguing turn when I delved into the history and heritage of my surname - Gunn. While there always was a sense of curiosity about my roots and lineage, it was the DNA test that truly broke the surface of my understanding of identity.
Prior to the test, my sense of identity was heavily tied to my immediate family and contemporary culture. I saw myself in parts - some aspects of my personality were clear reflections of my parents, while others were reflections of the environment I grew up in. My heritage felt like a sturdy but uninteresting backdrop to my life.
The iGENEA DNA test, however, revealed layers to my heritage that were unbeknownst to me. Tracing my lineage through my DNA sparked a fascination with my ancestry and triggered a regard for myself as a part of this intricate jigsaw puzzle of history.
The dna test traced my lineage back to the Clan Gunn, a renowned Scottish clan of the Viking era. Its tales of bravery, intellect, resilience and leadership resonated with me and cast an exhilarating splash of colors on the relatively monochromatic canvas of my current cultural milieu. It was astounding to realise how deeply rooted I was in history.
Reflecting on the meaning of the surname Gunn, I realized my identity reaches far beyond what I perceive. The surname was more than a tag. It was a link to my ancestors, to their courage, their foundations, and their values, many of which I seemed to have unconsciously inherited. It goes beyond saying that my understanding of personal identity has been profoundly altered. I now view it as a blend of past and present, genetics and environment, more enriched and complex than I had ever imagined.
In conclusion, my iGENEA DNA test has not only given me a broader perspective on my personal heritage but has also instilled a greater sense of consciousness about my roots. Today, I hold my surname ‘Gunn’ with pride and appreciate the rich visa of heritage that it comes with.
S. Gunn