About us
This section provides an overview of our Y-DNA subgroup assigments as well as a general overview of the different Y-DNA and mt-DNA haplogroups found in our Key group testing.
KEY SUBGROUP ASSIGNMENTS:
Key group testers have generally been assigned to the same subgroup with matching or near-matching Key-group testers listed on the Y-DNA Matches page of their testkit pages. The subgroup name is frequently based on the haplogroup and the name of the Earliest Known Ancestor (EKA) having the earliest date in the subgroup, or possibly a distinctive source-location for that subgroup, such as Fermanagh Keys. I anticipate that each subgroup will retain its distinctive color on the Y Results page of this Key group website so that testers can find their subgroup easily.
Testers not having near-matches with other testers have been assigned to subgroups on the basis of (1) the same haplogroup and (2) relationships shown on FTDNA's TiP reports, but much more remote than near-matches. That probably means sharing Most Recent Common Ancestors roughly within the last 500-800 years or more. These remote-cousin links can sometimes tell us very interesting things about our own more remote ancestors.
R1b1c testers not having any near-matches or remote matches have been assigned to the R1b1c Remote Key subgroup. Their probability of sharing a Most Recent Common Ancestor with other testers either outside or inside their own subgroup is around 0-2 % in the last 24 generations (roughly 600 years).
As a result we now have 16 subgroups, with a total of 105 testing members.
KEY Y-DNA HAPLOGROUP DESCRIPTIONS:
Our Key group testers have been classified in Y-DNA haplogroups E, G, J, I and R. FTDNA describes these haplogroups as follows:
E3b1 This haplogroup probably originated in eastern Africa and is about 25,000 years old. It expanded into the Mediterranean during the Pleistocene Neolithic expansion. It is currently distributed around the Mediterranean, southern Europe and in north and east Africa. Lineages which do not belong to any of this haplogroup's branches are found mainly in eastern and southern Africa.
E3b1a Haplogroup:This lineage is estimated to have originated in north-eastern Africa about 23,000 years ago. Some of its branches exited Africa during the Paleolithic. Today it can be found in Europe, the Middle East and north and east Africa. Our only tester so far of this lineage reportedly traces back to Francis Scott Key, and he has been assigned to the Francis Scott Key subgroup.
G2 Haplogroup: The G lineage may have originated in India or Pakistan and has dispersed into central Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The G2 branch of this lineage (containing the P15 mutation) is found most often in Europe and the Middle East. This is the haplogroup of our largest subgroup: G2 Virginia USA Key.
I Haplogroup: The I group dates to 23,000 years ago or longer. Lineages not in branches I1a, I1b or I1c are found distributed at low frequency throughout Europe.
I1 Haplogroup: The I1 group dates to 23,000 years ago or longer. Lineages not in branches I1a, I1b or I1c are found distributed at low frequency throughout Europe.
I1a Haplogroup: The I1a lineage likely has its roots in northern France. Today it is found most frequently within Viking/Scandinavian populations in northwest Europe and has since spread down into Central and Eastern Europe, where it is found at low frequencies.
J2 Haplogroup: This lineage originated in the northern portion of the Fertile Crescent where it later spread throughout central Asia, the Mediterranean and south into India. As with other populations with Mediterranean ancestry this lineage is found within Jewish populations. We have one tester so far in this lineage, assigned to the J2 Key subgroup.
R1a Haplogroup: The R1a lineage is believed to have originated in the Eurasian Steppes north of the Black and Caspian Seas. This lineage is thought to descend from a population of the Kurgan culture, known for the domestication of the horse (circa 3000 B.C.E.). These people were also believed to be the first speakers of the Indo-European language group. This lineage is found in central and western Asia, India and in Slavic populations of Europe. We have one tester so far in this lineage, assigned to the R1a Theophilus Key subgroup.
R1b Haplogroup: R1b is the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype. We do not yet have any testers in this group.
R1b1 Haplogroup: R1b is the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype. We have three testers in this group.
R1b1c Haplogroup: R1b is the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype. This is our largest group with 19 testers.
KEY MT-DNA HAPLOGROUP DESCRIPTIONS:
Our seven Key mt-DNA testers so far have been classified into seven different sub-clades of the mt-DNA haplogroups H, J, K and L, shown on this website's mt Results page and described by FTDNA as follows:
H Specific mitochondrial haplogroups are typically found in different regions of the world. This is due to unique population histories. In the process of spreading around the world, many populations-with their special mitochondrial haplogroups-became isolated, and specific haplogroups concentrated in geographic regions. Today, we have identified certain haplogroups which originated in Africa, Europe, Asia, the islands of the Pacific, the Americas and even particular ethnic groups. Of course, haplogroups that are specific to one region are sometimes found in another, but this is due to recent migration.
The Mitochondrial haplogroup H is a predominantly European haplogroup which originated outside of Europe before the last glacial maximum (LGM). It first expanded in the northern Near East and southern Caucasus between 33,000 and 26,000 years ago, and later migrations from Iberia suggest it reached Europe before the LGM. It has also spread to Siberia and Inner Asia. Today, about 40% of all mitochondrial lineages in Europe are classified as haplogroup H.
H1 is the most common branch of haplogroup H. It most likely originated 15-20,000 years ago and represents 30% of people in haplogroup H and 46% of the maternal lineages in Iberia. It can also be found at significant frequency in the Near East and some Middle Eastern populations. 13-14% of all Europeans belong to this branch.
H1b is detected at its highest frequency in Eastern Europe and North Central Europe. It is also found in about 5% of haplogroup H lineages in Siberian Mansis. This branch is about 14,000 years old and while some H1b samples have been found in the Near East, they may be present there due to more recent migrations from Europe.
J* The mitochondrial haplogroup J contains several sub-lineages. The original haplogroup J originated in the Near East approximately 50,000 years ago. Within Europe, sub-lineages of haplogroup J have distinct and interesting distributions. Haplogroup J*-the root lineage of haplogroup J-is found distributed throughout Europe, but at a relatively low frequency. Haplogroup J is generally considered one of the prominent lineages which was part of the Neolithic spread of agriculture into Europe from the Near East beginning approximately 10,000 years ago.
K The mitochondrial super-haplogroup U encompasses haplogroups U1-U7 and haplogroup K. Haplogroup K is found through Europe and contains multiple closely related lineages indicating a recent population expansion. The origin of haplogroup K dates to approximately 16,000 years ago and it has been suggested that individuals with this haplogroup took part in the pre-Neolithic expansion following the Last Glacial Maximum.
L3e Part of the L cluster of haplogroups, which has been concretely characterized as representing the original human mitochondrial lineage, haplogroup L3e is found in Africa. This haplogroup dates to approximately 50,000 years ago and is detected primarily in sub-equatorial Africa. Future work will further document the historical distribution of this haplogroup and closely related haplogroups of the L cluster.
KEY SUBGROUP ASSIGNMENTS:
Key group testers have generally been assigned to the same subgroup with matching or near-matching Key-group testers listed on the Y-DNA Matches page of their testkit pages. The subgroup name is frequently based on the haplogroup and the name of the Earliest Known Ancestor (EKA) having the earliest date in the subgroup, or possibly a distinctive source-location for that subgroup, such as Fermanagh Keys. I anticipate that each subgroup will retain its distinctive color on the Y Results page of this Key group website so that testers can find their subgroup easily.
Testers not having near-matches with other testers have been assigned to subgroups on the basis of (1) the same haplogroup and (2) relationships shown on FTDNA's TiP reports, but much more remote than near-matches. That probably means sharing Most Recent Common Ancestors roughly within the last 500-800 years or more. These remote-cousin links can sometimes tell us very interesting things about our own more remote ancestors.
R1b1c testers not having any near-matches or remote matches have been assigned to the R1b1c Remote Key subgroup. Their probability of sharing a Most Recent Common Ancestor with other testers either outside or inside their own subgroup is around 0-2 % in the last 24 generations (roughly 600 years).
As a result we now have 16 subgroups, with a total of 105 testing members.
KEY Y-DNA HAPLOGROUP DESCRIPTIONS:
Our Key group testers have been classified in Y-DNA haplogroups E, G, J, I and R. FTDNA describes these haplogroups as follows:
E3b1 This haplogroup probably originated in eastern Africa and is about 25,000 years old. It expanded into the Mediterranean during the Pleistocene Neolithic expansion. It is currently distributed around the Mediterranean, southern Europe and in north and east Africa. Lineages which do not belong to any of this haplogroup's branches are found mainly in eastern and southern Africa.
E3b1a Haplogroup:This lineage is estimated to have originated in north-eastern Africa about 23,000 years ago. Some of its branches exited Africa during the Paleolithic. Today it can be found in Europe, the Middle East and north and east Africa. Our only tester so far of this lineage reportedly traces back to Francis Scott Key, and he has been assigned to the Francis Scott Key subgroup.
G2 Haplogroup: The G lineage may have originated in India or Pakistan and has dispersed into central Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The G2 branch of this lineage (containing the P15 mutation) is found most often in Europe and the Middle East. This is the haplogroup of our largest subgroup: G2 Virginia USA Key.
I Haplogroup: The I group dates to 23,000 years ago or longer. Lineages not in branches I1a, I1b or I1c are found distributed at low frequency throughout Europe.
I1 Haplogroup: The I1 group dates to 23,000 years ago or longer. Lineages not in branches I1a, I1b or I1c are found distributed at low frequency throughout Europe.
I1a Haplogroup: The I1a lineage likely has its roots in northern France. Today it is found most frequently within Viking/Scandinavian populations in northwest Europe and has since spread down into Central and Eastern Europe, where it is found at low frequencies.
J2 Haplogroup: This lineage originated in the northern portion of the Fertile Crescent where it later spread throughout central Asia, the Mediterranean and south into India. As with other populations with Mediterranean ancestry this lineage is found within Jewish populations. We have one tester so far in this lineage, assigned to the J2 Key subgroup.
R1a Haplogroup: The R1a lineage is believed to have originated in the Eurasian Steppes north of the Black and Caspian Seas. This lineage is thought to descend from a population of the Kurgan culture, known for the domestication of the horse (circa 3000 B.C.E.). These people were also believed to be the first speakers of the Indo-European language group. This lineage is found in central and western Asia, India and in Slavic populations of Europe. We have one tester so far in this lineage, assigned to the R1a Theophilus Key subgroup.
R1b Haplogroup: R1b is the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype. We do not yet have any testers in this group.
R1b1 Haplogroup: R1b is the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype. We have three testers in this group.
R1b1c Haplogroup: R1b is the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype. This is our largest group with 19 testers.
KEY MT-DNA HAPLOGROUP DESCRIPTIONS:
Our seven Key mt-DNA testers so far have been classified into seven different sub-clades of the mt-DNA haplogroups H, J, K and L, shown on this website's mt Results page and described by FTDNA as follows:
H Specific mitochondrial haplogroups are typically found in different regions of the world. This is due to unique population histories. In the process of spreading around the world, many populations-with their special mitochondrial haplogroups-became isolated, and specific haplogroups concentrated in geographic regions. Today, we have identified certain haplogroups which originated in Africa, Europe, Asia, the islands of the Pacific, the Americas and even particular ethnic groups. Of course, haplogroups that are specific to one region are sometimes found in another, but this is due to recent migration.
The Mitochondrial haplogroup H is a predominantly European haplogroup which originated outside of Europe before the last glacial maximum (LGM). It first expanded in the northern Near East and southern Caucasus between 33,000 and 26,000 years ago, and later migrations from Iberia suggest it reached Europe before the LGM. It has also spread to Siberia and Inner Asia. Today, about 40% of all mitochondrial lineages in Europe are classified as haplogroup H.
H1 is the most common branch of haplogroup H. It most likely originated 15-20,000 years ago and represents 30% of people in haplogroup H and 46% of the maternal lineages in Iberia. It can also be found at significant frequency in the Near East and some Middle Eastern populations. 13-14% of all Europeans belong to this branch.
H1b is detected at its highest frequency in Eastern Europe and North Central Europe. It is also found in about 5% of haplogroup H lineages in Siberian Mansis. This branch is about 14,000 years old and while some H1b samples have been found in the Near East, they may be present there due to more recent migrations from Europe.
J* The mitochondrial haplogroup J contains several sub-lineages. The original haplogroup J originated in the Near East approximately 50,000 years ago. Within Europe, sub-lineages of haplogroup J have distinct and interesting distributions. Haplogroup J*-the root lineage of haplogroup J-is found distributed throughout Europe, but at a relatively low frequency. Haplogroup J is generally considered one of the prominent lineages which was part of the Neolithic spread of agriculture into Europe from the Near East beginning approximately 10,000 years ago.
K The mitochondrial super-haplogroup U encompasses haplogroups U1-U7 and haplogroup K. Haplogroup K is found through Europe and contains multiple closely related lineages indicating a recent population expansion. The origin of haplogroup K dates to approximately 16,000 years ago and it has been suggested that individuals with this haplogroup took part in the pre-Neolithic expansion following the Last Glacial Maximum.
L3e Part of the L cluster of haplogroups, which has been concretely characterized as representing the original human mitochondrial lineage, haplogroup L3e is found in Africa. This haplogroup dates to approximately 50,000 years ago and is detected primarily in sub-equatorial Africa. Future work will further document the historical distribution of this haplogroup and closely related haplogroups of the L cluster.