Unraveling the Saga of Surname Engels: A Deep Dive through Y-DNA Testing at iGENEA
Family name Engels
Undergoing a Y-DNA test through iGENEA has provided significant insights into my surname, Engels. The high-quality technical testing methods unveiled unexpected ancestries, painting a fascinating picture of my lineage that extends back to the Viking Age.
Since undergoing DNA testing through iGENEA, I've gained considerable insights into the historical and genetic underpinnings of my last name, Engels. The test applied by iGENEA is known as Y-DNA testing, focusing primarily on the Y-chromosome which is passed down from father to son largely unchanged over generations. This creates a genetic trail, leading back to my ancestor from whom I've directly inherited this chromosome and, presumably, the last name Engels.
IGENEA's Y-DNA tests were of high technical quality. They conducted a multitude of STR (Short Tandem Repeat) tests, each involving a distinct segment of the Y-chromosome. This specific type of genetic testing can trace lineage far back in time, denoting any commonalities shared with other genetic profiles in the iGENEA database. The accuracy of these results was assured by multiple iterations of each STR test, minimizing the potential for any false readings.
The results illuminated a possible Viking ancestry tied to my surname, Engels, a finding I wasn't expecting. This connection indicates that someone from the historic Norse population may once have carried my last name. Furthermore, I learned that Engels is likely of patronymic origin, directly associated with the name of an ancestor. The name could be derived from "Engel", a name common in Nordic regions, hence its connection to the Vikings.
Beyond this ancestry, I found from my Y-DNA results that there are others with the Engels surname scattered across other parts of Europe. This distribution lends weight to the idea that the earlier carriers of the Engels surname might have been significant travelers, perhaps traders, explorers or conquerors in the Viking Age.
In summary, the technical precision and accuracy of the iGENEA test enabled a deeper understanding of my heritage and the historical journey of the Engels name, creating a powerful narrative of ancestry that stretches back centuries.
E. Engels