Unraveling the Unexpected South Asian Connection: A Garland's iGENEA DNA Test Saga
Family name Garland
I got my iGENEA DNA test results recently, and they were not exactly as anticipated. Alongside a predominantly European genetic makeup, I was surprised to see a significant South Asian genetic segment. Prompted by this unexpected result and its connection to my surname, Garland, my curiosity steered me down a fascinating path of discovery.
Upon receiving the results of my iGENEA DNA test, the unsurprising discovery of mostly European ancestry was broken by the startling revelation of a significant South Asian genetic segment. This unexpected slice of my genealogical pie provoked intrigue because my family, while already a melting pot of British, Scandinavian, and German heritage, had never held claims to any Eastern roots. This compelling discovery urged me to investigate further and consequently I arrived at an unexpected story tied to my surname, Garland.
The iGENEA results illustrated that my lineage is more richly spiced than I had initially anticipated. Most fascinating was the hint at a past that stretched as far as the terrains of South Asia, apparent through the DNA segments not usually associated with conventional European genealogies. This was particularly surprising because the surname, Garland, is predominantly British, tracing its origin back to old Norse verb “gǫrla” or “to shout.” The Garland branch of my family, to the best of my knowledge, never strayed far from its English roots, and so I found myself delving deeper, eager to excavate more about this Asian connection.
Z. Garland