Genealogy ‘an addiction’
With the last name Bellini, Bruce grew up thinking he was Italian – but when he looked into his past he quickly found out otherwise.
‘‘The name was changed some generations back and I’m actually of Danish decent,’’ he said.
Bellini stayed mum on why the name was changed but said many families had a dark past they wanted to, ahem, hide.
Bellini is the convenor of the New Plymouth Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists.
That means he looks into his family’s past to try and figure out where he came from.
While he supports those who choose to buy a DNA test, that won’t tell the full story. ‘‘Look into your ancestry,’’ he implores. ‘‘People do DNA to find out ethnicity. But they’re not interested in finding out who their ancestors were, why they came to New Zealand.’’
Bellini and his wife Lea have been looking into family history since the 1990s.
Four years ago they took the step to get their DNA tested.
By then he already knew he wasn’t Italian.
He said the DNA tests often solidify genealogy research and can occasionally point people in the right direction, too.
Some information gathered from the DNA tests can go online and Bellini said the amount that’s now on the internet was ‘‘phenomenal’’.
‘‘It’s certainly growing enormously and among young people.’’
But Bellini warned DNA tests can also reveal ‘‘surprises’’. Such as people finding out they have no genetic relationship to people they previously thought were their siblings, cousins or even parents.
Many people don’t get interested in family history until they have children of their own, Bellini said.
Which is why as the New Plymouth Genealogy branch prepares to celebrate 50 years, he still sees another 50 years ahead of it.
‘‘The problem with genealogy is it’s an addiction,’’ he said.
‘‘The more you find out the more you want to know.’’
The 50th anniversary event is being held on November 23 and 24 at the New Plymouth Genealogy Branch Rooms and Library on Breakwater Rd, Moturoa.
To find out more visit: www. genealogynp.com