Discovering the Unexpected: An iGENEA DNA Test Unravels Astonishing Insights into the Rolland Legacy
Family name Rolland
I have always attributed my French-sounding surname, Rolland, to a deeply-seated French legacy. My recent interactions with the iGENEA DNA test, however, have thrown up surprising revelations, shifting my perspective and transforming my understanding of my cultural identity. My surname Rolland carries a legacy that is evidently rich, complex, and intriguingly diverse.
I am standing at a juncture of shock and curiosity. I took the iGENEA DNA test not expecting much beyond a formal affirmation of what I already believed to be true about my ancestry. The revelations, however, have introduced an entire paradigm shift in how I perceive my surname, Rolland.
To start with, the Rolland name, a cognate of 'Roland' - a heroic figure from the middle ages, was believed to be rooted in French history, which coincided with our family's oral traditions. I grew up with stories about French knights, robust vineyards, the Parisian life in general. The iGENEA DNA test tells a different story. It turns out that the Rolland lineage has significant Celtic roots!
The test showed a strong genetic commonality with Celtic groups mainly inhabiting the British Isles. The correlation is so substantial that it strongly suggests a migration event in the not-too-distant past. In short, instead of strutting proudly on the Champs-Elysees, it seems my ancestors were likely singing tales in a medieval longhouse!
To add to the unexpected twist, the test also detected a minor but significant trace of Jewish lineage that could originate from Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal in the late 15th century. There has never been a whisper of Jewish ancestry in our family tales, and it's an enthralling thought to excavate further.
In conclusion, my journey into my surname, Rolland's DNA revelation, has been unexpected. My wandering ancestors apparently sailed the Celtic Sea, saw the Iberian sunsets, and eventually greeted French shorelines. The iGENEA test has stirred in me an interest to delve back through the ages and uncover the complex weavings of our history that bring us to the present.
E. Rolland