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Ancestry refers to the lineage or descent of a person, family, or group, tracing back through generations to identify their origins, heritage, and familial connections. It encompasses the genetic, cultural, and historical ties that link individuals to their forebears, shaping their identity and sense of belonging. Ancestry is a multifaceted concept, intertwining biology, genealogy, history, and culture, and it plays a significant role in how people understand themselves and their place in the world.

At its core, ancestry is rooted in genetics. Each individual inherits a unique combination of DNA from their parents, who in turn inherited their DNA from their own ancestors. This genetic material carries information about physical traits, predispositions to certain health conditions, and even behavioral tendencies. Advances in genetic testing, such as DNA analysis, have made it possible for individuals to trace their biological ancestry with remarkable precision. Companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA offer services that analyze genetic markers to provide insights into a person's ethnic composition and geographic origins, often revealing surprising connections to distant relatives or previously unknown heritage.

Beyond genetics, ancestry is deeply tied to genealogy, the study of family history and lineage. Genealogical research involves constructing family trees, documenting relationships, and uncovering historical records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, census data, and immigration documents. This process often reveals stories of migration, resilience, and adaptation, offering a window into the lives of ancestors and the challenges they faced. For many, genealogy is a way to honor their forebears and preserve their legacy for future generations.

Cultural ancestry is another critical dimension, encompassing the traditions, languages, customs, and values passed down through generations. It connects individuals to their ethnic or national heritage, shaping their cultural identity and worldview. For example, someone with Irish ancestry might celebrate St. Patrick's Day, learn traditional Irish dance, or explore the Gaelic language, while someone with Japanese ancestry might practice tea ceremonies, study calligraphy, or observe Obon festivals. Cultural ancestry fosters a sense of continuity and belonging, linking individuals to a broader community with shared experiences and values.

Historical ancestry delves into the broader context of a family's or group's past, including significant events, social conditions, and historical movements that shaped their lives. For instance, the transatlantic slave trade, the Irish Potato Famine, or the Jewish diaspora have profoundly influenced the ancestry of millions of people, leaving lasting imprints on their descendants' identities. Understanding historical ancestry often involves grappling with complex narratives of triumph and tragedy, resilience and oppression, and the interplay of individual and collective experiences.

Ancestry also has a deeply personal and emotional dimension. For many, exploring their ancestry is a journey of self-discovery, offering insights into who they are and where they come from. It can foster a sense of pride, connection, and continuity, as well as a deeper appreciation for the struggles and achievements of those who came before. At the same time, it can raise questions about identity, belonging, and the complexities of heritage, particularly for individuals with mixed or multicultural backgrounds.

In a globalized world, ancestry serves as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting individuals to their roots while also highlighting the interconnectedness of human history. It underscores the diversity and richness of human experience, reminding us that every person's story is part of a larger tapestry woven over centuries. Whether through genetic testing, genealogical research, cultural practices, or historical exploration, ancestry offers a profound way to understand ourselves and our place in the world.

A diversification score measures the diversity of ancestries in the county. As the value appoaches 100, ancestry diversity decreases and therefore increasing the risk of a lack of cultural diversity. The ancestry diversification score for this county is:

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

Ancestry Report Part I
Description	Total Population	American	Native American	Hawaiian	Caribbean (Latino)	Mexican	Central American	South American	Other Hispanic	African American	Sub- Saharan	Caribbean (Black)

Holmes County	16,124	124	51	0	18	44	0	0	26	8,437	2,516	2,442
Mississippi (in 000's)	2,976	220	14	1	16	60	16	5	8	736	171	161
National (in 000's)	343,251	13,890	2,213	626	11,327	38,879	6,181	4,644	3,687	25,893	7,852	7,174
Madison County	115,654	5,151	140	11	136	3,020	679	253	57	30,987	5,747	5,079
Leflore County	26,923	631	12	0	0	607	60	69	86	13,038	3,533	3,398
Yazoo County	23,614	780	65	8	40	169	47	16	874	9,164	2,323	2,151
Attala County	17,439	839	28	4	96	70	0	17	28	5,112	1,358	1,236
Carroll County	9,579	816	9	0	5	70	0	0	10	1,932	574	543
Humphreys County	7,324	77	9	0	0	34	0	0	13	3,508	1,105	1,052

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Holmes County	33.34	0.77	0.32	0.00	0.11	0.27	0.00	0.00	0.16	52.33	15.60	15.15
Mississippi	13.85	7.39	0.47	0.04	0.55	2.03	0.54	0.18	0.28	24.71	5.76	5.40
National	7.83	4.05	0.64	0.18	3.30	11.33	1.80	1.35	1.07	7.54	2.29	2.09
Madison County	13.59	4.45	0.12	0.01	0.12	2.61	0.59	0.22	0.05	26.79	4.97	4.39
Leflore County	28.37	2.34	0.04	0.00	0.00	2.25	0.22	0.26	0.32	48.43	13.12	12.62
Yazoo County	20.94	3.30	0.28	0.03	0.17	0.72	0.20	0.07	3.70	38.81	9.84	9.11
Attala County	16.80	4.81	0.16	0.02	0.55	0.40	0.00	0.10	0.16	29.31	7.79	7.09
Carroll County	17.14	8.52	0.09	0.00	0.05	0.73	0.00	0.00	0.10	20.17	5.99	5.67
Humphreys County	29.23	1.05	0.12	0.00	0.00	0.46	0.00	0.00	0.18	47.90	15.09	14.36

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Holmes County		10.41	67.71	0.00	20.33	13.47	0.00	0.00	56.76	211.72	271.13	280.30
Mississippi		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		54.78	138.02	511.41	601.03	559.03	333.79	772.44	378.09	30.52	39.75	38.68
Madison County		60.29	25.91	26.65	21.42	128.88	108.82	124.89	17.35	108.41	86.34	81.28
Leflore County		31.73	9.54	0.00	0.00	111.28	41.31	146.32	112.44	195.94	228.01	233.59
Yazoo County		44.71	58.92	94.94	30.85	35.32	36.89	38.68	1,302.86	157.02	170.93	168.59
Attala County		65.13	34.37	64.28	100.26	19.81	0.00	55.66	56.52	118.61	135.31	131.18
Carroll County		115.31	20.11	0.00	9.51	36.07	0.00	0.00	36.75	81.61	104.12	104.91
Humphreys County		14.23	26.30	0.00	0.00	22.91	0.00	0.00	62.48	193.80	262.15	265.84

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Holmes County		19.00	49.05	0.00	3.38	2.41	0.00	0.00	15.01	693.65	682.14	724.62
Mississippi		182.55	72.45	19.55	16.64	17.89	29.96	12.95	26.45	327.63	251.59	258.51
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Madison County		110.06	18.77	5.21	3.56	23.05	32.60	16.17	4.59	355.18	217.23	210.11
Leflore County		57.92	6.91	0.00	0.00	19.91	12.38	18.94	29.74	641.96	573.66	603.86
Yazoo County		81.63	42.69	18.56	5.13	6.32	11.05	5.01	344.59	514.45	430.04	435.82
Attala County		118.89	24.90	12.57	16.68	3.54	0.00	7.21	14.95	388.59	340.42	339.10
Carroll County		210.51	14.57	0.00	1.58	6.45	0.00	0.00	9.72	267.37	261.95	271.22
Humphreys County		25.98	19.06	0.00	0.00	4.10	0.00	0.00	16.53	634.94	659.55	687.23

Ancestry Report Part II
Description	Total Population	Canadian	British	Dutch	French	German	Italian	Polish	Scandinavian	Scotish/ Irish	Spanish	Other European

Holmes County	16,124	0	67	1	4	15	10	0	0	69	6	1
Mississippi (in 000's)	2,976	5	165	6	30	73	26	6	11	156	5	31
National (in 000's)	343,251	1,350	18,069	1,828	3,642	24,708	9,027	4,667	5,969	20,625	1,140	9,563
Madison County	115,654	163	8,191	357	1,117	3,503	1,281	155	324	7,494	11	3,459
Leflore County	26,923	0	408	12	20	82	48	0	11	409	2	25
Yazoo County	23,614	16	620	18	106	143	15	0	21	510	0	49
Attala County	17,439	0	978	13	37	169	59	8	33	951	16	96
Carroll County	9,579	0	481	3	53	99	52	1	13	365	0	10
Humphreys County	7,324	1	48	0	9	16	13	0	0	86	0	1

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Holmes County	33.34	0.00	0.42	0.01	0.02	0.09	0.06	0.00	0.00	0.43	0.04	0.01
Mississippi	13.85	0.17	5.56	0.20	1.02	2.45	0.88	0.19	0.36	5.24	0.17	1.03
National	7.83	0.39	5.26	0.53	1.06	7.20	2.63	1.36	1.74	6.01	0.33	2.79
Madison County	13.59	0.14	7.08	0.31	0.97	3.03	1.11	0.13	0.28	6.48	0.01	2.99
Leflore County	28.37	0.00	1.52	0.04	0.07	0.30	0.18	0.00	0.04	1.52	0.01	0.09
Yazoo County	20.94	0.07	2.63	0.08	0.45	0.61	0.06	0.00	0.09	2.16	0.00	0.21
Attala County	16.80	0.00	5.61	0.07	0.21	0.97	0.34	0.05	0.19	5.45	0.09	0.55
Carroll County	17.14	0.00	5.02	0.03	0.55	1.03	0.54	0.01	0.14	3.81	0.00	0.10
Humphreys County	29.23	0.01	0.66	0.00	0.12	0.22	0.18	0.00	0.00	1.17	0.00	0.01

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Holmes County		0.00	7.48	3.12	2.43	3.80	7.07	0.00	0.00	8.16	21.64	0.60
Mississippi		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		235.41	94.73	267.60	104.09	294.30	299.85	726.09	484.03	114.57	193.18	269.73
Madison County		84.35	127.46	155.11	94.75	123.83	126.28	71.57	77.98	123.55	5.53	289.54
Leflore County		0.00	27.27	22.40	7.29	12.45	20.33	0.00	11.37	28.97	4.32	8.99
Yazoo County		40.55	47.25	38.30	44.04	24.76	7.24	0.00	24.75	41.18	0.00	20.09
Attala County		0.00	100.93	37.46	20.81	39.62	38.57	24.50	52.67	103.98	53.35	53.29
Carroll County		0.00	90.37	15.74	54.28	42.25	61.89	5.58	37.78	72.65	0.00	10.11
Humphreys County		8.17	11.79	0.00	12.06	8.93	20.24	0.00	0.00	22.39	0.00	1.32

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Holmes County		0.00	7.89	1.16	2.34	1.29	2.36	0.00	0.00	7.12	11.20	0.22
Mississippi		42.48	105.56	37.37	96.07	33.98	33.35	13.77	20.66	87.28	51.77	37.07
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Madison County		35.83	134.54	57.96	91.03	42.08	42.12	9.86	16.11	107.84	2.86	107.35
Leflore County		0.00	28.79	8.37	7.00	4.23	6.78	0.00	2.35	25.28	2.24	3.33
Yazoo County		17.23	49.88	14.31	42.31	8.41	2.42	0.00	5.11	35.94	0.00	7.45
Attala County		0.00	106.54	14.00	20.00	13.46	12.86	3.37	10.88	90.76	27.62	19.76
Carroll County		0.00	95.39	5.88	52.15	14.36	20.64	0.77	7.80	63.42	0.00	3.75
Humphreys County		3.47	12.45	0.00	11.58	3.03	6.75	0.00	0.00	19.54	0.00	0.49

Ancestry Report Part III
Description	Total Population	Chinese	Filipino	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	South Central Asian	South East Asian	Other Asian	Middle Eastern	Other Ancestry	Unknown

Holmes County	16,124	3	2	0	0	0	22	0	2	1	1,684	579
Mississippi (in 000's)	2,976	5	4	1	1	7	7	3	3	5	501	517
National (in 000's)	343,251	4,461	3,010	793	1,541	1,913	5,452	1,643	1,229	1,931	47,322	51,000
Madison County	115,654	1,131	106	126	119	492	1,233	56	53	567	19,910	14,546
Leflore County	26,923	26	91	2	1	0	26	5	17	18	2,953	1,333
Yazoo County	23,614	3	3	0	4	0	7	5	31	0	3,161	3,265
Attala County	17,439	17	0	0	0	0	1	18	32	71	3,205	2,947
Carroll County	9,579	0	17	0	0	0	14	1	3	0	1,970	2,538
Humphreys County	7,324	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	0	1	925	414

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Holmes County	33.34	0.02	0.01	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.14	0.00	0.01	0.01	10.44	3.59
Mississippi	13.85	0.17	0.14	0.04	0.04	0.24	0.25	0.09	0.09	0.15	16.84	17.36
National	7.83	1.30	0.88	0.23	0.45	0.56	1.59	0.48	0.36	0.56	13.79	14.86
Madison County	13.59	0.98	0.09	0.11	0.10	0.43	1.07	0.05	0.05	0.49	17.22	12.58
Leflore County	28.37	0.10	0.34	0.01	0.00	0.00	0.10	0.02	0.06	0.07	10.97	4.95
Yazoo County	20.94	0.01	0.01	0.00	0.02	0.00	0.03	0.02	0.13	0.00	13.39	13.83
Attala County	16.80	0.10	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.10	0.18	0.41	18.38	16.90
Carroll County	17.14	0.00	0.18	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.15	0.01	0.03	0.00	20.57	26.50
Humphreys County	29.23	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.16	0.00	0.00	0.01	12.63	5.65

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Holmes County		10.92	9.15	0.00	0.00	0.00	55.69	0.00	13.39	4.07	62.03	20.69
Mississippi		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		762.78	647.05	655.35	1,009.42	231.04	648.27	528.97	386.65	369.54	81.88	85.60
Madison County		573.95	67.62	309.10	231.30	176.36	435.13	53.51	49.47	322.10	102.24	72.46
Leflore County		56.68	249.37	21.08	8.35	0.00	39.42	20.52	68.16	43.93	65.14	28.53
Yazoo County		7.46	9.37	0.00	38.08	0.00	12.10	23.40	141.72	0.00	79.50	79.66
Attala County		57.21	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	2.34	114.07	198.09	267.49	109.15	97.36
Carroll County		0.00	130.94	0.00	0.00	0.00	59.65	11.54	33.81	0.00	122.14	152.65
Humphreys County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	66.87	0.00	0.00	8.97	75.01	32.57

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Holmes County		1.43	1.41	0.00	0.00	0.00	8.59	0.00	3.46	1.10	75.76	24.17
Mississippi		13.11	15.45	15.26	9.91	43.28	15.43	18.90	25.86	27.06	122.13	116.82
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Madison County		75.25	10.45	47.17	22.91	76.34	67.12	10.12	12.79	87.16	124.87	84.65
Leflore County		7.43	38.54	3.22	0.83	0.00	6.08	3.88	17.63	11.89	79.56	33.32
Yazoo County		0.98	1.45	0.00	3.77	0.00	1.87	4.42	36.65	0.00	97.10	93.06
Attala County		7.50	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.36	21.57	51.23	72.38	133.31	113.74
Carroll County		0.00	20.24	0.00	0.00	0.00	9.20	2.18	8.74	0.00	149.17	178.33
Humphreys County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	10.32	0.00	0.00	2.43	91.61	38.04

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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