Surprise, surprise!

[no_hypocrisy]

After much research, it turns out that two families on the side of my father's mother kept intermarrying. Cousins, uncles, etc. The same names keep turning up as maiden names for marriage records. One marriage in the Thirties was such a union with "second cousins" actually written on the registration. Can't wait to see my DNA results . . . . . .

[MontanaMama]

1. Holy buckets.

You'll have to keep us posted.

[El Supremo]

2. I recently discovered that I am descended from one couple three different ways.

Back in the Jamestown era. The man's name was Robert "Tater Hole" Woodson. A relative had told me that we have a lot of "Woodsons in the pile." I think this was not uncommon in centuries past.

[Dem2theMax]

6. This is my 5,000th post!

My dad was related to Robert 'tater hole' Woodson!
Welcome to the family!

[customerserviceguy]

3. I do a lot of genealogy research

and I see that often in the north part of Maine. People who are listed by DNA services as third and fourth cousins are often much farther apart from me than that, because of endogamy.

Not sure if it's true or not, but I did read that for the recorded history of humankind, 80% of marriages were between second cousins or closer. I guess the automobile was a step towards marrying a cousin seem so icky today.

[The Genealogist]

4. I see this among Amish/Mennonite people

I see it in a few other families as well, often ones that are more geographically isolated.

[GeoWilliam750]

5. Amongst people of European heritage

It is sometimes a little unsettling at how closely related we are.