A Surprising Journey into My Ancestry: Unfolding the Hidden Stories behind the Grabowski Surname
Family name Grabowski
I recently took an iGENEA DNA Test, intending to explore my ancestral roots linked to my surname 'Grabowski'. Though I presumed it to be purely Polish, the results were surprising, uncovering a blend of Eastern European, Scandinavian, and Jewish lineage. The test prompted an exciting journey that challenged my preconceptions and highlighted the fascinating complexity of my heritage.
I recently received the results of my iGENEA DNA Test and was overwhelmed with a mixed sense of astonishment and intrigue. The findings were a testament to a rich tapestry of my family history, bringing forward unexpected revelations about my long-held assumptions regarding my surname 'Grabowski'.
Growing up, I always believed that Grabowski was an ethnic Polish surname, which should mean a 100% Eastern European ancestry. However, the DNA results showed an unexpected twist; a surprising 30% of my DNA comes from Scandinavia, with the remainder 70% from Eastern Europe. This Scandinavian lineage, contrary to my pre-existing knowledge, made me question the origins of my surname.
Diving into further research, I learned that the blend of DNA might trace back to the Viking Age, and the Norsemen's exploration and settlement in areas that now fall under modern Poland. It is conceivable that one of my ancestors could have been a Viking who settled in Poland, then adopting the surname Grabowski, after local norms.
The surname Grabowski, as I discovered, is topographic in nature. It originates from a place called 'Grabow' in Poland. The suffix '-ski' is often added to denote nobility and landownership. There's a considerable chance that the Viking ancestor might have settled, owned land and thereby took on this Polish surname.
To add to the surprises, I found a notable Jewish lineage tied to my surname. The test showed a minor but significant percentage of Ashkenazi Jewish DNA. While the percentage was initially surprising, historical context provided interesting insights. A significant Jewish population, the Ashkenazim, lived in Eastern Europe before World War II, including Poland.
I then searched for Grabowski in Jewish records and, to my astonishment, found evidence of Grabowskis who were part of the Jewish community in Poland during the 18th-20th centuries. It's plausible that a part of my family, with Jewish origins, had converted and assimilated into the broader Polish Christian community, maintaining the Grabowski surname over generations.
So, my iGENEA DNA test was a fascinating journey that unfolded new chapters of my ancestry. It illustrates that despite the straightforward interpretation that my surname might suggest, I have a wonderfully mixed heritage that tells a rich, compelling story.
J. Grabowski