Unravelling the Threads of History: A Personal Journey through My iGENEA DNA Test
Family name Wanner
Discovering the historical and cultural dimensions of my surname 'Wanner' through an iGENEA DNA test has reshaped how I perceive my place in human history. Being able to trace my lineage back to agricultural communities in Southern Germany during the Middle Ages, and tracking their migration to different regions across centuries, instills in me a sense of resilience, adaptability, and survival inherent in my genes.
My IGENEA DNA test has provided me with fascinating insights into my cultural and historical background, providing an enriching understanding of my own ancestry. The magnitude of information I've learned about the history and origin of my surname, Wanner, is simply astounding.
The name ‘Wanner’ hails from southern Germany, specifically, the regions of Swabia, Baden, Saarland, and Rhineland. Interestingly, it was initially associated with the occupation of a maker or user of winnowing fans- a device used to separate grain from chaff, demonstrating an agricultural origin.
My DNA test revealed that the earliest record of my forebears dates back to the Middle Ages, painting an image of a brood labored for sustenance in a time of agricultural reliance. These ancestors were not nobles or rulers but farmers, workers of the earth who selves gave birth to the generations that eventually culminated in me.
Over time, members of the Wanner family began to scatter, diluting the Wanner name across multiple countries. Indeed, the DNA test provided reveals that clusters of Wanners can be found in places as varied as Switzerland, France, and parts of North America. This movement was often out of necessity, be it economic, political, or social, such as seeking employment, avoiding military conscription, or fleeing religious persecution. The migration of the Wanner family paints an image of resilience and adaptation.
The test also informed me that my DNA belongs to haplogroup H, mostly found in Europe, particularly in Germany. This haplogroup traces its roots back to a woman who lived approximately 20,000 years ago, in the ice age's final years. This woman's descendents spread throughout Europe, making haplogroup H one of the most numerous and diverse in Europe.
Overall, the IGENEA DNA test has taken me on a journey through centuries of history, heritage, struggle, movement, and ultimately survival, all encapsulated in the name Wanner. It has brought me into contact with historical and cultural realities I had no earlier notion of.
Y. Wanner