Family History (Autosomal DNA)
This is perhaps unsurprisingly the most detailed section of my DNA report looking at what genetically makes me, me. The detailed breakdown goes back ten generations of ancestry to give me my unique genetic profile. However I can follow my genes back through time to the point we all shared a common genetic ancestor. This raises some pretty fundamental question about what you call your ancestry, as ultimately we are all related to one another.
The test also offers a complete, standard and cautious genetic model; under the standard and cautious models 5% (1.5% Great Britain and 3.5% European) of my DNA was unassigned. I’m going to reference the complete model here which allocates all unassigned DNA to regions they look most similar too and breaks down my GB DNA into a few more sub-regions.
Over all I’m 96.5% GB and 3.5% Northern European (all models), which comes as something of a surprise as my Grandfather on my Father’s side was Italian born and bred. There are a number of possible explanations which I’ll leave to your imagination! However genetic inheritance from Grandparents is variable according to Living DNA, for example if three Grandparents were English and one was Italian your genetic profile could show anything from 0-34% Italian.
Anywhere here’s my detailed breakdown (the last three being the ones about which there is the least certainty)
South England 29.5%
First settled after the last Ice Age, Stone Age DNA can still be detected here. Today its unique genetic signature roughly matches the old Anglo Saxon borders of Wessex, with suggestions that its eastern border may reflect boundary that separated the Iron Age tribes of the Regenses and Atrebates.
East Anglia 18.8%
My mother’s home region. A distant relative in America once traced our family tree here back to the dawn of the industrial revolution. It’s also home to Boudica, the Iceni Queen who led a revolt against the Romans and where, 8,000 years ago, our ancestors would have seen Doggerland vanish beneath the waves transforming Britain into an island separate from Europe. Once again its unique genetic signature mirrors the geopolitical boundaries of Iron Age tribes and Anglo Saxon kingdoms.
Lincolnshire 16.2%
Has a close relationship with Northern Europeans, who frequently travelled across the sea to settle, trade, and invade. A people closely attached to the land and sea, among Britain’s first farmers, home to ancient Belgic tribes, retired Roman legionaries and the forgotten Anglo Saxon kingdom of Lindsey. Yet another region whose genetics mirrors the Iron Age and Anglo Saxon boundaries.
Southeast England 13.5%
The landing point for settlers and invaders crossing the Channel for centuries, many of whom, from the Stone Age onwards, have left their genetic signature in Britain’s very own melting pot. Despite this it still claims a unique genetic signature defined by the geographical boundary of the Thames and once again the influence of Iron Age tribes and Anglo Saxon Kingdoms echoing through our genes.
South Wales Border 10.1%
The modern day counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Worcestershire, Powys and Gwent, home to the Celtic tribe of “Silures” who resisted the Roman invasion, part of the British defence against the Anglo-Saxon invasions, and Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Genetically linked to Britain’s first settlers after the Ice Age and providing a buffer between the Welsh and Anglo Saxon’s gives the area a unique genetic signature that is neither quite Welsh nor English.
South Central England 3.7%
Today known as Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Somerset. The first settlers of this region date back some 14,700 years and had cannibalistic tendencies. The Anglo Saxon’s probably had the greatest genetic impact here contributing up to 40% the regions DNA as well as reshaping our national language with Old English.
Central England 1.6%
A melting pot where waves of new settlers from the south met the older tribes of the north and west, home to Robin Hood and Lady Godiva. Among the many invaders to leave their genetic mark here are the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, who established the powerful Kingdom of Mercia.
Northwest Scotland 1.5%
This area ranges from Argyll to the Highlands and is home to the warlike tribe the Roman’s never conquered, the Pics, Scotlands original tattoo artists. It’s genetic signature is heavily influenced by the Irish kingdom of Dalriada that spread into Northwest Scotland in 550AD and who's boundaries it mirror's today. The Romans called these people ‘Scotti’ which ultimately led to the creation of Scotland's name.
South Yorkshire 1.5%
Emerged after the Roman's withdrew from Britain as the post-Roman Kingdom of Elmet, a buffer state in southern Yorkshire surrounded by expansive Anglian kingdoms. Although it eventually fell, its genetic signature today almost perfectly matches what are believed to be the geopolitical boundaries of Elmet.
Scandinavia 3.5%
Settled after the last Ice Age as nomadic hunters followed the reindeer, this geographically isolated region was never conquered by the Romans, but gave rise to the Vikings and their gods of war and thunder (who contrary to popular belief never wore horned helmets) and used their legendary skills in boat building and navigation to expand their kingdom.
The test also offers a complete, standard and cautious genetic model; under the standard and cautious models 5% (1.5% Great Britain and 3.5% European) of my DNA was unassigned. I’m going to reference the complete model here which allocates all unassigned DNA to regions they look most similar too and breaks down my GB DNA into a few more sub-regions.
Over all I’m 96.5% GB and 3.5% Northern European (all models), which comes as something of a surprise as my Grandfather on my Father’s side was Italian born and bred. There are a number of possible explanations which I’ll leave to your imagination! However genetic inheritance from Grandparents is variable according to Living DNA, for example if three Grandparents were English and one was Italian your genetic profile could show anything from 0-34% Italian.
Anywhere here’s my detailed breakdown (the last three being the ones about which there is the least certainty)
South England 29.5%
First settled after the last Ice Age, Stone Age DNA can still be detected here. Today its unique genetic signature roughly matches the old Anglo Saxon borders of Wessex, with suggestions that its eastern border may reflect boundary that separated the Iron Age tribes of the Regenses and Atrebates.
East Anglia 18.8%
My mother’s home region. A distant relative in America once traced our family tree here back to the dawn of the industrial revolution. It’s also home to Boudica, the Iceni Queen who led a revolt against the Romans and where, 8,000 years ago, our ancestors would have seen Doggerland vanish beneath the waves transforming Britain into an island separate from Europe. Once again its unique genetic signature mirrors the geopolitical boundaries of Iron Age tribes and Anglo Saxon kingdoms.
Lincolnshire 16.2%
Has a close relationship with Northern Europeans, who frequently travelled across the sea to settle, trade, and invade. A people closely attached to the land and sea, among Britain’s first farmers, home to ancient Belgic tribes, retired Roman legionaries and the forgotten Anglo Saxon kingdom of Lindsey. Yet another region whose genetics mirrors the Iron Age and Anglo Saxon boundaries.
Southeast England 13.5%
The landing point for settlers and invaders crossing the Channel for centuries, many of whom, from the Stone Age onwards, have left their genetic signature in Britain’s very own melting pot. Despite this it still claims a unique genetic signature defined by the geographical boundary of the Thames and once again the influence of Iron Age tribes and Anglo Saxon Kingdoms echoing through our genes.
South Wales Border 10.1%
The modern day counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Worcestershire, Powys and Gwent, home to the Celtic tribe of “Silures” who resisted the Roman invasion, part of the British defence against the Anglo-Saxon invasions, and Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Genetically linked to Britain’s first settlers after the Ice Age and providing a buffer between the Welsh and Anglo Saxon’s gives the area a unique genetic signature that is neither quite Welsh nor English.
South Central England 3.7%
Today known as Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Somerset. The first settlers of this region date back some 14,700 years and had cannibalistic tendencies. The Anglo Saxon’s probably had the greatest genetic impact here contributing up to 40% the regions DNA as well as reshaping our national language with Old English.
Central England 1.6%
A melting pot where waves of new settlers from the south met the older tribes of the north and west, home to Robin Hood and Lady Godiva. Among the many invaders to leave their genetic mark here are the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, who established the powerful Kingdom of Mercia.
Northwest Scotland 1.5%
This area ranges from Argyll to the Highlands and is home to the warlike tribe the Roman’s never conquered, the Pics, Scotlands original tattoo artists. It’s genetic signature is heavily influenced by the Irish kingdom of Dalriada that spread into Northwest Scotland in 550AD and who's boundaries it mirror's today. The Romans called these people ‘Scotti’ which ultimately led to the creation of Scotland's name.
South Yorkshire 1.5%
Emerged after the Roman's withdrew from Britain as the post-Roman Kingdom of Elmet, a buffer state in southern Yorkshire surrounded by expansive Anglian kingdoms. Although it eventually fell, its genetic signature today almost perfectly matches what are believed to be the geopolitical boundaries of Elmet.
Scandinavia 3.5%
Settled after the last Ice Age as nomadic hunters followed the reindeer, this geographically isolated region was never conquered by the Romans, but gave rise to the Vikings and their gods of war and thunder (who contrary to popular belief never wore horned helmets) and used their legendary skills in boat building and navigation to expand their kingdom.