Family Ancestry

Have you used genetic testing to learn your ancestry? Please comment on the process.?

I have adopted children, know little to nothing about their birth fathers (not even my son’s birth father’s race), and am considering enrolling them in the Genographic Project or a similar DNA databank which tracks historic migration patterns (and can at least tell us where the birth fathers’ indigenous ancestors are located). I’m also interested in documenting and perhaps publishing an article on such quests, and would like to learn from others whether they found the genetic search to be meaningful and worth the money. Please include info. about which testing company you used, the reason for your search (curiousity, paternity search, etc.) and what the cost was. Also, in order to include your quote in my article, knowing your name, city, and state or province would be helpful (but not crucial). Thanks! -Béa Tiritilli, Santa Ana, CA

Yes, I have gone through Family Tree DNA. They send a kit with two swabs that I rubbed on the inside of my cheeks and then sent back. There are two basic tests: yDNA (male side) and mtDNA (female side) They will give you web access to check what countries the DNA can be traced to. It will not give names and dates, just areas there the ancestors lived.
While I used www.familytreedna.com, there are many others, including www.africaancestry.com. National Geographics has Genographic Project trying to trace migratory practices of ancient peoples.
My DNA shows that my ancestors came from every country in Europe, islands (in the Mediterranean, Carribean, Iceland, Atlantice [Canary Islands, for example], and Pacific; Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Morroco, South Africa, Mexico, Australia…
It is definitely worth the money.

Zions Bank’s Fred Ball highlights Western Standard Publishing

Tracing your Scottish Ancestry Third Edition $18.45 A practical, highly readable guide to researching Scottish roots. Packed with information and advice on basic research techniques, essential sources, heraldry, tartans and surnames, this comprehensive manual contains everything to help on your search, and includes a step-by-step model to drawing up a family tree….

Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Coloncial And Medieval Families (Royal Ancestry) $100.00 This book provides detailed information about descents from the famous Magna Carta Barons of 1215 for over 200 individuals who emigrated from the British Isles to the North American colonies in the 17th century. It combines research in original records with the use of published literature to provide well documented ancestral lines for American colonists with Magna Carta ancestry. It features hundr…

Plantagenet Ancestry: A Study In Colonial And Medieval Families (Royal Ancestry) $85.00 This book provides detailed information about descents from the Plantagenet Kings of England for over 185 individuals who emigrated from the British Isles to the North American colonies in the seventeenth century. It combines research in original documents with the use of published literature and features new ancestral lines for virtually all American colonists who possess royal ancestry, with man…

A New Brand of Business (Hardcover) $51.78 Description not available.

Primitive Technology II $20.29 Originally published in the Bulletin of Primitive Technology , 79 articles describe basic technology and skills practiced by our ancient ancestors. Aimed at the general reader, the articles cover such topics as eating wild plants, cooking in primitive…

A Mind for Murder $10.74 “With its unusual emphasis and sometimes surprisingly personal tone, this may become the definitive Kaczynksi volume.”—Publishers WeeklyThis is a radically new interpretation of the life and motives of the infamous Unabomber.

The Name Book (Paperback) $9.26 “A comprehensive list of names that includes the name`s cultural origin, meaning, spiritual connotation, and a related Bible verse”–Provided by publisher.

For the Love of Murphy`s (Hardcover) $22.84 “Presents a detailed history of the G.C. Murphy Company, headquartered in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Examines the larger context of the origins and evolution of five-and-ten-cent stores”–Provided by publisher.