A DNA Journey: Unraveling the Warrior Lineage and Historical Migration of the Reiners Surname
Family name Reiners
Through my iGENEA DNA test, I've discovered a deep dive into my ancestry associated with the surname Reiners, showcasing a history rich with warrior lineage and significant migration. Its roots draw up images of armies from the Middle High German times, and its variations around the globe indicate some intriguing cross-cultural influences.
My iGENEA DNA test has yielded fascinating revelations about my ancestry and the history of my surname - Reiners. Derived from the medieval male personal name Reiner, it was popular in Middle High German, meaning 'warrior' or 'counsel'. The given name 'Reiner' was composed of two distinct Germanic elements: ‘ragin’ meaning ‘advice’, ‘counsel’ and ‘hari’, ‘heri’ meaning ‘army’.
This surname is common in Germany, and I learned that my forebears were most likely a part of the army or leaders, given the meaning of the name. It’s an intriguing notion, thinking of my ancestors as ‘warriors.’ The surname also has variations across different countries and languages, such as Reyners in Dutch and Rainieri in Italian.
The DNA test disclosed my maternal lineage as Haplogroup H, believed to have originated around 20,000 years ago, possibly during the last Ice Age's peak in the region that is now Ukraine. This supports my lineage being heavily centered in Europe thus aligning with the Germanic origins of the surname.
Furthermore, my paternal lineage, identified as Haplogroup E1b1b1, originated in Northeast Africa around 26,000 years ago and migrated into Europe during the Neolithic revolution. Haplogroup E1b1b1 is the main paternal lineage in North Africa but also has a significant presence in the Balkans and is moderately distributed throughout the Middle East and Southern Europe.
These results have shone light on the migration and intermixing of my ancestors over time, encouraging further investigation into the related historical events.
F. Reiners