Stepping Back In Time

Have you ever wondered where you come from?  What part of the world your DNA was created in?  How about certain traits that make up who you are?  I often did and this past year, my husband and I decided to step back in time with Ancestry.  

Family: Like branches on a tree our lives may grow in different directions, but our roots will stay as one… Anonymous

I must admit, when we decided to dive into Ancestry, I was not only excited, but also nervous.  What would I find?  Where did I actually come from?  Would any unknown relatives pop up in my search?   However, the moment I created my profile on Ancestry.ca, entered a few key details, and hit “search,” the journey began—and with it, my excitement only grew.  

I was amazed at how the website could find potential links.  Within those links, newspaper articles or birth certificates would also pop up.  Even some old photos.  The first day, I think we logged in about 5 hours or more just in one sitting.  

Some cool facts I discovered:

• My paternal great grandmother was born in Aberdeen Scotland. I had met this wonderful lady when I was a child and never knew this – not even my own dad knew this. A fun discovery.
• My paternal grandparents were married at age 18 – my Grandpa a dry cleaner at the time.
• My maternal great great grandparents were actually Irish (from Northern Ireland – Ballynichinch, however back then, it was simply just Ireland – no division) 
• I have relatives on my mom’s side that immigrated to the USA and Germany.

The history of my family—on both sides—fascinates me endlessly. I can spend hours clicking through past generations, uncovering their stories and details. Each discovery gives me a deep sense of fulfillment, as I learn where they were born, how they grew up, and the lives they built along the way. 

On my dad’s side, our roots trace back to Sweden (from Torup), Scotland (from Aberdeen), and England, with ties to small towns throughout the Cotswolds, Sussex, and Surrey.

On my mom’s side, the roots stretch across Ireland—primarily what is now Northern Ireland, with connections to Ballynahinch in County Down, Belfast, and Antrim, as well as just east of Galway in the coastal towns of Tully and Cavan. Her lineage also includes English heritage from Kensington, Paddington, and Hampshire in the UK, along with traces of German ancestry.

It seems, with all those branches, I’m made up of a beautiful blend—each piece adding its own spark of beauty to who I am today.

With Ancestry.ca, you can simply build a family tree or take it a step further with a DNA analysis that explores your traits. We opted for the DNA portion, and I must say—the results were both fascinating and insightful. From uncovering the source of my blue eyes and freckles to my athletic tendencies, even quirks like sneezing in the sun or being more of a morning or night person—it was all there. The report also revealed whether each trait leaned more toward paternal or maternal influence. Simply amazing!

Each click opens another layer of history—like stepping into a rabbit hole that branches in countless directions. Every hint reveals a new and fascinating chapter in your life story, waiting to be uncovered.

This became such a rewarding pastime for me over the winter months and into spring—discovering the pieces of the past that come together to make you… YOU.

If you’ve ever wondered where you truly come from, or what life was like for your grandparents, great-grandparents, or even generations before them, I can’t recommend exploring Ancestry enough.

My husband and I loved doing it and not only was it a fascinating pastime, but it is also a meaningful way to share your generational story with your children and grandchildren. A preservation of history for your loved ones.