Irish May Have More Viking DNA Than Previously Known

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

There must be a lot of us on Chat with Irish heritage

I was hoping I had a little Viking heritage, too, from the British Isles, but nothing showed up in 23 & Me. However, my Irish heritage certainly did show up, so maybe there is a little after all

“We can’t say for certain exactly how much Viking is in modern Irish people, but we can say that it was found among people from all different parts of the island, signifying a compelling connection among the population as a whole,” Russell McLaughlin, study author and an assistant genetics professor at Trinity College Dublin, told The Times, a British newspaper.

Raw Story report this morning

jeanlake · ‎03-10-2010

Historically it makes sense. My Ancestry test showed significant Scandinavian and Norweigien DNA, along with Irish/Scottish that I knew about. Surprise.

"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." Henry David Thoreau

Dominosmom · ‎07-17-2010

Received 23 & Me for christmas and planning to open it soon. I know I have mostly Irish/English heritage but would like to see any nordic connection. My DH is Danish/Irish so his should be similar.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

My DNA profile came back with Irish, Scandinavian and Norwegian...so that totally makes sense to me. I think the Vikings were known to be world-travelers so their DNA could be anywhere.

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

Interesting. I'll have to look into that.

Husband and both sides of his bloodline go back to the Norse. Last date they found info on his fathers' side was 1407; eldest son is picking up the research as he can do much of it from his bed. Gotta tell ya, he and they all look it: pale with white hair and electric blue eyes. My sons all have this coloring except two who have green eyes (that's my gift to them, along with pale skin). People have always asked me if I'm their mum due to my coloring not being like theirs but if somewhere in my Irish background there's Norse, well....the wheel of DNA found it when they were created, lol.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

wrote:
Historically it makes sense. My Ancestry test showed significant Scandinavian and Norweigien DNA, along with Irish/Scottish that I knew about. Surprise.

You're right @jeanlake

I've had a couple of long distant ties to Norway, a truly beautiful country. Many of the Vikings that invaded what we know as the UK left their mark in more ways than one. Some took home their brides from the British Isles.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

wrote:
Received 23 & Me for christmas and planning to open it soon. I know I have mostly Irish/English heritage but would like to see any nordic connection. My DH is Danish/Irish so his should be similar.

@Dominosmom I had a surprise in mine. 100% European but some southern European, Sardinian. We've been having fun with that one.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

wrote:
My DNA profile came back with Irish, Scandinavian and Norwegian...so that totally makes sense to me. I think the Vikings were known to be world-travelers so their DNA could be anywhere.

Anthropologists think there might have been a small Viking settlement in the most northeast part of America. They are excavating now.

@SilleeMee

You can follow photos of Norway by way of Instagram if you're interested.

RainCityWoman · ‎06-16-2015

Scotland certainly has a Viking heritage, since they came down through Scotland from the North Sea. I can see how there are probably Viking descendants in Ireland as well.