Raymond Ancestry: Discovering a Mosaic of Cultural and Geographical Roots through iGENEA DNA test
Family name Raymond
Participating in the comprehensive iGENEA DNA test was enlightening, revealing some surprises surrounding my ancestry and the origins of my surname, Raymond. From expected European roots to surprising Jewish connections and relations to historical figures, unraveling the Raymond ancestry has been an exploration into an unexpectedly diverse cultural and geographical background.
A couple of months ago, I participated in the iGENEA DNA testing to search for my ancestry roots and learn more about my lineage. The simple process involved the collection of some of my genetic material, which was later analyzed to reveal a comprehensive view of my ancestry.
The initial analysis of my surname ‘Raymond’ offered some surprising revelations. Despite having believed my Raymond background was solely based around Europe, the iGENEA DNA test unveiled a far-reaching global connection. The reports indicated an imprint of the Raymond surname in many parts of the world, including parts of Asia, Africa, and South America.
The test further unveiled my haplogroup to be R1b, said to have its roots in Western Europe dating back to the upper Paleolithic period. It seems that my Raymond lineage primarily originates from the Celts - a collection of tribes with origins in central Europe. The Celts dominated Western Europe for a thousand years, profoundly influencing the culture of the region.
A startling discovery was the presence of Jewish roots on my father's side. With Sephardic Jewish presence, the results pointed out my ancestors might have been among those that were expelled from Spain and Portugal during the inquisition in the 15th century. They would have then wandered, meshing with various societies of other countries.
Another striking revelation was the connection with a historical figure, King Arthur for which results provided a suggested relation. This was a stunning surprise and added an unexpected silver lining to the iGENEA DNA testing.
The inferences from these results dissect the misconceptions and myths surrounding my ancestry and offered an enlightening insight. The Raymond surname is not confined to one region or a single cultural ethnicity. It's a patchwork of diverse cultures, histories, and regions, steeped in fascinating narratives spanning continents and epochs.
R. Raymond