Journey into the Past: Uncovering the Surprises in my Neumaier lineage through iGENEA DNA test
Family name Neumaier
The iGENEA DNA test I took was an adventure into my historical roots, unearthing unexpected turns in my Neumaier lineage. What stemmed as a curiosity led me on a journey through time, revealing surprising relationships between my German surname and connections to Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and Sephardic Jews. Each revelation about my ancestry was like peeling back a layer of time, revealing a complex history that was far broader and more diverse than I could have imagined.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I sat down to look at my iGENEA DNA test results. My heart was beating an irregular tattoo in my chest as my gaze scanned the data. I had expected that I would belong to my preconceived, familiar German roots; what I didn't expect was the startling revelation brought to light by the complex matrix of information generated from my DNA sample.
Primarily, I presumed my roots were mainly German, since my surname 'Neumaier' is of German origin typically from Bavaria. However, the DNA results unearthed surprises from a far broader geographical footprint. The test revealed a significant amount of Eastern European and Scandinavian ancestry, tracing back to the Viking Age, something entirely unexpected. I'd always pegged myself firmly with schnitzel, folk dance, and beer, never considering the possibility of Viking blood coursing through my veins.
The surname Neumaier, as shown by the test, appears to have Hungarian lines as well—not a heritage I was aware of or had considered in connection to my family's line. This information lit a spark of eagerness to delve deeper into my past, making me question my known family narrative.
While the majority of my gene pool steers towards Germany, a curious 20% hails from Scandinavia—with a variant of my Neumaier surname originating from there. More surprisingly, I discovered a fraction of my DNA linked to Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, known to have migrated across Europe.
It wasn’t simply about the fractions, percentages or proportions. Instead, it was the unexpected ties to lands and cultures I had no known, tangible connection with. The courage and adversity my ancestors must have faced, the incredible journeys they undertook—these unseen chapters began cropping up, painting my history in a completely different light.
As overwhelming as these revelations were, understanding the whys and hows of personal history, the struggle of my ancestors, and the paths they blazed added a level of richness to myself. While the reality of my origins took me by surprise, it also led me to a profound understanding about the man of many legacies I am today.
G. Neumaier