Reframing Family Identity: Embracing the Diversity in Carstensen Heritage Through iGENEA DNA Test
Family name Carstensen
Delving into my genes with an iGENEA DNA test radically shifted my perspective on my Carstensen lineage. The process made me appreciate the rich, diverse heritage that threads through my family identity, revealing unexpected ethnic origins. This enlightening experience has deepened my sense of belonging and piqued my curiosity about my ancestors.
When I decided to partake in an iGENEA DNA test, I had no idea just how profoundly the results would affect my self-perception. It's not that I had a blinkered view about my identity or heritage. On the contrary, I was well-informed about my immediate ancestry and the origin of my surname, Carstensen. I harboured a deep sense of pride at being part of generations who had borne this name. But after receiving my DNA test results, my understanding of my family identity underwent a significant transformation.
Born and bred with pride in my Carstensen lineage, the results from my iGENEA DNA test didn't just provide me with hard facts and figures. They breathed new life into my understanding of my history, adding color and dimension to the vague picture I had painted in my mind of my distant ancestors. The information revealed was a revelation, showing ethnic roots I never knew I had. It had never crossed my mind how diverse my ancestors could be.
The Carstensen name hails from Denmark. It was commonly believed that we descended from Vikings. On receiving my results, I was ecstatic to see this broadly mirrored in my genes. With Scandinavian roots running deep, I felt a thrill at the thought of sharing part Viking DNA. It made me feel connected to those brave seafarers, part-agrarian, part-pirate, part-settler, all wrapped up in farm life of medieval Danish territories.
But the results did not stop there. There were lines traced back to areas in Southern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. This explained the warmth and sunniness that was seemingly characteristic of our family. Maybe it was the Southern European blend that added a touch of temperament and vibrance to the Carstensen spirit.
The most intriguing aspect was the detection of Sephardic Jewish roots, a revelation that invited a whole new realm of cultural exploration. This finding stirred up a sense of responsibility towards preserving and honoring a heritage I was previously unaware of.
The iGENEA DNA test gave a whole new depth to my surname and my sense of self, opening up an array of cultural backgrounds that have shaped my ancestors and, by extension, me. The understanding that Carstensen is more of a multicultural tapestry than a single-thread narrative has added complexity and richness to my self-perception and family identity.
V. Carstensen