Post: #26

Your surname is not as important as you think it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OamQy8wc2...be&t=6m58s

Post: #27

My family lines are actually quite well recorded, possibly due to fact that both my mother's and father's families occupy same geographic area for centuries. There was only one migration, but from a quite approximate area to my current one.

On vertical line, my family is 100% ethnic Serb and 100% Othodox christian. It can be traced to 18th century - the moment when my native clan migrated to the country where i live in, from a culturally and religiously identical place in proximity. However, my father's mother was half-Croatian and half-Catholic, though she practiced Orthodox Christianity. Further in my grandmother's line there are also couple of Greeks. Since the 18th, the clan has once more moved, but within the same state, because of disputes with neighboring clans which included much bloodshed and vendetta. Also, all of Orthodox Christian clans engaged in combat and raids with Ottoman Empire regularly. Since then, not much excitement genetic-wise. My grandfather took part in WWII in a communist guerrilla, while the other one was still a boy. Have no further information about other male combatants throughout history, but apparently they all did take part in all major conflicts of their era.

My mother's line can actually be traced to 14th century, due to the fact that her clan never changed it's residence since that date, while it was also apparently quite restricted to approximate areas when choosing brides for the males of the clan. It is also entirely Orthodox Christian and Serb since that date (although, in recent date there are political disputes on how national name should be defined). Of course, since it claims to be able to trace it's origin to the founder of the clan as far as in 14th century, i assume much of testimony about it's origin is based on mouth to mouth transfer of knowledge through generations, with also some evidence available through historical accounts of events in this area, still, all male ancestors are written down. There are also some material evidence in clan's native village, which is also used to provide foundation for the claims, although it cannot be deemed as too much accurate or verified. However, one thing is certain - her family line is from one same area for centuries.

All in all, my family has it's roots in one very very narrow area, without much outsiders genetic interference. So i imagine how must it be difficult to find out about your roots, when your ancestors changed multiple states, and then even continents. It also gives much excitement to possible search for your roots, but it is also mind-blowing.

Until development of cities and industrialization, both of my ancestors lines were peasant/rural mountainous shepherd-economy traditional expanded families, with strong ties with their native clan (members of same clan could not marry). Very small number of people back then were involved in political affairs or with our leaders, only a fistful of people. Others were shepherds and lived through their short-ass lives with occasional combat.

Post: #28

(04-08-2014 03:25 AM)Monty Brown Wrote:  My dad had some company look into it and they came back with a really detailed report. It's pretty cool, they traced the name all the way back to the late 17th century. He was a cool guy, kind of powerful and he even had a species of plant named after him.

So many generations have passed and with the harems and cuckolding that surly happened, I probably have around 0% of that DNA in me. But still! It gives you something to shoot for.

Do you know which company? Or a company that can provide such a service?

Post: #29

I'm not sure about the U.S., but military records for Commonwealth countries are amazing - researched my grandfather who fought in World War I. His war record included his height/eye colour/distinguishing marks (tattoos etc), the ship he was on, wounds, AWOLs, where he fought, medals won and subsequent correspondence between him and the military.