How iGENEA's DNA Test Clarified my Understanding of Powers Surname
Family name Powers
iGENEA's DNA testing process has proven to be an illuminating experience. The comprehensive autosomal DNA, mtDNA, and Y-DNA testing, complemented by exhaustive ethnoancestry analysis, provided a clear path tracing back to the roots of the Powers surname. The accuracy of their scientific methods has confirmed my ancestral lineage and the etymology of the Powers surname, providing me with a stronger connection to my past.
Upon undertaking a DNA test with iGENEA, the technical aspects of their approach were impressive. The test began with the submission of a simple cheek swab, all done in the comfort of my own home. The sample was then sent to their lab for analysis, using the autosomal DNA, mtDNA, and Y-DNA, depending on the type of the test selected. The labs are ISO 17025 accredited for DNA testing, meaning the highest level of accuracy was assured.
The results were returned electronically, along with comprehensive genetic genealogy reports that left no room for ambiguity. iGENEA made use of SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) and STR (Short Tandem Repeat) testing that helped in showing the minute differences in my genetic code. By providing a percentage-wise distribution of my gene pool, iGENEA has left me astounded by the depth and breadth of my ancestry.
Specifically, my Y-DNA results traced back to the paternal line, deepening my understanding of the surname 'Powers'. The genetic markers associated with Powers were found to be predominantly from British and Irish descent, indicating a Celto-Germanic origin.
Prior to the DNA test, the history of the Powers name and its origins was mainly speculative for me. The results have now shown Powers to be a patronymic surname, derived from 'power' or 'poer', an Old French term, which was common in England after the Norman conquest.
The migration patterns of my ancestors gave me unique insights into the historical events that they went through. Notably, many allele frequencies revealed a precise migration pattern traceable back to the Viking incursions into the British Isles during the 8th-10th centuries.
While I always knew my family had history in Ireland, the iGENEA report verified this, tying the Powers lineage to southeastern Ireland. This confirms the Powers surname as an anglicised form of Gaelic Ó Fuachra, meaning 'descendant of Fuachra'.
Overall, the iGENEA DNA testing was a fascinating and enlightening process, combining state-of-the-art technology with intuitive genealogical analysis to help me understand my unique genetic identity. Now, the etymology of the surname Powers is more than just a series of links and theories—it’s a certainty rooted in unmatched scientific rigor.
G. Powers