iGENEA DNA Test: A Deep Dive into the Oaks Surname and My Personal Ancestry
Family name Oaks
My recent journey with iGENEA's DNA test brought me face-to-face with the scientific marvels of genetic testing. My curiosity led me to unravel my paternal ancestry, focusing on the surname Oaks, using the Y-DNA test. To my delight, IGENEA’s DNA testing offers an impressive 99.99% accuracy, brimming with a wealth of anthropological data that has critically enriched my understanding of my family origins.
Having undertaken a DNA test at iGENEA, I was eager to explore the results - primarily as they related to my understanding of the surname Oaks. As a science enthusiast, I was fascinated by the technical aspects of the test. iGENEA uses high-precision DNA testing, employing either autosomal-DNA (At-DNA), Y-DNA, mt-DNA or a combination of all, based on what specific information one seeks to unearth. Autosomes being the 22 chromosome pairs that do not determine gender, can help reduce genetic noise and give a broader understanding of one's combined maternal and paternal heritage.
The Y-DNA test, which I opted for, as it aimed to investigate the paternal lineage associated with the Oaks surname, involves the analysis of the Y chromosome that is inherited father to son. This test was particularly suitable for establishing a genetic link to ancient tribes or geographic regions. The mt-DNA, while I didn’t take it, looks at the maternal lineage by analysing mitochondrial DNA passed down from mother to child.
The accuracy of iGENEA's DNA test surprised me. Giving a whopping 99.99% precision, it determined several ancestors of the Oaks surname and traced the possible origins back to the British Isles. The specificity of the regional clusters provided further fueled my curiosity.
The surname Oaks, they proposed, likely derived from geographical features, representing families that lived near prominent oak trees or oak forests in ancient times. This was quite standard in Medieval England, reflecting the trend of adopting surnames based on nearby natural landmarks.
The results deepened my understanding of the Oaks lineage, suggesting a possible Celtic origin and an intriguing narrative of migration, survival, and adaptation. I found myself immersed in a world of historical intricacies, which I wouldn't have known without this genetic expedition.
U. Oaks