A Memoir Discovering the Historical Journey of the Le Surname Across East and West Through DNA
Family name Le
Who knew that my surname Le, which I believed had just French origins, would reveal a rich lineage transcending the boundaries of numerous Eastern and Western countries? The DNA test conducted through iGENEA provided an astounding revelation, weaving an intricate tapestry of my ancestry strewn across France, China, and Vietnam, defying my preconceived thoughts and narratives about my family history.
As a devoted enthusiast in genealogy and history, I was excited to take the IGENEA DNA test to delve deeper into my ethnic background. The results were fascinating and enlightening; they revealed unexpected turns and provided a stark refutation of what I had previously believed about my family roots. The biggest surprise was the true origin and heritage of my surname, which, I now understand, is a lot more complex and diverse than I'd ever imagined.
For the longest time, I had believed Le's origins can be traced back to only French roots owing to conventional knowledge. It turns out, however, that this narrative is far more complicated. Remarkably, the DNA test revealed that the Le surname can be traced back to not only France, but also to China and Vietnam, which was a brilliant surprise.
In Vietnam, Le is a popular surname and represents respect for Le Lơi, a national hero who fought against the Chinese domination in the 15th century. As for the Chinese origins, Le, translated as "happy" or "joy", is an ancient surname profoundly steeped in Chinese history. The test additionally disclosed that both these Asian lines from my paternal side and my maternal side had intermingled with French ancestry at some point of time, making my familial tapestry a mesmerizing blend of East and West, further shaped by cultural interactions and migrations over centuries.
This revelation was a surprising twist, yet it brought about an incredible sense of connection. The discovery of these diverse roots offered a broader perspective of how interconnected our world truly is. Rather than just a few countries that I initially perceived, my DNA unveiled a rich, complex background, bridging disparate regions through migration and marriage.
In retrospect, the DNA test has unpacked valuable layers of knowledge. Learning about the rich heritage of my surname and its global threads has been nothing short of enlightening, offering me a sense of belonging, understanding, and connectivity beyond borders.
G. Le