From Bangerter to iGENEA: The DNA Trail of My Family Identity
Family name Bangerter
I set out by taking an iGENEA DNA test in search of definitive answers about my ancestry, particularly about the origins of my unique surname, Bangerter. The revelations from the test not only established my strong Swiss and German ancestry but also reshaped my understanding of my family identity.
When I submitted my DNA to iGENEA for testing, what I had hoped for was some validation of the stories handed down through the generations in my family, and a deeper understanding of my lineage. As a Bangerter, I was always intrigued by my unusual surname and the possible origins and unique history it hinted at. The outcomes of the iGENA DNA test not only confirmed my ancestry but gave me insight into a deeper sense of my identity that I could never have unraveled on my own.
The results indicated a dominant Swiss and German ancestry which aligns perfectly with the origin stories about the Bangerter lineage passed down in my family. Knowing that the proof lies in my DNA has strengthened my connection to the Bangerter name - a name that has now taken on a richer, more potent meaning for me.
Seeing my ancestral composition laid out also bestowed on me a fresh perspective of self. It is one thing to know where one comes from, it is quite another to see the geographical and cultural paths my ancestors may have walked. It shed light on multidimensional aspects of my identity that until now, were shadowed by the passage of time.
Realizing the substantial Swiss and German heritage makes me appreciate my family customs more profoundly, those that now seem tied inextricably to the land of my forefathers. I view traditions like our love for hearty bread, the family practice of growing our own vegetables, or even our collective love for the outdoors not merely as individual familial idiosyncrasies, but a part of a larger cultural continuity.
I can now imagine the origins of the Bangerter name coming from Swiss and German land, maybe from the lifestyle, the dialect, or the daily humdrum of my ancestors' lives. It makes me feel immensely proud and deeply connected to my roots.
The iGENEA test has not just provided me with information; it has given me a path, a storyline to hold on to, a feeling of being bound to countless generations before me. Knowing that the Bangerter ancestry laid deep within me, distributed in every cell, has made me appreciate my unique surname and has redefined my own sense of self.
The results of the iGENEA test have helped shape a more evolved narrative for me and enhanced my connection with the Bangerter name. I am a Bangerter through and through - It's in my DNA.
A. Bangerter