Are you REALLY Celtic?

[kilted in seattle]

I can't quite tell. There isn't much difference in big toe/2nd toe length on my feet. But it's hard to tell because I've broken one of my big toes a couple of times and it sits a bit cock-eyed.

Definitely don't have wide feet. I'm about a 10.5, normal width. Stupidly high and long arches. However, I can pick things up with my feet and my normal body temp is a bit low.

Other than being a caucasian with brown hair and green eyes, I can't say much about my heritage. My last name (herring) is fairly common in the UK, many of Her Majesty's former colonies and South Africa (was S. Africa ever a British colony?)

However. I've had people from Russia, Scotland, Ireland and Germany assume I was a native of their countries. The Russian actually started off in Russian without bothering to check whether I spoke the language. This was in the US.

I am 190 pounds of all-purpose, generic white boy. In a Kilt.

[Pleater]

There is the book, Blood of the Isles by Bryan Sykes which has two ISBN 0 593 05652 3 and 978 0 593 05652 3.

It details the collection and analysis of DNA from various populations around the countries of Britain and Ireland and connects the migrations of mitochondrial and Y chromosome DNA around the world to various surnames.

Glancing at it earlier today I discovered that the Viking inheritance is not just the distortion of the hand, but also blood Group A - which I have.

The basis of the work is the Oxford genetic atlas project - and it mentions there is a website at www.bloodoftheisles,net - though I don't know if it is still there.

[cnovack]

Has anyone here ever had their DNA tested? If so, what were the associated costs and how detailed were the results?

I am able to trace my family back to Ireland on my mother's side but, being that I do not "know" my father, that line has kind of gone dead.

[Cawdorian]

I had a 25 marker DNA test performed, I tested my DNA because I had run into a brick wall at my paternal Great Grandfather. Around 25 males with my surname had already been tested including the family group I suspected I belonged in because of some earlier marriage between the families.

Surprise, my Y DNA came back as I1a everyone else with my surname was an R1b. We found that my GGF had been adopted by a man who married his widowed mother, he adopted his stepfather's surname. I know the name of his biological father and a little genealogical history of his family, but I haven't found a DNA match that makes any sense.

If you have a reasonable paper trail on your family and are interested in following the line further back in time, it may be beneficial to have a Y DNA test performed. The cost is in the range of $ 200 to $ 250 for a 25 marker test. There are several firms that perform the tests. A google search should help you find them. I wouldn't go for anything less than 25 markers.

You may be able to find a DNA project for your surname, if so you may be able to get a discounted price through the surname project. Again you can find these surname projects with a google search. Participating in a surname project can be quite rewarding as you will have several males with your surname who have been prevously tested. You do need other DNA participants with your surname with good genealogical paper trails to compare data with. If you are the "Lone Ranger" and do not have any other surname data to compare your results with, it may not be worthwhile to spend the spend the money.

[bjproc]

I had a 25 marker DNA test performed, I tested my DNA because I had run into a brick wall at my paternal Great Grandfather. Around 25 males with my surname had already been tested including the family group I suspected I belonged in because of some earlier marriage between the families.

Surprise, my Y DNA came back as I1a everyone else with my surname was an R1b. We found that my GGF had been adopted by a man who married his widowed mother, he adopted his stepfather's surname. I know the name of his biological father and a little genealogical history of his family, but I haven't found a DNA match that makes any sense.

If you have a reasonable paper trail on your family and are interested in following the line further back in time, it may be beneficial to have a Y DNA test performed. The cost is in the range of $ 200 to $ 250 for a 25 marker test. There are several firms that perform the tests. A google search should help you find them. I wouldn't go for anything less than 25 markers.

You may be able to find a DNA project for your surname, if so you may be able to get a discounted price through the surname project. Again you can find these surname projects with a google search. Participating in a surname project can be quite rewarding as you will have several males with your surname who have been prevously tested. You do need other DNA participants with your surname with good genealogical paper trails to compare data with. If you are the "Lone Ranger" and do not have any other surname data to compare your results with, it may not be worthwhile to spend the spend the money.

i'm just getting mine tested as we speak, from here http://www.familytreedna.com/

37 marker for $200

[Cawdorian]

i'm just getting mine tested as we speak, from here http://www.familytreedna.com/

37 marker for $200

You did well, are you being tested as part of a surname project? Family Tree DNA is one of the best labs out there and one of the pioneers in this field.

[bjproc]

Family Tree DNA is one of the best labs out there and one of the pioneers in this field.

thats good to hear


no, being tested as an adoptee, as suggested by them, as my dad was brought up with his grandparents & never knew who his dad was.

it was gilmore who put me on to them

[Phicong]

Mytoes are almost exactly the same length with a possible slightly longer second toe compared to the big toe.

[Phil]

There are certainly racial characteristics peculiar to some societies, an abnormality in blood corpuscles where they become too thick being prevalent in people of Irish descent. I am not so sure about the length of toes being a reliable indicator though and, as for red hair, it may well have come about as an adaptation to life in northern, less sunnier climes. I must say I do seem to match all the criteria but then I know that from the 1600's at least my forebears have all come exclusively from the Celtic fringes of the UK so perhaps it is not surprising.

[starbkjrus]

Well I have a Celtic Foot and a non-Celtic foot.

Could be due to a broken toe many years ago. Who knows? My feet are pretty much square - 7 1/2 EEEE.

To get shoes that fit I generally have to wear Birkenstocks or have them custom made.