Where was the original home of Gypsies?

Question:

Where was the original home of Gypsies?

Plz cite the sources too.

Thanx

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: You need to be a little bit more specific in your question.

The ORIGINAL origin of the Romani is Punjab, India. Of course, this was a long, long time ago. The name "Gypsy" came from a mistaken belief that we were from Egypt.

We spread all over the world.

If you want an answer about any other ethnicity that falls under the umbrella term "Gypsy" I cannot provide it.

People keep saying we originated in Romania because of the name. "Rom" means, in Romanes, "man". That is all.

I, too, am of Romanian Romani descent. Most of us describe ourselves by where our familiya or Vitsa is from. I am American but my parents were from Romania.

"Gypsy" is not a way of life. "Gypsy" is an umbrella term that includes many very distinct ethnicities, including Romani, Sinti, Black Dutch, Irish Travellers, and many more. One of the ways to annoy a Gypsy is to walk up to one and say... "I have cast my worries to the wind, am now a free spirit, I am a Gypsy just like YOU!"

There are more sources citing that we originated in India than I care to dig up. Here are two:

http://www.orientaldancer.net/articles/o...
http://web.quipo.it/minola/romani/romani...