Even if you can’t afford a DNA test, your feet can reveal a lot more about your ancestry than you might think. The shape of your feet could help figure out where your ancestors came from. Here are the details…
Nowadays, researching one’s family tree is much easier than before. In the past, one of the methods used to trace the family tree was the shape of the foot. In fact, some people still believe it today. Although the veracity of the method based on the shape of the foot is regularly questioned, this way of determining a person’s lineage is fascinating and intriguing.
If you’ve exhausted all the sources for your family tree and want some additional ideas for tracing your ancestry, the shape of your feet is sure to be a bit of fun. Here’s what you need to know… There are five recognized foot shapes: Greek, Roman, Celtic, German, and Egyptian. Each type of foot has a unique design, known as the main contours of the foot. Toe lengths are also specific to each type of foot. So what’s your foot type?
Do you have a big toe much longer than the others? If so, it’s an Egyptian foot. Maybe your ancestors lived in ancient Egypt, it’s worth taking a look, we think.
Egyptian feet, arguably the most harmonious shape of the five, have a long big toe and the other toes tapering off at a 45 degree angle. The type of foot where the big toe is longest and the little toes taper at a 45 degree angle downward. It is one of the most common types of feet, Egyptian feet are generally longer and narrower. Most shoes adapt easily to this foot shape due to the regular angle of the toes.
Are your first three toes equal in length and the other two shorter? Congratulations, you have found your ancestry! You are Roman! The Romans used their feet to conquer Europe and North Africa. They even created a standardized length measurement based on the foot. A quarter of the world’s population is believed to have Roman feet, defined by the three largest toes at the same height and the two smallest ones running downward.
Roman feet are defined by the three bigger toes at the same height and the two smaller ones going down, and all little toes can bend slightly and come down. Roman feet tend to have high arches.
Is your second toe longer than the others, including the big toe? So Zeus, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis send you their greetings. Congratulations, you have found your ancestors. This type of foot is characterized by a second toe, called Morton’s toe, which is larger than the others and protrudes past the big toe for a more pointed formation. In people with Greek feet, the first metatarsal, which connects the toes to the back of the foot, is shorter than the second toe, which is the longest. Greek feet, also known as flaming foot or fire foot, are those where the second toe is larger than the big toe. In a Greek foot, the second toe will determine the size of the shoe. If the shoe is too narrow, this toe may fold in on itself for lack of space and take on the shape of a claw, known as a claw or hammer toe.
According to the origin of the foot, Celtic feet have the most complex shape, with a tall but short big toe, an extraordinarily long second toe, and the other toes tapering towards a little toe. Do your feet and toes look like the Celts? If you don’t know of any Celtic ancestry, be prepared to explore unknown sides of your family tree and review your genealogy to see if you have a Celtic ancestor.
Is your big toe the longest, and are your other toes aligned? You could be of Anglo-Saxon, Frankish, Vandal or Visigoth descent, it would be a good idea to do some genealogy research!
One of the rarest foot types, the German foot has the largest big toe but the other four toes are nearly the same length. The toes are generally wider and sturdier than those of other types of feet.