Principled Man Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 So far, I've traced my paternal grandmother's family back to the late 1600's.... That is TEN generations.....!! I've found my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather - Giuseppe Zappa, born in 1670. It looks like I am 50% Italian, and 50% Bavarian/English/Irish mix....which means I can drink just about ANYTHING.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Union 5-3992 Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I am related to the Hatfeild family. I also am related to the man who played Dr. Loomis in the Halloween movies. I also have a relation to (could be inlaw, I need to speak to my grandmother about this) President John Adams, President John Quincy Adams, and Samuel Adams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowItIs Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Yeah, I followed my Mom's side both paternal and maternal and it turns out I have lots of UK blood: Irish, English, Welsh, Scottish. That explains my love of all things British Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGr8imL84AD8inF8sBlackSedan Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 QUOTE (Workaholic Man @ Jul 9 2012, 11:11 PM) So far, I've traced my paternal grandmother's family back to the late 1600's.... That is TEN generations.....!! I've found my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather - Giuseppe Zappa, born in 1670. It looks like I am 50% Italian, and 50% Bavarian/English/Irish mix....which means I can drink just about ANYTHING.... So you could be related to Frank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridertoo98 Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 My Mom went digging after seeing Roots . Goes back a ways too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Principled Man Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 QUOTE (OGr8imL84AD8inF8sBlackSedan @ Jul 10 2012, 05:04 AM) QUOTE (Workaholic Man @ Jul 9 2012, 11:11 PM) So far, I've traced my paternal grandmother's family back to the late 1600's.... That is TEN generations.....!! I've found my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather - Giuseppe Zappa, born in 1670. It looks like I am 50% Italian, and 50% Bavarian/English/Irish mix....which means I can drink just about ANYTHING.... So you could be related to Frank? Frank's father, Francesco Vincenzo Zappa, came from Sicily, whereas my Zappa family came from central Italy, east of Rome. We may be very, very distant cousins, but I haven't found a link yet.....probably never will! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workingcinderellaman Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILSnwdog Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I have a close friend who did a project through his church, and they used my family for the project. He took some of it back quite a ways, and confirmed what we know. There are a lot of Germans in my family. It was really cool to see it when he sent us what they found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Not Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 10 2012, 10:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? I was actually going to say the same kind of thing. It's cool to learn about one's heritage... But no one should really think more of themselves or anyone else based on their ancestors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Principled Man Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 QUOTE (Mr. IsNot @ Jul 10 2012, 12:46 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 10 2012, 10:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? I was actually going to say the same kind of thing. It's cool to learn about one's heritage... But no one should really think more of themselves or anyone else based on their ancestors. I totally agree. Family trees should never be used to claim "nobility" or superiority. Geneology is a fascinating and entertaining hobby, but nothing more. I would love to visit the lands of my ancestors, especially in England and Ireland. I hear the ale is pretty good over there..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workingcinderellaman Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 QUOTE (ILSnwdog @ Jul 10 2012, 12:22 PM) I have a close friend who did a project through his church, and they used my family for the project. He took some of it back quite a ways, and confirmed what we know. There are a lot of Germans in my family. It was really cool to see it when he sent us what they found. That's pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowItIs Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 QUOTE (Mr. IsNot @ Jul 10 2012, 10:46 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 10 2012, 10:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? I was actually going to say the same kind of thing. It's cool to learn about one's heritage... But no one should really think more of themselves or anyone else based on their ancestors. Well, no. But it is interesting to see where you came from. I bet many of us can find some royalty or such if we go in the right direction. So what? It's not like we could claim the throne or something! It's just nice to know one's roots. That's all. Some of us think so, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 QUOTE (HowItIs @ Jul 10 2012, 06:33 PM) QUOTE (Mr. IsNot @ Jul 10 2012, 10:46 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 10 2012, 10:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? I was actually going to say the same kind of thing. It's cool to learn about one's heritage... But no one should really think more of themselves or anyone else based on their ancestors. Well, no. But it is interesting to see where you came from. I bet many of us can find some royalty or such if we go in the right direction. So what? It's not like we could claim the throne or something! It's just nice to know one's roots. That's all. Some of us think so, anyway. The roots of your human body but your body is not you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circumstantial tree Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I, too, have a lot of UK ancestry. On my mother's father's side, the Proctors, I have an ancestor who was part of the Salem witch trials of 1692. In part of that same lineup, my ancestors settled in the Jamestown colony, so my English blood goes that far back as far coming to the US. I am related to Ava Gardner, actress in the 1950s until the 1980s, on my mother's mother's side. There may be some French and Greek in my family as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILSnwdog Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 QUOTE (workingcinderellaman @ Jul 10 2012, 03:15 PM) QUOTE (ILSnwdog @ Jul 10 2012, 12:22 PM) I have a close friend who did a project through his church, and they used my family for the project. He took some of it back quite a ways, and confirmed what we know. There are a lot of Germans in my family. It was really cool to see it when he sent us what they found. That's pretty cool. I thought you might have some interest in that story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughedatbytime Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 10 2012, 11:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? You're just afraid that you'd find out you were related to Roger Goodell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 QUOTE (laughedatbytime @ Jul 10 2012, 07:14 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 10 2012, 11:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? You're just afraid that you'd find out you were related to Roger Goodell. I think you ARE him! Roger?? My long lost grandfather aged 92? Is that you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughedatbytime Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 10 2012, 06:18 PM) QUOTE (laughedatbytime @ Jul 10 2012, 07:14 PM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 10 2012, 11:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? You're just afraid that you'd find out you were related to Roger Goodell. I think you ARE him! Roger?? My long lost grandfather aged 92? Is that you? Nope, not him. If you think I was him, would I have ever said the words "With the eighth pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select Ryan Tannehill, quarterback, Texas A&M"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 11 2012, 02:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? Some people like to brag. Some are just curious. For whatever reason it always seemed to me that we yanks are more interested in this than most other nationalities. There've been countless times that I've heard Americans say that they're one-half [insert European nationality here], one-fourth [insert Native American tribe here], one-eighth this or that, and a little bit of tit for tat. All that and a bag of chips but they rarely meet their grandparents or first cousins. It's somewhat laughable. Truth is, we're all related....and treeduck's the wild, mutant 2nd cousin that we keep a secret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Union 5-3992 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 QUOTE (JohnnyBlaze @ Jul 11 2012, 03:49 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 11 2012, 02:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? Some people like to brag. Some are just curious. For whatever reason it always seemed to me that we yanks are more interested in this than most other nationalities. There've been countless times that I've heard Americans say that they're one-half [insert European nationality here], one-fourth [insert Native American tribe here], one-eighth this or that, and a little bit of tit for tat. All that and a bag of chips but they rarely meet their grandparents or first cousins. It's somewhat laughable. Truth is, we're all related....and treeduck's the wild, mutant 2nd cousin that we keep a secret. Yeah I'm more curious. I hated John Adams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowItIs Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 QUOTE (JohnnyBlaze @ Jul 11 2012, 12:49 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 11 2012, 02:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? Some people like to brag. Some are just curious. For whatever reason it always seemed to me that we yanks are more interested in this than most other nationalities. There've been countless times that I've heard Americans say that they're one-half [insert European nationality here], one-fourth [insert Native American tribe here], one-eighth this or that, and a little bit of tit for tat. All that and a bag of chips but they rarely meet their grandparents or first cousins. It's somewhat laughable. Truth is, we're all related....and treeduck's the wild, mutant 2nd cousin that we keep a secret. I KNEW it!!! Well, we Yanks are transplants and, unless one is Native American (which I am on my Dad's side -so Get off my lawn, dammit!), we have no real roots here. So we search for them in other countries. It's just human nature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 QUOTE (HowItIs @ Jul 11 2012, 04:52 PM)QUOTE (JohnnyBlaze @ Jul 11 2012, 12:49 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 11 2012, 02:24 AM) I've never understood the interest myself. Who cares if my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a viking warrior who swept all before him? Some people like to brag. Some are just curious. For whatever reason it always seemed to me that we yanks are more interested in this than most other nationalities. There've been countless times that I've heard Americans say that they're one-half [insert European nationality here], one-fourth [insert Native American tribe here], one-eighth this or that, and a little bit of tit for tat. All that and a bag of chips but they rarely meet their grandparents or first cousins. It's somewhat laughable. Truth is, we're all related....and treeduck's the wild, mutant 2nd cousin that we keep a secret. I KNEW it!!! Well, we Yanks are transplants and, unless one is Native American (which I am on my Dad's side -so Get off my lawn, dammit!), we have no real roots here. So we search for them in other countries. It's just human nature. Not so sure about that human nature part. For example, I don't know one Aussie (and there are heaps in these parts) that has ever told me about his/her European roots. But yanks on the other hand,.... (see my above post again). Just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circumstantial tree Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 I find it fascinating to a fault. I used to work with an Irish guy (meaning he was born and raised in Ireland, has the accent, etc...) who thought it was silly that so many Americans claim to be Irish at all. He's thinking is that unless you were born and raised in Ireland by two Irish parents, you are not Irish. I see his point as well. And of all the possible ancestry that Americans have, it's those with Irish ancestors that seem to flaunt their "Irishness" (or their version of it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janie Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 I am fascinated with genealogy. My family had been researching for years and came across a distant relative who spent her life (no joke) on researching my maternal family lineage. So much so that she was able to publish a book. It's huge and in my possession now. I spent a long time going through the book and mapping everything out. I used Excel to create a family tree. When I mapped everything out, the tree was enormous. So much so that I had to cut over half off just to print the document out on a 24x36 sheet of poster print which is now framed and in the upstairs hallway, along with antique family portraits. The earliest individual that I kept (without having to cut off to make room in order to print the doc out) is an individual born in 1162. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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