The fun of adoption...

[Downix]

Got into a long discussion with my mother last night about ancestory with adoptions stepping in the middle. The long and short of it is, my bio father left my mother before I was born, she remarried and her husband adopted me as his own. He, in turn, had his father leave his mother at the age of 2, and was adopted by his mothers second husband as a teenager. So, when doing ancestory research, we wind up with a nice mixture due to the adoptions, so wind up with "adopted trees" as well as "blood trees." So, last night we got to discussing my fathers bio maternal grandfather, James Otway, and his heritage. To me, it was facinating to hear, and read, of his ancestory (well documented, surprisingly) and knowing that while I was not of blood, I was family that was chosen to join. To me, his daughter, my grandmother Muriel, was Grandma, and nothing else. So despite having nearly no contact with my biological family, and no knowledge of their ancestory beyond my bio grandparents, I still find myself with a rich family tree.

So, I am curious what the rest of you think of adoption, does it mean as much as blood when doing ancestor research?

[Kerr the Walker]

In my mind, it's who you call Ma and Pa that count. Whether the ties be blood or not.

[george7]

Family is Family. Genes turn into dust with the rest of the body.

[Jack Daw]

My Y-DNA test connects me to some Skenes as well as MacIntyres.

[Scotus]

Adoption is not as important as blood in genealogy. While adoption makes it your family legally, there isn't a blood connection, which is what genealogy is really all about; that is, 'I am descended from so-and-so and carry his/her genetic code.' When doing ancestor search, search for your blood; however, this will be more difficult with adoptions, as those are legal acts.

I'm not referring here to who your family is in regard to legally and/or sentiment, but rather genealogical/blood ties.

[Downix]

Adoption is not as important as blood in genealogy. While adoption makes it your family legally, there isn't a blood connection, which is what genealogy is really all about; that is, 'I am descended from so-and-so and carry his/her genetic code.' When doing ancestor search, search for your blood; however, this will be more difficult with adoptions, as those are legal acts.

I'm not referring here to who your family is in regard to legally and/or sentiment, but rather genealogical/blood ties.

of course, fully understood. Hence why I avoided the term genealogy. Genetic-wise, I can only trace from my mother. My father is luckier here, having his full bio family tree.

[sathor]

I understand it, I was printing family trees for some family near Thanksgiving, but I didn't print one for my sisters kids, since I don't know how they want to teach their kids about their ancestors, as my sis is really only a half sister.

[gilmore]

Adoption is not as important as blood in genealogy. While adoption makes it your family legally, there isn't a blood connection, which is what genealogy is really all about; that is, 'I am descended from so-and-so and carry his/her genetic code.' When doing ancestor search, search for your blood; however, this will be more difficult with adoptions, as those are legal acts.

I'm not referring here to who your family is in regard to legally and/or sentiment, but rather genealogical/blood ties.

I don't agree with this at all.

What makes a family a family, and a descent a descent, is culturally determined and not carved in stone. E.g., in some cultures the groom sometimes becomes part of his wife's family, and their progeny are thought of as her family's, regardless of genetics or "blood." There are many other such examples. This is the pluralistic 21 Century. The notion that only genetic connections are normative and worthy of genealogical research is no longer applicable.

In fact that was never the case.

In both Europe and American cultures, some 3.7% to 4% of births are misattributed paternity. That is, the alleged father of a child is not the mother's husband. That is of course about one in 25. This is a seemingly small number, but over the generations it accumulates until on average after some 19 or 20 generations or so there is at least one non-paternal event (NPE), as they are called in genetic genealogy. There is a formula for determinning the likelihood of an NPE having occured in any given number of generations that I can dig up, if anyone interested.

Twenty generations is only something less than six centuries usually, at 27 years per male generation, a standard calculation.

So, most of us who liked to boast that we descend from the Magna Carta Sureties, Companions of the Conqueror, Charlemagne, Niall of the Seven Hostages, Somerled, etc, may very well be, but, more likely than not, not in the ways that the paper trails indicate.

[Scully]

I am adopted and my family is MY family. I have know no other and I prefeer to keep it that way. My family ties are mine. Now saying that, I was adopted from CA many years ago and there is no listing of a father on the paperwork. I can't start a search if I don't have starting point.
Your situation is different and special so be glad you CAN search and get answers. Best of luck with your search.

[gilmore]

I am adopted and my family is MY family. I have know no other and I prefeer to keep it that way. My family ties are mine. Now saying that, I was adopted from CA many years ago and there is no listing of a father on the paperwork. I can't start a search if I don't have starting point.
...

That is no longer the case, necessarily.

If you are a man, you can test your Y chromosome DNA through one of the genetic genealogy testing firms, and are quite likely to be able to discover at least your biological father's surname, if not closer paternal male relatives.

Family Tree DNA is the leading company, has the largest database and hence is more likley to be helpful than the other companies. Their site is www.familytreedna.com . You might take a look at their FAQ, if you are interested. I believe they have a project for adoptees.

Y DNA testing is something of a crap shoot. You may find an exact match, you may find distant matches, you may find no matches at all, or it might be years before some one with Y DNA close to yours tests. I suspect it will be a more helpful adjunct to genealogical research in years to come as more men test than it is now.