Do you consider the maternal line or paternal line more important?

[Richmondbread]

We can say both matter, but I always thought your mother's ancestry is a tad more relevant than the father . For a few reasons

1.It is easier to verify the mother than the father. This is very true in the case of adoption
2.Mitochondrial DNA
3.Your mother gave birth to you
4.In the Royal family, the mother's line decides who inherits the throne.

If you have an excellent maternal line, but a crummy paternal line, I would say it wouldn't matter, since your mother's side is what really counts. Any thoughts?

[Marmara]

Paternal, only some primitive African tribes are Matriarchal.

[Gründig]

They both contribute around 50% to your genetic make up. Therefore, they are both equally important. You could not come into existence without both.

[GreentheViper]

Why limit the importance of either side by choosing. Both sides are extremely important to your ancestry and your family history.

[Iloko]

I found this interesting: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ernal-DNA.html

[Bogdan]

I’ve always found both as contributing equally when cutting society or roles out of the matter and just focusing on scientific/genetic fact.

[Richmondbread]

Despite what people think here, I look almost nothing like my dad, and take after my mother's family personality traits. I'm a lot like my mother's father, moreso than anyone in my dad's family. In fact, my dad's family seemed strange to me. Never could figure them out. Always closer to my mother's family' s relatives, more Southern, etc.

[Bobby Martnen]

In Western cultures, your heritage comes from the father.

Now, you can be closer to your maternal relatives, and they can play a larger role in your life, but your ethnic and dynastic lineage comes from your direct paternal line.

[GypsyQueen]

They're equally important. People who think otherwise are oftentimes naive or, not to be rude, ignorant.


Why?

1st off maternal surnames in many societies existed prior to paternal. It's why some paternal surnames have maternal root (as in a woman's nickname).

2nd in countries, including western, back in history men of, to be blunt, inferior breeding/social status took their wives' surnames. Particularly if the surname was rare. So, in reality, as example Swanson of the wealthy background his legit paternal surname and Y-DNA is Bucket not Swanson.

3rd there's an old saying you can trace a lineage through the mother for she, at least, is guaranteed. Non paternal events (e.g. affairs, etc.), adoption of a relative's or friend's young child when the parents die suddenly as happened, etc. means a surname isn't always a guaranteed lineage.

[Richmondbread]

In Western cultures, your heritage comes from the father.

Now, you can be closer to your maternal relatives, and they can play a larger role in your life, but your ethnic and dynastic lineage comes from your direct paternal line.

Not true at all. My mother's family was mostly British, Irish, French, etc. Her family was oldest of Virginians. They are the important side , in my case. My father's relatives are Germans late to the USA, but they don't dictate my heritage. The only difference is you inherit your father's Surname. But my first and middle name come from my mom's family. So it all evens out, IMO.