Unraveling the Threads of the Past: A Barkley's Journey Through Time with iGENEA DNA
Family name Barkley
A genetic test is a lens that can provide insights into the past that history books may have forgotten or overlooked. Such was my journey when I committed to an iGENEA DNA test. This journey led me to the source of my surname, 'Barkley,' and painted a colorful narrative of a family's transition from the English lowlands to the Scottish Highlands.
Surrounded by sheet after sheet of captivatingly detailed information, the intricate fibers of my past were slowly, methodically unraveled, placing the scattered pieces of my genetic puzzle together. Thanks to my iGENEA DNA test, I discovered an astonishing network of historical and cultural connections fascinatingly linked to my surname - Barkley. My genetic lineage, like a vibrant echo cascading through the halls of time, paints a vivid picture of bold adventurers, tenacious soldiers, and revered scholars, all bound together by the shared identity of a name. Barkley.
From the depths of antiquity, the Barkleys call Scotland their ancestral home, where they held a family seat as lords and noblemen in the region of Troup in Banff, established since the early Middle Ages. My test results revealed a predominance of maternal lineage, called haplogroup H, commonly found among the indigenous peoples of the Scottish Highlands. The Barkley name is derived from 'Berkeley,' a location in Gloucestershire, England. Back in the 12th century, a nobleman by the name of Roger de Berkeley migrated north, and the Barkley name took root in Scotland.
The Barkleys have a rich history of service and dedication. Many served in the great struggle for Scottish independence, fiercely loyal to their native land. Moreover, they were renowned scholars, contributing significantly to the local intellectual scene. John Barkley, a 16th-century scholar, even gained international fame for his Latin writings, a beacon in the Renaissance.
My iGENEA DNA test served as a sturdy bridge, connecting me with the past and presenting profound insights into the life and heritage of my ancestors. Now, the tales of valiant battles, daring adventures, and scholastic pursuits aren’t just stories found in a dusty corner of a library. They are a part of me, encoded into my very DNA.
M. Barkley