Unraveling Ancestral Threads through DNA: My Personal Discovery of Feldman's History and Culture
Family name Feldman
Embarking on a journey of self-discovery through my iGENEA DNA test results, I learnt about the fascinating history and cultural facets of my surname, Feldman. This genetic exploration opened new horizons into the captivating origins rooted in central Europe, the agricultural implications of the name, and migratory patterns that have shaped the tapestry of my ancestry.
Receiving the results of my iGENEA DNA test was an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, revealing profound and fascinating details about my ancestry and the history of my surname, Feldman. This voyage into my genealogical past brought to light the deep-rooted origins, historical threads, and migratory patterns of my forebears, immersing me in the pool of human diversity that has been inherited and nuanced through centuries.
Feldman, my surname, originates from German-speaking regions, stemming from an occupational name for a farmer, from Middle High German 'veld' (field) and 'man' (man). Hence, Feldman could simply be interpreted as ‘field man’ or ‘man of the fields’. The name carries implications of an agricultural existence, intrinsic to the survival of early human societies.
Historically, the surname Feldman arose during the Middle Ages, a period marked by the spread and influence of surnames, usually derived from occupations, parental lineage, geographic location, or personal attributes. The Middle Ages was also a time when the general population was shifting from a primarily agrarian lifestyle to more developed metropolises, yet agriculture remained vitally important.
My iGENEA DNA test results also unveiled that my ancestors were largely concentrated in central Europe, particularly in the Germanic regions. This conclusion falls in line with the etymology of the Feldman surname, reinforcing its Germanic origins. It implies that my ancestors were potentially an integral part of the diverse farming communities spread across the fertile plains of central Europe. They might have cultivated grains, raised livestock, and engaged in diverse agricultural practices that played a critical role in sustaining the growth and survival of their societies.
Moreover, studies suggest that during periods of high migration, such as the Jewish Diaspora and waves of economic migration in the 19th and 20th centuries, many bearing the Feldman surname would have moved across Europe and towards North America.
The journey of discovery provided by the iGENEA DNA test has granted me deep insights into the historical and cultural skeletal structure of my lineage, along with the enduring legacy of my surname, Feldman.
L. Feldman