Can We Guess Your Ancestral Roots?

By: Teresa McGlothlin
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can We Guess Your Ancestral Roots?
Image: Patricia Marroquin / Moment Open / Getty Images

About This Quiz

We're going to go ahead and assume that you know where you and your family came from. Do you think we'll be able to guess by the answers that you give us? Take a look at these questions about your family, your family's beliefs and traditions, and the things you know about your history, and we'll take our best guess.

Cultures around the world have unique customs. Whether you realize it or not, many of them are still being practiced in your everyday life. You might not be out catching your own Norwegian herring. You might be observing a religious tradition that your African ancestors started. Once you tell us about the things your family does and about the traits you collectively possess, we are sure we'll be able to nail down the region of the world that gave life to your family tree. 

As you go through this quiz, try to answer as honestly as you can. When you get to the end, we'll add up everything that you've told us. We'll compare the traits found in your answers, and we'll let you know where we think your family's lives all began. Do you think we'll be able to get it right? Or should we mark future genealogist off of our skills list? You be the judge! 

Q 01 Photos
Pixabay by markito
In your family, which of these things has been passed from generation to generation?
Photos
Looks
Recipes
Money

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Q 02 More than one language
kate_sept2004 / E+ / Getty Images
Did you grow up speaking more than one language?
I know a few phrases in another language.
I am bilingual.
I speak more than two languages.
I only know one language.

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Q 03 Family reunion
LWA/Dann Tardif / DigitalVision / Getty Images
If you held a family reunion, how big would the venue need to be?
A nice restaurant is big enough.
We would need a resort!
A large park could hold us.
It could be held at one of our houses.

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Q 04 Last name origin
Andrew Bret Wallis / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Have you been able to trace your last name back to its origin?
We've managed to find the region, but not the exact place.
That's easy. Some of us still live there.
We know the country, but that's about it.
We've traced it all the way back to where it began.

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Q 05 Large extended family
Thomas Barwick / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Do you have a large extended family?
I have a large immediate family.
My family considers everyone a family member.
We tend to keep things small.
It's bigger than some of my friend's families.

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Q 06 Call grandfather figure
10'000 Hours / DigitalVision / Getty Images
When you were growing up, what did you call your grandfather figure?
Pappy
Grandpa
Pops
Papa

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Q 07 Valentine's day
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Which of these holidays is traditionally a big deal in your family?
Christmas
Easter
New Year's Day
Valentine's Day

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Q 08 DNA tests
Peter Dazeley / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Would you like to take one of those at-home DNA tests?
I have, and it was surprising!
I would love to do that.
I don't need to take a test.
I took one, but it backed up what I already knew.

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Q 09 Famous people in family tree
Vladimir Vladimirov / E+ / Getty Images
Are there any famous people on your family tree?
We're really proud of my cousin.
No, but I met a famous person once.
There's a fisherman on a television show.
There are a few of them!

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Q 10 Ancestors time period
ParkerDeen / E+ / Getty Images
If you could see your ancestors during any time period, which one would you choose?
The Wild West would have been nice to see.
I like where we are now.
The Victorian Era has always fascinated me.
There was a revolutionary period I would have like to witness.

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Q 11 Specialized restaurant
andresr / E+ / Getty Images
Are there lots of restaurants that specialize in the food you grew up eating?
There are tons of them!
There's definitely a demand for more.
They aren't usually called restaurants.
I can't really think of any.

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Q 12 Special day to celebrate heritage
sebastian-julian / E+ / Getty Images
Is there a special day dedicated to celebrating your family's heritage?
I don't think so.
There's a popular day to celebrate it.
There's more than one day!
Yes, and there's a parade!

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Q 13 Immigration
Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Do you have any idea how your ancestors ended up here?
There are stories, but I don't know if they are true.
We're still trying to find that out.
Yes, it didn't happen that long ago.
There are rumors, but nothing verifiable.

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Q 14 Region of the country settled
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Which region of the country did your great-great-great-grandparents settle?
The Midwest
The South
The Northeast
The Southwest

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Q 15 Spell your last name
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Do you always have to spell out your last name for other people?
It happens once in a while.
Not usually
All the time!
If I don't, they usually misspell it.

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Q 16 Expensive cheese
Pixabay by analogicus
Which of these foods might be found on your plate during the holidays?
Sausage
Rice
Fish
Expensive cheese

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Q 17 Value drilled into you
MoMo Productions / Stone / Getty Images
Out of these values, which one was drilled into you as a kid?
Work ethic
Integrity
Honor
Honesty

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Q 18 Prominent physical features
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Are there any prominent physical features in your immediate family?
We are around the same height.
You can tell that we're siblings.
A lot of us have freckles.
Blue eyes are a big thing.

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Q 19 Travel to any country
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If you could travel to any country, which one would you choose?
Austria
Wales
Finland
Italy

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Q 20 Devoutly religious family
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Do you come from a devoutly religious family?
A lot of my older relatives are religious.
You bet!
We're religious, but we're not that strict.
My family really isn't all that religious.

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Q 21 Grandmother advice
Chad Springer / Image Source / Getty Images
Which of your family members do you turn to when you need advice?
My grandmother
My mom or dad
My sibling
My crazy aunt or uncle

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Q 22 Veterans
Willowpix / E+ / Getty Images
How many veterans are there in your family?
A few
More than I can count
We only have a couple.
There are not many recent ones. There were more in my grandparents' generation.

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Q 23 Construction workers
Getty Images / Retrofile RF / Getty Images
Which one of these occupations might we find in your known family history?
Lawyers
Chefs
Military members
Construction workers

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Q 24 Great great aunts
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Do you know any of your great, great aunts' names?
I remember one of them.
They are still with us.
I wish I did.
I have never met them.

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Q 25 Strict upbringing
Peter Dazeley / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Would you say that you had a strict upbringing?
It was fairly progressive and laidback.
My mom was a lot stricter than my dad.
It was very strict!
My parents were strict about some things.

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Q 26 Superstitions
Pixabay by photosforyou
Do you have any weird superstitions in your family?
I don't think so.
You have to throw salt over your shoulder if you spill it.
You should have a silver coin in your New Year's cabbage.
We don't believe in superstitions.

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Q 27 Australia
John Crux Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Are you naturally more drawn to Europe, South America or another part of the world?
I would love to visit Europe.
I feel drawn to South America.
It would be cool to visit Australia.
I've always wanted to go to Africa.

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Q 28 Traditional dance
Patricia Marroquin / Moment / Getty Images
Can you perform any of the dances that your family considers traditional?
I can do some of the steps.
Yes. I learned them when I was a kid.
I'm not sure we have a traditional dance.
We consider things like food more of a tradition.

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Q 29 Research your roots
Tom Merton / OJO Images / Getty Images
How many times have you tried to research your roots?
Countless times!
I really should try it.
One of my relatives took care of that.
I've followed a couple of leads.

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Q 30 Famous food
Aniko Hobel / Moment / Getty Images
Are you ancestors famous for anything you can think of?
Food
Temperament
Sailing
High culture

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You Got: