HAPLOGROUPS

Haplogroup E1b1b1 is found primarily in North Africa where frequencies reach as high as 80% among the Berbers. It is also present in the Middle East and across southern Europe particularly in the Balkans. This group most likely arrived in Britain during the Roman occupation. (Families 1, 31)

Haplogroup I1 is a northwestern European group with its highest percentages in Sweden and Norway, though it is quite common in most of the Germanic speaking areas. In Britain, it is the second largest group (after R1b) and is usually associated with the Anglo-Saxon migration or with the later Viking invasions. (Families 2, 34, 50)

Haplogroup I2a1a is found mainly in Sardinia where it constitutes about 40% of all male lines. It is also found in low frequency in other parts of southwestern Europe. This is probably another group that traces most of its presence in Britain to the Roman occupation. (Family 29, 51)

Haplogroup I2a1c is a European group which is found primarily in the Balkans. It reaches its zenith in Bosnia where it constitutes over 40% of the population. The most likely source for this haplogroup in Britain would seem to be from Thracian, Dacian or Illyrian soldiers in the Roman army. (Family 3)

Haplogroup I2a2a is a fairly small group. It reaches its highest numbers in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands where it can constitute as much as 10 to 12.5 percent of the population. This haplogroup most likely arrived in England with the Anglo-Saxons or Danish Vikings. (Family 4)

Haplogroup I2a2b is found in Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain. This group has been shown to be present in central Germany as far back as the Bronze Age. As with I2a2a, most of the members of this haplogroup in Britain probably came as part of the Anglo-Saxon invasion. (Families 39, 49)

Haplogroup J1 is primarily found among the Semitic people of the Middle East, particularly in the Arabian peninsula. It is a very rare group in Europe, being found in low numbers in Italy and Greece. This haplogroup has also been identified with the Jewish priestly caste (Kohanim) which may be the source of most J1's in Britain. (Family 42)

Haplogroup J2b is most common in the Middle East and reaches its highest percentages in Turkey. In Europe, the largest J2b populations are in Greece, Albania and Italy. This haplogroup is rare in Britain where it could represent remnants of eastern Mediterranean troops stationed on the island during the Roman occupation. It also might indicate Jewish heritage. (Family 10)

Haplogroup Q has its origins in Siberia and is found primarily in the northern extremes of Asia and among most American Indians. It is very rare in western Europe but it is present in small numbers in Scandinavia and probably came to Britain with Norse Vikings. (Family 25)

Haplogroup R1a is the largest group in much of an area stretching from eastern Europe to India. It is not common in western Europe outside of Scandinavia. For that reason, this group is usually thought to denote Viking heritage in Britain. (Families 6, 45)

Haplogroup R1b1a2 is by far the most common group in western Europe and declines significantly to the east. It reaches frequencies over 90 per cent in Wales, Ireland and the Basque region of Spain. Because this haplogroup is common among most of the primary groups who settled in Britain (Britons, Scots, Saxons, Vikings, Normans), SNP testing would have to be done to determine to which subclade each family belongs. (Families 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 52)

Haplogroup R1b1a2a1a1a3a1a (R-L1) is a small subclade of the R-U106 division of the preceding group. Outside of England, it has been found mainly in men from the Württemberg/Rhine Valley area of Germany. Present indications are that it arrived in England with the Anglo-Saxons. (Family 7)

Haplogroup R1b1a2a1a1b3a5a (R-L159.2) is a subclade of the R-L21 division of R1b1a2. It is believed to have arrived in the British Isles with the early Celtic migrations and therefore probably suggests a native Briton origin rather than Anglo-Saxon or Viking. (Family 11)