The analysis found evidence of substantial continental European ancestry in Conquest Man’s genetic profile.

This distinguishes him from the profile typical of individuals with purely English or British ancestry from the pre-Norman period.

But the continental European ancestry signal requires careful interpretation.

It could point to several different backgrounds.

The Normans themselves were of Scandinavian origin.

They were descendants of Viking settlers who had established themselves in northern France in the early tenth century, beginning with the grant of Normandy to the Norse chieftain Rollo in 911.

Within several generations, the Normans had adopted French language and many French cultural practices, but their ancestry remained largely Scandinavian, mixed over time with the local Frankish population of northern France.