Discovering My Ancestry: The Story of the Bork Surname through iGENEA DNA Test
Family name Bork
Diving into my genetic past, I embarked on a DNA test journey with iGENEA. The scientific findings were exciting as I traced the origin of my surname, Bork, back to the Viking era. I discovered roots spreading across Northern Europe, with significant overlaps in Scandinavian and Slavic populations, as well as some surprising Ashkenazi Jewish and Celtic components.
As an enthusiast in exploring heritage, I chose to embark on a fascinating journey of self-discovery through the iGENEA DNA test. Intrigued by my unique surname, Bork, I was pulled towards uncovering its traces in the strands of my DNA. The scientific findings have been not just compelling and enlightening but have given me a fresh perspective on my identity and provenance.
My results from iGENEA have primarily traced my ancestry back to Northern Europe, indicating a strong Baltic association, which aligns perfectly with the origin of my surname. Bork, it turns out, has roots in the Viking era, frequently appearing in Slavic and Scandinavian regions. It is believed to have derived from 'borkr,' an Old Norse term translating to 'birch tree,' signifying forest dwellers. This, in essence, suggested that my ancestors possibly herald from a lineage of forest dwellers.
I learned through this DNA study that approximately 12% of my genetics correlate with the Scandinavian lineage indicating Danish or Norwegian roots. The examination also exposed a fascinating detail that 20% of my genetics is Slavic oriented, predominantly Polish. This points towards the possibility of extensive migration or intermarriage between the two populations in ancient times resulting in this unique DNA overlap. However, in my quest, I was equally ecstatic to uncover a decent Celtic component (about 10%) as well, which was rather unexpected.
This test has been quite revealing about my Jewish genetic roots as well. About 5% of my genetic markers suggest Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, linking me with Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe, which indeed adds another exciting layer to my ancestral story.
In conclusion, the iGENEA DNA test has provided a scientific lens to look into my heritage, revealing a rich tapestry of connections spreading across Scandinavia and Slavic regions to Celtic lands and Jewish communities. I now realize that my surname, Bork, is not just a moniker, but a vessel carrying an intriguing story of mixed backgrounds and migrations, painted into my genes far before my own story began.
P. Bork