Discover Your Real Family Story

People interested in learning about about their family history have many choices; DNA testing, Ancestry websites included. Bouncing between these two resources often leaves people bewildered. The two are often incompatible. We believe that historical context is the missing link between Ancestry DNA and Genealogy.  We at DNA+History+Genealogy believe that in order to know your origins, you need to use Ancestry DNA, and History, and Genealogy in tandem. 

Here is a perfect example. My family immigrated FROM Switzerland to America. The family lore was that we were Swiss. Because we immigrated FROM Switzerland. DNA testing of the family revealed were not genetically Swiss. DNA established were were a mix of Jews and Gypsies who lived in Switzerland.

Genealogy revealed the family immigrated to America in two different waves. The first wave came between 1720-1780 and ended up in Pennsylvania. This wave was primarily of Anabpatist or Jewish origin. History reveals this was a time when the Swiss Cantons undertook an ethnic cleansing and got as many "non-conformers", ie not Catholic or not Protestant to leave Switzerland as was possible. This included Swiss Brethren(Anabaptists, Mennonites and Amish) and Jews.  

Genealogy reveals another group came in a second wave. This group came to America in 1850; the year the Swiss Cantons made it illegal to live a transient way of life. Jews and Gyspies lived in wagons and traded as they moved from town to town. History revealed why they immigrated when they immigrated. And confirmed their Ancestry DNA.  While it was true they immigrated FROM Switzerland, it was not true they were Swiss.  Only in America did they became "Swiss".  

Genetic research revealed the family shared DNA with Jewish and Gypsy families living today in Spain, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, and Israel. 

Additional research revealed the family that immigrated from Switzerland between 1720-1780 and the family that immigrated in 1850, were interrelated families. They were related to each other in Switzerland, and then met up again in America 100 years later and continued the practice of marrying amongst themselves. 

Our family lore said were were Swiss. Our Ancestry DNA revealed were were Jewish and Gypsy. Our Genealogy revealed though the family arrived in two different time periods, they were related back in Switzerland. DNA+History+Generalogy is a powerful combination to establish your origins.  

We split our time between doing research on groups of people. Big projects would be like our work on the  history, genealogy, and DNA of the Afro-European Jews of the American Colonies or the Jewish origins of Western European Gypsies. And then individual projects can be helping people make sense of their family origin story. 

Our approach is to use DNA plus History plus Genealogy to develop the most comprehensive origin story for groups of people or individuals.  Below you will find some of the specific projects we have undertaken and or are undertaking. 

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