The phrase "was descended" refers to a person's heritage or ancestry, but there are several synonyms that can be used to convey the same meaning. One of the most common synonyms is "was born into," which emphasizes the idea of being brought into a family or clan. Another similar phrase is "was a descendant of," which specifies the relationship to one's ancestors. "Was related to" can also be used to indicate the familial connection, while "came from a line of" suggests a lineage or genealogy. "Traced one's roots back to" emphasizes the historical aspect of heritage, while "had a lineage that went back to" emphasizes the duration of the family's history.