GENEALOGY

A Fascinating Look at Family History Through Genealogy

Finding my history and extended relatives has been challenging

My tree starts with me and goes back in time. Family Tree screen grab from Ancestry.com

My daughter bought me a DNA test kit through Ancestry.com a couple of years ago. Learning about my heritage and one long damn family tree might be interesting and exciting.

I logged on yesterday after receiving a notification of a match courtesy of my DNA. I have nearly 53,000 matches — most of them on my mom’s side. Her generation of siblings numbered 13, so it came as no surprise more were found on her side.

A breakdown of my family’s ethnic past is a ride around the world.

According to Ancestry.com, all people with DNA from any of the regions above have ancestors who were the original inhabitants of North and South America. These people are often referred to (in English) as Native American, First Nations, American Indian, Amerindian, Aboriginal, or Indigenous People of the Americas.

Ancestry’s DNA service shows that my mom is 32 percent French and 12 percent Scottish, 3 percent England and Northwestern Europe, and 3 percent Indigenous Americas — North.

The breakdown for my dad is more comprehensive, 14 percent Scottish, 20 percent Germanic Europe, 8 percent England and…