My interest in my family history recently led me to research my family tree and my family DNA, in order to discover whatever I could about my ancestors, that wasn't already known to me. Whilst my recent English and Welsh roots were well known to me, most of what was revealed by my research turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
With two other family members, alongside prior extensive research of our family tree, which showed a widely dispersed ancestry, together we took four DNA tests in total, to uncover both our recent mitochondrial DNA heritage and our deep haplogroups DNA, which revealed both my ancient Fatherline and Motherline to me.
My recent ancestors, according to mitochondrial DNA tests provided by Ancestry and MyHeritage, include people from many nations and cultures, including Balkan, French, Germanic, Greek, Iberian, Irish and Italian - to Middle Eastern, Scandinavian and Scottish - with finer details supported by facts uncovered by family tree records. These records showed recent American, Dutch and Swiss ancestors too. My deep mtDNA and Y-DNA (provided by LivingDNA) revealed that after my ancestors migrated from Africa many thousands of years ago, down my Motherline they spread into the Caucuses, Iran, Romania, Tunisia and Udmurtia (Russia), where many people sharing my DNA still live today, whilst down my Fatherline, before they travelled to Europe, they migrated to India, North Africa and the Middle East, where today my Fatherline distant relatives include members of the Ashkenazi Jewish, Caucasus, Georgian, Indian Punjabi, Iranian, Iraqi, Kurdish, Lebanese, Sephardic Jewish and Turkish communities... who then continued their migration into Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and Poland, where today many of my distant relatives now live.
What's remarkable is that my story is quite unremarkable. We all originate in Africa and we all share a common ancestry with a wide variety of peoples. What this means is that when we each trace our family history back far enough we are all ultimately Africans. For example, did you know that all people of Western European and Jewish descent, along with all Arabs are believed to be descended from the prophet Mohammed? It's true. He is believed to be a 'common ancestor' to this group of people (which knowledge, if it were more widespread might go some way to diffusing tensions between his many descendants today). And did you know that millions of Europeans are believed to be descended from the Emperor Charlemagne? We are. And did you know that millions of Chinese people are believed to be descended from Confucius? They are. The same is true of all races, we each share common ancestors. The farther back in time we go, the closer our ancestors gather, until they become one and the same.
As a result of my own experiences I recommend family tree research to all those interested in discovering more about their roots. Hitherto forgotten individuals like Moses, who once lived in Hampshire, and Mary who once lived in Corfe Castle became known to me. I also uncovered royal individuals like Queen Jane Seymour, Queen Catherine Parr and King Edward III in our family tree - and other notable historical figures too, like William Shakespeare, Knight Templar - Lord Robert de Scales, Viking king, Ragnar Lothbrok and Lady Godiva, of Coventry. My story is not unique though. Many millions of people around the world are said to be descended from kings and queens, leading ultimately to our common ancestors Charlemagne and Mohammed.
Recognising our shared diversity, of course, has spiritual implications, especially with regard to combatting bigotry and for promoting tolerance of others. As Baha'u'llah once said: "It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”
As a person of mixed race and widely dispersed ancestry I value my diverse heritage. My research has led me to understand that, as Baha'u'llah taught, we are all Citizens of the World.
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Learn more about Lady Godiva and the Goddess Godda, here.
