In the earlier parts of this blog series, we’ve discussed royal bloodlines, specifically those belonging to the royal families of Britain, Denmark, and Japan. We’ve also explored the fascinating bloodlines of the prominent Kong family and one that started with cave-dwellers from the Bronze Age.
It’s beyond apparent by now that there’s more to bloodlines and family trees than meets the eye—they’re critical in determining familial relations and matters of inheritance and heirship. And in cases where no large fortunes or thrones are at stake, carefully preserved bloodlines still prove to be crucial maps for historians.
Before concluding this series, we’ll explore North America’s oldest DNA and the oldest bloodline in the world.
Darrell Crawford—The Oldest Identified DNA In North America
Darrel “Dusty” Crawford is a resident of Heart Butte in Montana, and through DNA testing, he’s become somewhat of a legend for historians and genealogists. For starters, DNA analysis has verified his connection to one of the oldest and largest surviving Native American tribes, i.e., the Blackfeet Nation. This discovery alone has the power to change the narrative about the first humans who lived on the North American continent and where they came from.
However, Darrel Crawford’s DNA has other exciting implications too. For instance, the DNA signature has been traced back further than anyone else’s DNA in the Americas and spans over 55 generations. Moreover, the DNA adds credibility to the claim that several thousands of years ago, people from Pacific Islands had come to South America and traveled north before settling in the American Southwest.
Additionally, the MtDNA from Crawford belongs to the Haplogroup B2, the DNA material linked to Native Americans. Individuals with this Maternal Haplogroup can trace their lineage all the way back to the ancient female Ina. And according to the testing company, this particular DNA group has its roots in Arizona and began about 1700 years ago!
Lurie Family Bloodline—Possibly the Oldest and Longest Bloodline in The World
The Lurie family claims their bloodline can be traced all the way to King David—yes, to biblical times.
Of course, tracing so far back means a lot of guesswork and room for error, so many historians may not rely on the dubious process and findings. However, the bloodline can still be traced all the way to the 13th century—to the most prominent Ashkenazi Jewish family in France.
There are also some factors, and members that make the Lurie family bloodline so fascinating, for instance:
- Many of the Kings of Judah are said to be from this bloodline;
- Sigmund Freud, the famous neurologist, was a member too;
- The prominent philosopher Karl Marx was from the Lurie family;
- Felix Mendelssohn, Martin Buber, and the medieval Talmud scholar Rabbi Rashi, were all from this bloodline;
- It also seems to include anyone of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage —whether they’re alive or if they’ve already passed on..
While bloodlines are interesting, and can have important implications in royal circles, , they’re no more significant than any other relationships you build in life— and at least in the grand scheme of things, they offer little more than entertainment value..
However, for a family historian, bloodlines offer direct links to the past and can help you gain perspective.
If you’d like to explore and learn more about your bloodline, you can reach out to us at DavisDNA And Family Research. We offer genetic genealogy services and can help you figure out DNA testing for ancestry.
