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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)

Tucker County	6,720	1,499	2	1	10	1	0	11	22	2	7	1
West Virginia (in 000's)	1,777	198	3	0	9	14	5	3	5	40	11	10
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
Preston County	34,362	7,057	72	5	44	176	0	11	436	2,016	45	14
Randolph County	27,193	2,935	81	1	45	131	28	81	21	273	60	51
Barbour County	15,460	1,320	42	0	54	80	5	0	59	267	15	22
Grant County	11,068	1,475	17	0	21	38	0	2	3	55	45	12

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Tucker County	16.41	22.31	0.03	0.01	0.15	0.01	0.00	0.16	0.33	0.03	0.10	0.01
West Virginia	17.22	11.14	0.17	0.02	0.51	0.81	0.28	0.18	0.26	2.27	0.63	0.54
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
Preston County	16.57	20.54	0.21	0.01	0.13	0.51	0.00	0.03	1.27	5.87	0.13	0.04
Randolph County	19.32	10.79	0.30	0.00	0.17	0.48	0.10	0.30	0.08	1.00	0.22	0.19
Barbour County	18.79	8.54	0.27	0.00	0.35	0.52	0.03	0.00	0.38	1.73	0.10	0.14
Grant County	21.88	13.33	0.15	0.00	0.19	0.34	0.00	0.02	0.03	0.50	0.41	0.11

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

Tucker County		200.18	17.82	63.42	29.39	1.85	0.00	91.88	125.63	1.31	16.42	2.77
West Virginia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		36.31	386.09	777.71	651.84	1,406.96	636.38	759.45	412.18	332.39	360.63	389.56
Preston County		184.30	125.46	62.01	25.29	63.62	0.00	17.97	486.93	258.51	20.65	7.59
Randolph County		96.86	178.36	15.67	32.69	59.84	36.39	167.20	29.64	44.24	34.78	34.96
Barbour County		76.62	162.67	0.00	68.99	64.28	11.43	0.00	146.45	76.10	15.30	26.52
Grant County		119.59	91.97	0.00	37.48	42.65	0.00	10.14	10.40	21.90	64.10	20.21

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

Tucker County		551.23	4.62	8.15	4.51	0.13	0.00	12.10	30.48	0.39	4.55	0.71
West Virginia		275.37	25.90	12.86	15.34	7.11	15.71	13.17	24.26	30.09	27.73	25.67
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Preston County		507.51	32.50	7.97	3.88	4.52	0.00	2.37	118.13	77.77	5.72	1.95
Randolph County		266.72	46.20	2.02	5.01	4.25	5.72	22.02	7.19	13.31	9.65	8.97
Barbour County		210.99	42.13	0.00	10.58	4.57	1.80	0.00	35.53	22.89	4.24	6.81
Grant County		329.33	23.82	0.00	5.75	3.03	0.00	1.34	2.52	6.59	17.77	5.19

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

Tucker County	6,720	16	542	49	85	1,074	299	76	38	618	0	169
West Virginia (in 000's)	1,777	2	184	12	13	174	50	18	11	181	3	41
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
Preston County	34,362	2	2,361	234	239	4,287	839	399	138	2,907	8	830
Randolph County	27,193	15	1,966	219	146	3,626	906	109	316	3,628	22	322
Barbour County	15,460	18	1,056	117	171	2,134	725	74	102	2,036	17	141
Grant County	11,068	8	552	98	59	2,978	168	109	40	663	0	119

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Tucker County	16.41	0.24	8.07	0.73	1.26	15.98	4.45	1.13	0.57	9.20	0.00	2.51
West Virginia	17.22	0.12	10.34	0.66	0.75	9.79	2.84	1.01	0.60	10.16	0.18	2.30
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
Preston County	16.57	0.01	6.87	0.68	0.70	12.48	2.44	1.16	0.40	8.46	0.02	2.42
Randolph County	19.32	0.06	7.23	0.81	0.54	13.33	3.33	0.40	1.16	13.34	0.08	1.18
Barbour County	18.79	0.12	6.83	0.76	1.11	13.80	4.69	0.48	0.66	13.17	0.11	0.91
Grant County	21.88	0.07	4.99	0.89	0.53	26.91	1.52	0.98	0.36	5.99	0.00	1.08

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

Tucker County		191.81	78.01	110.34	168.94	163.20	156.68	112.47	93.90	90.54	0.00	109.51
West Virginia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		316.88	50.92	80.59	141.70	73.50	92.61	135.21	288.75	59.16	186.29	121.33
Preston County		4.69	66.46	103.05	92.90	127.40	85.98	115.48	66.69	83.29	13.06	105.18
Randolph County		44.44	69.93	121.87	71.71	136.16	117.32	39.86	192.97	131.35	45.37	51.56
Barbour County		93.80	66.07	114.52	147.73	140.95	165.13	47.60	109.56	129.66	61.67	39.72
Grant County		58.23	48.24	133.99	71.20	274.75	53.45	97.94	60.01	58.98	0.00	46.82

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

Tucker County		60.53	153.22	136.92	119.22	222.03	169.18	83.18	32.52	153.05	0.00	90.26
West Virginia		31.56	196.40	124.09	70.57	136.05	107.98	73.96	34.63	169.04	53.68	82.42
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Preston County		1.48	130.53	127.87	65.56	173.32	92.84	85.41	23.10	140.80	7.01	86.70
Randolph County		14.02	137.34	151.23	50.60	185.24	126.68	29.48	66.83	222.04	24.35	42.50
Barbour County		29.60	129.76	142.11	104.25	191.76	178.31	35.21	37.94	219.17	33.10	32.73
Grant County		18.38	94.74	166.26	50.24	373.79	57.72	72.43	20.78	99.69	0.00	38.59

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

Tucker County	6,720	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	5	459	1,729
West Virginia (in 000's)	1,777	2	2	1	1	1	4	1	1	5	157	613
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
Preston County	34,362	9	26	0	1	0	27	1	4	6	1,998	10,170
Randolph County	27,193	1	0	6	4	0	4	10	22	12	2,268	9,884
Barbour County	15,460	0	48	0	0	0	0	0	3	23	1,387	5,544
Grant County	11,068	0	0	6	0	0	0	0	11	2	807	3,780

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Tucker County	16.41	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.07	0.07	6.83	25.73
West Virginia	17.22	0.14	0.14	0.04	0.05	0.06	0.23	0.06	0.08	0.29	8.86	34.51
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
Preston County	16.57	0.03	0.08	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.08	0.00	0.01	0.02	5.81	29.60
Randolph County	19.32	0.00	0.00	0.02	0.01	0.00	0.01	0.04	0.08	0.04	8.34	36.35
Barbour County	18.79	0.00	0.31	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.02	0.15	8.97	35.86
Grant County	21.88	0.00	0.00	0.05	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.10	0.02	7.29	34.15

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

Tucker County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	94.38	25.43	77.12	74.56
West Virginia		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		929.08	642.73	640.41	950.04	936.98	678.86	814.76	454.34	192.23	155.67	43.06
Preston County		18.72	55.45	0.00	6.16	0.00	33.58	4.95	14.77	5.97	65.65	85.77
Randolph County		2.63	0.00	61.17	31.12	0.00	6.29	62.60	102.63	15.08	94.17	105.33
Barbour County		0.00	227.54	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	24.62	50.84	101.30	103.92
Grant County		0.00	0.00	150.30	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	126.07	6.18	82.33	98.97

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

Tucker County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	20.77	13.23	49.54	173.17
West Virginia		10.76	15.56	15.62	10.53	10.67	14.73	12.27	22.01	52.02	64.24	232.26
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Preston County		2.02	8.63	0.00	0.65	0.00	4.95	0.61	3.25	3.10	42.18	199.20
Randolph County		0.28	0.00	9.55	3.28	0.00	0.93	7.68	22.59	7.85	60.50	244.63
Barbour County		0.00	35.40	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	5.42	26.45	65.08	241.35
Grant County		0.00	0.00	23.47	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	27.75	3.21	52.89	229.86

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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