List of genetic results derived from historical figures

This is a list of genetic results derived from historical figures. Some people who trace their direct maternal or paternal ancestry to a noted historical figure have undergone genealogical DNA tests and have made their results publicly available.

Y DNA results

These results are Y-DNA genealogical DNA tests of men who have inferred paternal descent from historical figures. Scientists make the inference as a hypothesis which could be disproved or improved by future research.

John Adams

John Adams belonged to Y-DNA haplogroup R1b. [1]

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton belonged to Y-DNA haplogroup I1a. [2] [3]

Thomas Jefferson

Main article: Jefferson DNA data

Direct male-line sons of a cousin of United States president Thomas Jefferson were DNA tested to investigate historical assertions that Jefferson fathered children with at least one of his slaves.[1] An extended 17-marker haplotype was published in 2007,[2] and the company Family Tree DNA has also published results for other markers in its standard first 12-marker panel.[3] Combining these sources gives the consolidated 21-marker haplotype below. The Jeffersons belong to Haplogroup K2.

DYS
393
390
19
391
385a
385b
426
388
439
389i
392
389ii
437
460
438
461
462
436
434
435
DXYS
156Y

Alleles
13
24
15
10
13
16
11
12
12
12
15
27
14
10
9
11
13
12
11
11
12

(Note: the value of DXYS 156Y was reported as 7 in the original paper. This is believed to translate to 12 in the convention now used by DNA testing labs and online databases)

Ysearch: Q8UXG (9 Y-STRs)

Genghis Khan

Main article: Descent from Genghis Khan

DNA purported to be from Genghis Khan does not have the benefit of near and easily documented lineages, but a distinct ‘modal’ result centers today on Mongolia; some question how accurate the articles relaying the information are.

According to Zerjal et al (2003),[4] Genghis Khan is believed to have belonged to Haplogroup C.

DYS
393
390
391
425
426
434
435
436
437i
438
439
388
389i
389ii
392

Alleles
13
25
10
12
11
11
11
12
8
10
10
14
10
26
1

According to Family Tree DNA,[5] Genghis Khan is believed to have belonged to Haplogroup C3.

Extended 25 Marker Y-DNA modal based on Mongolians matching the above modal haplotype in the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation database,[6] which also corresponds to the modal assigned to Genghis Khan released by Family Tree DNA:[5]

DYS
393
390
19
391
385a
385b
426
388
439
389i
392
389ii
458
459a
459b
455
454
447
437
448
449
464a
464b
464c
464d

Alleles
13
25
16
10
12
13
11
14
10
13
11
29
18
8
8
11
12
26
14
22
27
11
11
12
16

Ysearch: GF44B (78 Y-STRs)

Niall of the Nine Hostages

Main article: Niall of the Nine Hostages

A recent study conducted at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland[7] found that a striking percentage of men in Ireland (and quite a few in Scotland) share the same Y chromosome, suggesting that the 5th-century warlord known as “Niall of the Nine Hostages” may be the ancestor of one in 12 Irishmen. Niall established a dynasty of powerful chieftains that dominated the island for six centuries. Niall belongs to Haplogroup R1b1c7 (M222). It should be noted that Dr. Moore’s results examined some different parts of DNA (loci) from the result given here.

DYS
393
390
19
391
385a
385b
426
388
439
389i
392
389ii
458
459a
459b
455
454
447
437
448
449
464a
464b
464c
464d

Alleles
13
25
14
11
11
13
12
12
12
13
14
29
17
9
10
11
11
25
15
18
30
15
16
16
17

Ysearch: M5UKQ

Somerled

Main article: Somerled

In 2003 Oxford University researchers traced the Y-chromosome signature of Somerled of Argyll, one of Scotland’s greatest warriors who is credited with driving out the Vikings. He was also the founder of Clan Donald and it is through the clan genealogies of the clan that the genetic relation was mapped out.[8] Somerled belongs to haplogroup R1a1.

In 2005 a study by Professor of Human Genetics Bryan Sykes of Oxford University led to the conclusion that Somerled has possibly 500,000 living descendants – making him the second most common historical ancestor after Genghis Khan[9]

The Y-DNA sequence is as follows (12 markers): [4]

DYS
393
390
19
391
385a
385b
426
388
439
389i
392
389ii
458
459a
459b
455
454
447
437
448
449
464a
464b
464c
464d

Alleles
13
25
15
11
11
14
12
12
10
14
11
31
16
8
10
11
11
23
14
20
31
12
15
15
16

Ysearch: YS495

Joseph Stalin

Main article: Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin, from a genetic test on his grandson (his son Vasily’s son; Alexander Burdonsky) shows his Y-DNA haplogroup to be G2a1 [5]

DYS
393
390
19
391
385A
385B
426
388
439
389I
392
389II
458
459A
459B
455
454
447
437
448
449
464A
464B
464C
464D

Alleles
14
23
15
9
15
16
11
12
11
11
10
28
17
9
9
11
11
25
16
21
28
13
13
14
14

Ysearch:
GF44B

mtDNA results

The following are mtDNA results for historical figures who have had mitochondrial DNA tested.

Jesse James

In 1995 the body of Jesse James was exhumed and compared to two known living relatives, making a perfect match on both counts.

Name
mitochondrial DNA sequence
Haplogroup

body attributed to Jesse James
16126C, 16274A, 16294T, 16296T, 16304C
T2

Luke the Evangelist

A body attributed to Luke the Evangelist that resides in Padua, Italy, underwent a mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) test:

Name
Location
Approximate lifetime
mitochondrial DNA sequence
Haplogroup

body attributed to Luke the Evangelist
Italy
1,850 years ago
16235G, 16291T
H

Marie Antoinette

DNA taken from a lock of Marie Antoinettes hair cut from her as a child matched DNA believed to be from her son, King Louis XVII

Name
mitochondrial DNA sequence
Haplogroup

DNA attributed to Marie Antoinette
16519C, 152C, 194T, 263G, 315.1C
H

Petrarch

The remains of Francesco Petrarca had DNA extracted from them in 2003.

Name
mitochondrial DNA sequence
Haplogroup

body attributed to Petrarch
16126C, 16193T, 16311C
J2

Romanov: Tzar Nicholas II of Russia and Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna

Main articles: Alexandra Fyodorovna of Hesse and Nicholas II of Russia

Tzar Nicholas II of Russia and Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna were DNA tested along with the other bodies in their mass grave. The tests concluded that five of the skeletons were members of one family and four were unrelated. Three of the five were determined to be the children of two parents. The mother was linked to the British royal family, as was Alexandra. The father was determined to be related to several other Romanovs. Scientists said they were more than 99% sure that the remains were those of the Czar, his family and their attendants. Two skeletons remain unaccounted for: Alexei, the 13-year-old heir to the throne, and one of his sisters, either Maria or Anastasia. Anastasia received worldwide notoriety when rumors spread that she alone had survived the murders.

• Tzar Nicholas Romanov & Count Trubetskoy: mtDNA Haplogroup T (16126C, 16169Y*, 16294T, 16296T, 73G, 263G, 315.1C)
• Empress Alexandra & Prince Philip: mtDNA Haplogroup H (16111T, 16357C, 263G, 315.1C)

*Tsar Nicholas has a heteroplasmy, an instance of multiple mitochondrial types together in one cell of an individual: a normal & mutational cell, at 16169Y. The results were the same for Grand Duke Georgij Romanov, his brother.

Yasdigird the Sasanian, King of Persia

Yasdigird has potentially been shown to belong to mtDNA haplogroup J1a [6]

References

1. ^ Foster, EA; Jobling MA, Taylor PG, Donnelly P, de Knijff P,
   Mieremet R, Zerjal T, Tyler-Smith C (1998). “Jefferson fathered slave’s last child”. Nature 396 (6706): 27–28. doi:10.1038/23835. PMID 9817200.

2. ^ King, TE; Bowden GR, Balaresque PL, Adams SM, Shanks ME, Jobling MA (2007). “Thomas Jefferson’s Y chromosome belongs to a rare European lineage”. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 132 (4): 584–9. doi:10.1002/ajpa.20557. PMID 17274013.

3. ^ Family Tree DNA. Comparing yourself to the Jefferson DNA. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
4. ^ Zerjal, T; Xue Y, Bertorelle G, Wells RS, Bao W, Zhu S, Qamar R, Ayub Q, Mohyuddin A, Fu S, Li P, Yuldasheva N, Ruzibakiev R, Xu J, Shu Q, Du R, Yang H, Hurles ME, Robinson E, Gerelsaikhan T, Dashnyam B, Mehdi SQ, Tyler-Smith C (2003). “The Genetic Legacy of the Mongols”. American Journal of Human Genetics 72 (3): 717-21. PMID 12592608.

5. ^ a b Family Tree DNA. Matching Genghis Khan. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
6. ^ SMGF: Genghis Khan modal haplotype search results.
7. ^ Moore LT, McEvoy B, Cape E, Simms K, Bradley DG (2006). “A y-chromosome signature of hegemony in gaelic ireland”. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 78 (2): 334-8. doi:10.1086/500055. PMID 16358217.

8. ^ The Norse Code
9. ^ DNA shows Celtic hero Somerled’s Viking roots, The Scotsman, 26 Apr 2006

See also