Sunday, March 9, 2014

Was Great Granddad A Viking King?

Vikings invading Great Britain

In 2011, I ordered both maternal lineage (MtDNA) and paternal lineage (Y-46) DNA tests from ancestry.com.  

The results suggested mom's ancient ancestors may have migrated to Europe settling in present-day Basque Country and other parts of Europe, and dad's ancient ancestors probably lived in present day Scandinavia.

In 2013, I ordered a revised and improved test that suggests my ethnicity is 53% Western European, 21% Irish, 20% English and Scotch with trace amounts 4% from the Iberian Peninsula and 2% from Scandinavia.


Focusing on my 2% from Scandinavia

Scandinavia is perched atop northern Europe, its natives referred to throughout history as “North Men.” Separated from the main European continent by the Baltic Sea, the Scandinavians have historically been renowned seafarers. Their adventures brought them into contact with much of the rest of Europe, sometimes as feared raiders and other times as well-traveled merchants and tradesmen.

The Vikings -- norsemen from Scandinavia -- sailed most of the North Atlantic, reaching south to North Africa and east to Russia, Constantinople and the Middle East, as looters, traders, colonists, and mercenaries.  Vikings under Leif Ericson, heir to Erik the Red, reached North America, and set up a short-lived settlement in present-day L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. 

Longer, more established settlements were formed in Greenland, Iceland, Great Britain, and Normandy.


In early 2014, I found family tree sources supporting my 2% Scandinavian ancestry.  To be absolutely honest any ancestry that goes back beyond modern records (18th century and later) is a bit murky to me -- and in my opinion -- must be viewed with some suspicion as to their complete accuracy.

That being said I found evidence that suggests I have viking ancestry that goes back to Halfdan "Hvitbein" Olafsson King in Uppsala, born 704 in Romerike, Buskerud, Norway; married about 735 to Asa Eysteinsdatter in Vestfold, Norway, and died 750 in Vermaland, Norway.

If I am truly descended from Halfdan "Hvitbein" Olafsson King in Uppsala the lineage is as follows:

Halfdan "Hvitbein" Olafsson King in Uppsala (704 - 750)
my 38th great grandfather

King Eysteinn Halfdansson (736 - 780)
son of Halfdan Olafsson

Halfdan Eysteinsson
son of King Eysteinn Halfdansson

Ivar Vidfame Sweden Halfdansson (772 - 824)
son of Halfdan Eysteinsson

Eystein Glumra Noisy Rattle Ivarsson* (810 - 846)
son of Ivar Vidfame Sweden Halfdansson

Ragnvald I Wise Jarl Eysteinsson (830 - 892)
son of Eystein Glumra Noisy Rattle Ivarsson*

Robert I Rollo "The Viking" "Rolf the Ganger" Prince of Norway & Saint De Normandie "Count of Rouen" Ragnvaldsson (846 - 932)
son of Ragnvald I Wise Jarl Eysteinsson

William I (Longsword) of Normandy (893 - 943)
son of Robert I Rollo "The Viking" "Rolf the Ganger" Prince of Norway & Saint De Normandie "Count of Rouen" Ragnvaldsson

Richard I Normandy (933 - 996)
son of William I (Longsword) of Normandy

Richard II Duke of Normandy (1000 - 1035)
son of Richard I Normandy

Robert I Duke of Normandy (1000 - 1035)
son of Richard II Duke of Normandy

William the Conqueror (1024 - 1087)
son of Robert I Duke of Normandy

Henry I Beauclerc England (1068 - 1135)
son of William the Conqueror

Matilda England (1102 - 1167)
daughter of Henry I Beauclerc England

Henry II Plantagenet (1133 - 1189)
son of Matilda England

King John Lackland Plantagenet (1167 - 1216)
son of Henry II Plantagenet

Henry III Plantagenet (1207 - 1272)
son of King John Lackland Plantagenet

Edmund Crouchback Plantagenet (1244 - 1296)
son of Henry III Plantagenet

Henry 3rd Earl of Lancaster Plantagenet (1281 - 1345)
son of Edmund Crouchback Plantagenet

Eleanor Countess of Arundel Plantagenet (1311 - 1372)
daughter of Henry 3rd Earl of Lancaster Plantagenet

Richard Fitzalan III, Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey (1346 - 1397)
son of Eleanor Countess of Arundel Plantagenet

Elizabeth Duchess Norfolk Baroness of Fitz Alan (1366 - 1425)
daughter of Richard Fitzalan III, Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey

Lady Joan Baroness Stanley Goushill (1401 - 1460)
daughter of Elizabeth Duchess Norfolk Baroness of Fitz Alan

Katherine Stanley (1430 - 1498)
daughter of Lady Joan Baroness Stanley Goushill

Christoffer Savage (1473 - 1513)
son of Katherine Stanley

Richard Savage (1520 - 1551)
son of Christoffer Savage

Susan Savage (1550 - 1576)
daughter of Richard Savage

George French (1570 - 1647)
son of Susan Savage

Ann French (1610 - 1673)
daughter of George French

George Mason (1629 - 1686)
son of Ann French

Richard Mason (1670 - 1730)
son of George Mason

William Mason (1692 - 1745)
son of Richard Mason

Margaret Mason (1725 - 1752)
daughter of William Mason

James Boyd (1757 - 1791)
son of Margaret Mason

James Boyd (1783 - 1854)
son of James Boyd

Valentine Boyd (1811 - 1870)
son of James Boyd

Sophia Boyd (1836 - 1908)
daughter of Valentine Boyd

David Jackson Bailey (1865 - 1949)
son of Sophia Boyd - great grandfather

I'm not really sure I believe the lineage, but it's fun to think about.  They claim anyone who can go back 30 generations in Europe will eventually find a King in the family tree.


If I really do have a Nordic heritage maybe I should go cross country skiing in Norway.

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