Tracing the Matthes Legacy: An Eye-Opening Journey through the iGENEA DNA Test
Family name Matthes
Despite a lifelong assumption of possessing solely a German heritage affirmed by the Matthes surname, the unexpected results from the iGENEA DNA test have significantly influenced my perception regarding my family identity. The test results trace my family lineage back to Northwestern Europe, with surprising Jewish connections, prompting an urgent reevaluation of stories passed down my ancestry.
Since the beginning of time, the quest to understand who we are and where we come from has been central to our human existence. With the advent of modern science and technology, this curiosity has led me to take an iGENEA DNA test, an examination which guarantees a comprehensive understanding of one's genetic origin. The revelation of my result about my surname, Matthes, has significantly impacted my perception about my family’s identity.
My whole life, I associated the Matthes surname with a merely German history. My forebears were proud of having an ancestor who was a Bavarian craftsman, and that narrative was passed down the generations. However, the results from the iGENEA DNA test beg to differ and have added beautiful complexity and increased layers to my family’s roots.
From the results obtained, it appears the Matthes legacy is not only confined to Germany but extends as far as Northwestern Europe. The detection of DNA segments from this region suggests the possibility that the Matthes ancestors migrated between regions, blending with diverse cultures, effects of which directly influence our family traditions today.
Additionally, the DNA test results show that our family has a trace of Jewish lineage, a piece of information nobody in my family was aware of before the test. This discovery has triggered a wave of excitement among my family members, creating curiosity about the Jewish culture, habits, and traditions.
Moreover, the iGENEA DNA test prompted me to pursue genealogical studies looking further into our family history. I found that during medieval times, families migrating from Northwestern Europe to Germany might change their last names to better fit in with Germanic traditions, hence the surname Matthes, the German version of Matthew.
In conclusion, the results from the iGENEA DNA test have greatly expanded my understanding of my family history and the significance of the Matthes surname. It has prompted a profound reevaluation of my family’s identity, merging the narrative from being exclusively German-centric to being an amalgamation of diverse cultures and histories.
N. Matthes