The Y chromosome is passed from father to son, remaining mostly unaltered across generations, except for small traceable changes in DNA. By tracking these changes, we can construct a family tree of humankind where all male lineages trace back to a single common ancestor who lived hundreds of thousands of years ago. This human tree allows us to explore lineages through time and place and to uncover the modern history of our direct paternal surname line and the ancient history of our shared ancestors. The R-A11474 Story R-A11474's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-A410 and the rest of mankind around 1 BCE. The most likely estimate is 9 BCE, but it's rounded to 1 BCE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 50 CE. The most likely estimate is 51 CE, but it's rounded to 50 CE. This MRCA is the ancestor of at least 3 descendant lineages known as R-BY20360, R-FT28955, and 1 yet unnamed lineage. Currently, there are 21 tested descendants. R-BY20360 R-BY20360's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-A11474 and the rest of mankind around 50 CE. The most likely estimate is 51 CE, but it's rounded to 50 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 300 CE. The most likely estimate is 321 CE, but it's rounded to 300 CE. He is the ancestor of at least 2 descendant lineages known as R-FT173936 & R-BY75148. Currently, there are 5 DNA tested descendants. R-FT173936 R-FT173936's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-BY20360 and the rest of humankind around 300 CE. The most likely estimate is 321 CE, rounded to 300 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1500 CE. The most likely estimate is 1479 CE, rounded to 1500 CE. He is the ancestor of at least 2 descendant lineages known as R-BY65061 and 1 yet unnamed lineage. Currently, there are 3 DNA tested descendants. R-BY65061 R-BY65061's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT173936 and the rest of humankind around 1500 CE. The most likely estimate is 1479 CE, rounded to 1500 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1900 CE. The most likely estimate is 1924 CE, rounded to 1900 CE. He is the most recent paternal line ancestor of all members of this group. Currently, there are 2 DNA tested descendants. R-BY75148 R-BY75148's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-BY20360 and the rest of humankind around 300 CE. The most likely estimate is 321 CE, rounded to 300 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1750 CE. The most likely estimate is 1740 CE, rounded to 1750 CE. He is the most recent paternal line ancestor of all members of this group. Currently, there are 2 DNA tested descendants. R-FT28955 R-FT28955's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-A11474 and the rest of mankind around 50 CE. The most likely estimate is 51 CE, but it's rounded to 50 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1550 CE. The most likely estimate is 1528 CE, but it's rounded to 1550 CE. He is the ancestor of at least 2 descendant lineages known as R-FT28691 & R-FTE62548. Currently, there are 15 DNA tested descendants. R-FT28691 R-FT28691's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT28955 and the rest of mankind around 1550 CE. The most likely estimate is 1528 CE, but it's rounded to 1550CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1600 CE. The most likely estimate is 1613 CE, but it's rounded to 1600 CE. He is the ancestor of at least 6 descendant lineages known as R-FT407227, R-FT30847, R-FTE21296, and 3 yet unnamed lineages. Currently, there are 13 DNA tested descendants. R-FTE62548 R-FTE62548's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT28955 and the rest of mankind around 1550 CE. The most likely estimate is 1528 CE, but it's rounded to 1550 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1650 CE. The most likely estimate is 1633 CE, but it's rounded to 1650 CE. He is the most recent paternal line ancestor of all members of this group. Currently, there are 2 DNA tested descendants. R-FT407227 R-FT407227's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT28691 and the rest of mankind around 1600 CE. The most likely estimate is 1613 CE, but it's rounded to 1600 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1650 CE. The most likely estimate is 1661 CE, but it's rounded to 1650 CE. He is the most recent paternal line ancestor of all members of this group. Currently, there are 3 DNA tested descendants. R-FTE21296 R-FTE21296's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT28691 and the rest of humankind around 1600 CE. The most likely estimate is 1613 CE, rounded to 1600 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1800 CE. The most likely estimate is 1820 CE, rounded to 1800 CE. He is the most recent paternal line ancestor of all members of this group. Currently, there are 2 DNA tested descendants. R-FT30847 R-FT30847's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT28691 and the rest of mankind around 1600 CE. The most likely estimate is 1613 CE, but it's rounded to 1600 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1700 CE. The most likely estimate is 1679 CE, but it's rounded to 1650 CE. He is the ancestor of at least 3 descendant lineages known as R-FT30244 and 2 yet unnamed lineages. Currently, there are 5 DNA tested descendants. R-FT30244 R-FT30244's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT30847 and the rest of humankind around 1700 CE. The most likely estimate is 1679 CE, rounded to 1700 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1800 CE. The most likely estimate is 1801 CE, rounded to 1800 CE. He is the ancestor of at least 2 descendant lineages known as R-FT29697 and 1 yet unnamed lineage. Currently, there are 3 DNA tested descendants. R-FT29697 R-FT29697's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT30244 and the rest of humankind around 1800 CE. The most likely estimate is 1801 CE, rounded to 1800 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1900 CE. The most likely estimate is 1907 CE, rounded to 1900 CE. He is the most recent paternal line ancestor of all members of this group. Currently, there are 2 DNA tested descendants.