DNA Testing can go horribly wrong.

[Mowsehowse]

The shock of the original poster's family may have been even more basic.

I have been told that my minority blood group might indicate gypsy roots.

When I asked a Jewish relative about this she went ballistic. Totally lost her reason, screaming and yelling. I have spent years wondering why she would feel gypsy heritage was appalling.  Still haven't worked it out! (Though of course, I am aware in recent times they were looked down on by many.)

BTW general concensus suggests a DNA test is unlikely to be precise on the question.

[Redroger]

My maternal grandfather surname Ayres mother surname Cornwell both I believe gypsy names, if as a result he was full blooded makes me at least one quarter gypsy; yet, I note the following several Star of David gravestones in that side of the family, plus my MT DNA test gave British Isles 15% Western Europe 84%, the remaining 1% recorded as East Africa, South Asia, or statistical noise.I am VERY puzzled .

[River Tyne Lass]

I haven't had a DNA test done but I know from my research that I am very likely to have gypsy heritage.  On my Father's side there were ancestors who were besom makers, basket makers, hawkers, earthernware sellers, and the people these ancestors mixed with tended to be the same or tinsmiths etc.  I have read in the press that  my Great x two Grandparents being referred to as Tinkers.

As a child I one of my favourite games was to pretend I was a gypsy.  I often used to go to sleep imagining I was travelling along in a gypsy caravan.  When I found out that my ancestor's occupations likely meant that I come from traveller/gypsy stock I felt delighted and still do.  I felt somehow established in my roots which I sensed I had known all along. 

[Mart 'n' Al]

I agree that there is great romance in being descended from gypsies. 50 years ago as a child they had such a different image to the so-called travellers of today. I saw them as proud people with a great heritage.

Martin

[River Tyne Lass]

I came across a fascinating book review this morning in the free Metro newspaper.  The book is called 'Inheritance' by Dani Shapiro.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/books/review/dani-shapiro-inheritance.html

I thought this might be of interest as it relates the subject of this thread about DNA testing and how things can go wrong/not come out as expected.  The review in the Metro warns to be careful when you send off your saliva test to a genealogy website.  The review of this concludes that it is a .. timely exploration ..

It looks like a fascinating read .. 

[coombs]

I have Cornwell lines from Essex, and some of my Oxfordshire Smith ancestors were tin plate workers which could indicate gypsy ancestors.

Some say biology means nothing as it is ethics and who bought you up that what counts, but to others blood is everything. I am sure some people who found out their beloved grandfather was not their biological grandfather probably is ready to say "Dont tell me he is still my grandad" and "Dont tell me biology means nothing". To some, blood is everything.

 

[Finley 1]

My 5th Gt Uncles wife was from a long line of Gypsies

as per the Smith Line.. interesting to work..

xin

[coombs]

I have thought about having my DNA tested. I have documented French and Scottish ancestors and possibly Welsh due to Roberts and Jones lines. Gypises originated in the Punjab region I think and gradually migrated towards Britain about 500 years ago. I have a possible Ayers line in Oxfordshir, still awaiting more info on this. I found a baptism for a namesake woman (who has an Ayers lines) to my ancestor in Oxford city, in the next parish to where my ancestor married, but then found 2 women of the same name married in 1786 and 1789 in Oxford, spanner in the works. The 1789 one is my ancestor. The one who wed in 1786 could also be the one born in 1767. Always an inconvenient marriage that throws doubt into the mix.

[schnortles]

Actually, paper trails can reveal far worse than DNA - I would never have believed we had a serial cow rapist in our family until I discovered the court records of one such repeat offender from the early 19th Century.

The other family indiscretions down the years rather paled beside the revulsion I felt at that one.

The miscreant was originally sentenced to be hung but was eventually pardoned and transported, possibly Australia may not have been the best destination for such a person.

Hmm - still feel slightly nauseated. :