Discovering Ancestral Insights: How a DNA Test Redefined My Hancock Heritage
Family name Hancock
My life and self-understanding, deeply rooted in my English Hancock heritage, were impacted significantly by unexpected insights from my DNA test at iGENEA. The discovery of a hitherto unknown Norse and Sami lineage, embedded in my genes, opened new dimensions in my self-discovery.
My entire life, I've carried the name Hancock with a sense of pride, instilled by countless stories of ancestral accomplishments that have colored my family's history. However, my recent DNA test at iGENEA has turned my understanding of my lineage on its head in ways I had not anticipated. The findings from the test have brought unexpected insights about my predecessors, thoroughly affecting my self-conception and our family narrative.
As I awaited the results, my expectations were firm; I believed my lineage to be purely English as the history handed down to me was full of notable figures from England. Thus, when I saw the results, I was amazed to find that my DNA reflected a significant Scandinavian ancestry as well, which shook my understanding of my roots.
The Norse link in my genetic makeup suggested my ancestors were possibly part of the Viking Age migration, a concept astonishingly different from the reputable English narrative I'd been raised on. Even more intriguing was the tracing of my maternal lineage back to an indigenous Sami tribe, adding an unexpected depth to my heritage that I hadn't considered or even been aware of previously.
Unprecedentedly, these revelations about my Hancock ancestors have forced me to reassess my self-understanding. I’m not merely the descend of English nobility, but also of Scandinavian explorers and Sami tribespeople. Not only has this given me an expanded and enriched sense of identity, but it's also altered the lens through which I view my family's stories.
I spent days reevaluating those tales in light of this newfound information, imagining how the Scandinavian and Sami cultures might have woven their way into my family's history. Adjusting my interpretation of those past Hancocks wasn't easy, but it certainly adds another layer of intrigue to their stories.
This experience has made me realize that our identities and stories cannot be simply deduced from surnames or narrated histories. Our origins are diverse and complex—more than I had ever envisaged—and encoded within our DNA.
My genetic journey with iGENEA led me on a path I hadn't anticipated, shattering preconceived ideas and enhancing my self-understanding exponentially. From being primarily an English descendant, I have now embraced my multicultural heritage. I am excited to pass these new insights onto future generations, rounding off our family narrative with a fuller, more varied illustration of our past.
D. Hancock