Surprising Royal Connections: How iGENEA DNA Test Unearthed French Roots of the Pulliam Family
Family name Pulliam
My recent iGENEA DNA testing unearthed unexpected information about my ancestral roots. The Pulliam family line, once presumed simply English, has shown strong French connections extending to French royalty. This surprising revelation has drastically changed my perception of my heritage.
My recent DNA testing with iGENEA facilitated an unexpected journey into my ancestral history. The results unveiled surprising information about the Pulliam lineage from which I descend, profoundly altering my self-perception and understanding of my roots. Prior to the test, my knowledge was limited to stories handed down through generations, painting a picture of our origin from an English background with a rich lineage. However, the DNA test results portrayed a great contrast to my perceived heritage.
Against my anticipation of predominantly Anglo-Saxon roots, my DNA indicated a strong influence from Western Europe. The Pulliam roots, it turns out, are steeped in French history. This substantial French genetic footprint did not align with the narrative I had grown up with, but instead led me on an unprecedented dive into an unfamiliar French heritage. As I traced this newly discovered genealogy, I stumbled upon a long line of French ancestors, including, to my astonishment, a lineage extending back to French royalty.
Six generations back, I found a French aristocrat who had relocated to England under mysterious circumstances. His sudden departure matched the timeline of the French Revolution, a turning point in French history. I surmise that he was forced to abandon his homeland for safety, settling quietly into English society. His adopted surname, "Pulliam", was possibly a deliberate attempt to blend into English culture.
The discovery of French royal lineage not only transformed my understanding of my genetic heritage but it also shed new light on my identity. My values of persistence, resilience and adaptability, which I had attributed to my supposed English ancestry, could be firmly rooted in my French origins. This formative event in French history might have fostered these characteristics in the generations that succeeded, eventually shaping the individual I am today.
In the light of this information, I now perceive myself differently. I am not just an individual with a simplified English heritage, but a product of a complex historical journey underscored by migrations, societal upheavals, and survival. This DNA journey has been more than just understanding my genealogy; it's been about discovering a part of myself and developing a deeper appreciation for what makes me, me.
I. Pulliam