MyHeritage’s Ancient Origins Helped Me Answer My Granddaughter’s Questions About Our Viking Heritage

For decades, a single story has followed me through my life: that my ancestors were probably Vikings. No one was ever able to tell me exactly where this idea came from or provide any proof, but it stayed with me all the same. I carried it quietly for years.

Werner Barlog

Every now and then, I would bring it out — usually in a lighthearted way. If someone complimented me and said I was a strong fighter or very assertive, I would answer, half joking and half serious: “Yes, of course — I’m descended from the Vikings.” That usually led to cheerful and interesting conversations, but it was never more than a rumor I couldn’t verify.

Where the story came from

The origin of this story goes back to my brother, Franz, who sadly passed away several years ago. About 20 years ago, he became interested in researching our family tree. During that time, he made contact with a man in the United States named John Barlog, a retired teacher who has also long since passed away. Unfortunately, I no longer have any details about him — no address or other information — only my brother’s recollection.

According to Franz, John had already gathered quite a bit of information about the Barlog family history and told him that we probably had Vikings among our ancestors. At the time, it sounded more like an interesting rumor than a solid conclusion, and since there was no proof, I more or less buried the story deep inside myself.

Hitting a dead end — until Ancient Origins

Years later, when I began working on my own family tree with DNA testing, I ran into a clear limit. I wasn’t really able to push my research back further than around 1850. That was frustrating.

Then MyHeritage recommended that I try the Ancient Origins feature.

I didn’t expect too much from it, but when I looked at the results, I was genuinely surprised. The idea that my ancestors might have been Vikings suddenly didn’t seem so far-fetched after all. And even more interestingly, the results pointed me closer to the Germanic tribes, and specifically to the Cherusci.

Here is the AI-generated video MyHeritage attached to the results:

A school assignment brings the story back

Around the same time, my granddaughter entered the picture. She moved from primary school to Gymnasium and had an assignment about family trees and the history of her ancestors. She asked me if I could tell her something about our family that she could use for class.

That’s when the old Viking story resurfaced. I told her about it, but I was very clear that I had no proof. Still, she mentioned it casually in class — and that caught her teacher’s attention.

Not long after, my granddaughter called me again and said, “Grandpa, I need more about our ancestors.”

That was the moment I really sat down and studied Ancient Origins more closely.

From Vikings to the Cherusci

The more I looked at the results, the clearer a line began to form for me:

Vikings → Germanic peoples → Cherusci.

Werner’s Ancient Origins results for the Iron Age period

From there, it was impossible not to arrive at Hermann — also known as Arminius — the Cheruscan leader who defeated the Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D. That battle is one of the most famous events in ancient Germanic history.

When I told my granddaughter about this connection, she was excited. “Cool, Grandpa!” she said. “Could we maybe have something in common with Arminius the Cheruscan?”

Of course, I had to slow her down a bit. I explained that DNA can only show possibilities, not absolute certainty. Still, I didn’t want to take away her belief that we might be descended from the Cherusci. My DNA does suggest a serious possibility of that connection.

A personal connection to place

What made this discovery even more meaningful to me is where I come from. I was born near Münster, right in the region associated with the Cherusci and the Roman legions. The Hermann Monument near Detmold, a symbol of Cherusci strength and of Arminius himself, has always been part of the broader landscape of my home region.

The Hermann Monument in Detmold, Germany

Later, I also learned about the Hermann Heights Monument in New Ulm, Minnesota: a kind of “little brother” to the monument in Germany, built on the initiative of German immigrants and inaugurated in 1897.

Hermann Heights Monument in New Ulm, Minnesota

That discovery brought my thoughts back once more to my brother Franz and to John Barlog in the U.S., and to the question of how this Viking story first emerged all those years ago.

A simple but meaningful confirmation?

Ancient Origins didn’t give me absolute answers, but it did give weight to a story that has accompanied me for decades. What once felt like a casual rumor now feels grounded in real genetic evidence.

As MyHeritage puts it: “From the misty forests of Germania to the edges of the Roman world, we are a people of tradition, courage, and honor.”

Werner reimagined by AI as Cherusci tribesman sharing stories with his granddaughter

For me, this has been a fascinating journey through time; not only for myself, but also for my granddaughter, who now carries this story forward with curiosity and enthusiasm. I can truly recommend Ancient Origins to anyone who wants to explore where their roots might lead… even, and especially, when grandchildren are asking questions.

Many thanks to Werner Barlog for sharing his incredible story with us. If you have also made an amazing discovery with MyHeritage, we’d love to hear about it! Please send it to us via this form or email it to us at stories@myheritage.com.