Remember, this doesn't tell you if you are a direct descendant of Ivan the Great/Horrible. It tells you what your ethnicity is based on the information those doing the testing have in their data base. My breakdown is the following: 63% Central European, 32% British Isles and 5% Uncertain.
But what does it mean? What do they mean by Central European?
This is a cut and paste from my results page. Enjoy
About Central European Ethnicity
Modern Day Location
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein.
Did you know?
In Switzerland, there are 32 mountain peaks above 4000m (that’s about 13,000ft), the highest of which is Dufourspitze.
About Your Region
Your ethnicity points to Central Europe, a broad expanse stretching from Amsterdam's sea-level metropolis to the majestic peaks of the Alps. Geographically dominated by France in the west and Germany in the east, it is a patchwork of nations with distinct cultural identities. From Munich's boisterous beer gardens, to Bordeaux's sun-soaked vineyards, to Switzerland's alpine dairy farms, it is a land of charming cultural diversity.
In a very simplistic sense, the region can historically be divided into two parts: France and The Holy Roman Empire, which roughly covered what is now Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic. Not to be confused with the ancient Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire was formed after the old emperors moved east to Constantinople, leaving the western empire to be overrun by Germanic invaders including the Goths, Vandals, and Franks. Left behind in Rome, the pope crowned the Frankish king, Charlemagne, emperor, laying the foundation of a new empire that would last until the 19th century.
The Middle Ages and pre-modern era of the region was characterized by nearly incessant fighting, as nations drifted in and out of alliances and struggled with one another over the thrones of Europe. The 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries saw waves of revolution sweep through the nations. The power of the monarchs was stripped away as the region moved, in fits and starts, toward democracy. It was hardly a smooth transition however, as failed republics gave rise to authoritarian dictators and would-be emperors like Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler. The World Wars, fought over politics, nationalist identities, and imperial aspirations, were really more of the same for the region, just on a global scale.
Despite the regular upheavals in this historically war-torn region, it has made great contributions to the worlds of science and art. Gutenberg brought the printed word to the masses; Kepler, Planck, and Einstein each revolutionized our understanding of the world; and visionaries like Mozart, Beethoven, Rembrandt, Monet, and Van Gogh left their own indelible marks in the history of art.
Migrations into this region
The major migration into central Europe is arguably the Neolithic expansion of farmers who came from the Near East. From about 8,000 to 6,000 years ago these farmers filtered in through Turkey and brought with them wheat, cows and pigs. Their population growth was particularly dramatic in central Europe, likely three-fold faster than the earlier inhabitants. The rise of the Vikings was another incursion into Central Europe, though these invaders came from the north, (e.g. Denmark, Sweden). However, the Vikings appear to have been reluctant to settle in central Europe possibly due to already dense populations living there and mostly marauded coastal communities. One exception is the region of Normandy in France; the word for Normandy derives from the meaning “north-man”.
Migrations from this region
Although “Celtic” is often associated with the people of Ireland and Scotland, the Celts originated in central Europe more than 2,500 years ago. From an epicenter in Austria, the Celts spread through France, into Spain and Northern Italy. With their successful iron technology, the Celts even came to culturally dominate much of Britain and Ireland. Continental Celtic culture was eventually dismantled during the Roman Empire, but outposts of Celtic people and their languages remained in the British Isles.
About British Isles Ethnicity
Modern Day Location
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Did You Know?
The English language, predominantly spoken in this region, is descended from German settlers.
About Your Region
You're from North-Western Europe, an area including the modern-day United Kingdom and Ireland. It is a group of islands separated from France and the rest of continental Europe by the narrow English Channel. It is the rolling, emerald-green hills of Ireland, the craggy, weathered peaks of Wales, the rich history of the city on the Thames, and the deep, mysterious lochs of Scotland.
This is where Shakespeare wrote his plays and poems. It's home to the legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood. It's produced some of the world's most adventurous explorers and greatest political and military figures—Sir Edmund Hillary, Winston Churchill, Admiral Horatio Nelson. Brilliant scientific minds such as Sir Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell laid the foundations of modern physics. And it's the place where a rainbow can lead to a pot of gold. Maybe.
The history of the region is one of periodic invasions and settlements by various groups including the Angles and Saxons from Germany, the Jutes from Denmark, the Vikings, the Normans from northern France and, of course, the Romans. English, a Germanic language brought by the Angles, is obviously the primary language spoken. But a few of the older languages spoken by the ancient Celts still exist—a rarity in post-Roman Europe.
The people of the region have been witness to sweeping political changes and amazing technological progress through the centuries, from the Glorious Revolution to the Industrial Revolution. But despite their penchant for reform and progress, they have always found a way to preserve the past. From royal families to prime ministers, ancient languages to international diversity, from thousand-year-old cathedrals to glass skyscrapers, their culture is a fascinating blend of old and new.
Migrations into this region
Despite being a cluster of islands separated from continental Europe, Great Britain and Ireland haven’t been insulated from outsiders. Although they weren’t the first, the Celts from central Europe spread throughout the Northwest Isles about 2500 years ago. Then, as with everywhere else, the Romans came. After the Romans withdrew from the area, tribes from northern Germany and Denmark (the Angles, Saxons and Jutes) came to conquer much of what is now England. About this same time, the mighty Vikings also left their imprint, particularly in southern Scotland, Ireland and western England.
Migrations from this region
Religious and political upheaval in 17th and 18th century England played a critical role in establishing and defining early American history. Called the Great Migration, religious dissidents including the Pilgrims, Quakers, and Puritans left England seeking religious freedom and a new way of life. Although the migration was not large in overall numbers, it laid the foundation for American culture, including the concepts of church-state separation and religious tolerance.
The Great Irish Famine, also called the Potato Famine, was triggered by an outbreak of potato blight, which destroyed potato crops across Europe in the mid 1800s. Already enduring widespread poverty and massive unemployment, Ireland was hit harder than any other nation by the disaster since potatoes were a dietary staple. Ireland lost nearly a quarter of its population. Those who could leave, fled mostly to England, Australia, Canada, and the United States, creating a world-wide Irish diaspora.
Thoughts on this in a late post.
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