2023 Analysis of Reported Geographic Origins of Big Y-Tested Ashkenazi Men

Introduction

This page and the pages linked from this page set forth information compiled using FTDNA's Discover Tool concerning the most distant known direct male ancestor reported by each of the Big Y-tested men in any of the Ashkenazi Y-DNA clusters identified through the analysis described elsewhere on this website. The information was compiled on April 22, 2023 by using the Discover Tool's Country Frequency page (in Table View) for each of the 45 Y-DNA haplogroups identified through the refined analysis performed on this website in December 2022.  

This page posts, by size and in alphabetical order, charts of each country identified as an ancestral country by one or more of the men in each cluster, followed by the percentage of men (total number of men) with reported ancestry in each country. 

Next, this page posts a chart showing, for the eight countries reported by at least 3 percent of men in the sample set as their ancestral country (by order of percentage of the sampled population, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Germany, Russian Federation, Hungary, and Romania), the percentage of men in the sample set with a reported ancestral country from each of the 10 Y-DNA clusters that include at least 50 men in the sample set who have done Big Y testing (in alphabetical order, E-Y14891, E-Y6940, G-BY764, J1-L816, J1-S12192, J2-L556, J2-Z30390, J2-FT69390, Q-Y2198, and R1a-Y2619). The chart is based on data for all reported countries by haplogroup  that is posted here.

Following that chart is a chart showing the percentage of men with reported ancestral countries in each of the 10 largest Y-DNA clusters who reported ancestry in one of the five most-reported ancestral countries (Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, and Germany). That chart was compiled by reference to charts providing the same information as to each individual cluster.  This website includes subpages that post such information for the major Ashkenazi clusters with haplogroup E, haplogroup G, haplogroup J1, haplogroup J2, haplogroup L, haplogroup Q, haplogroup R1a, haplogroup R1b, haplogroup R2, and haplogroup T.

Comments on the methodology employed to derive these results and the limitations of such methodology are set forth at the bottom of this page. In short, the information set forth on this page is based on men who have done Big Y testing through Family Tree DNA and have reported ancestral countries. For a variety of reasons, the pool of tested men who have reported ancestral countries is likely not to be fully representative of the Ashkenazi population as a whole. Because the paper trail for most Ashkenazi Jews goes back no farther than the early to mid-19th century (or, in some instances, the late 18th century), the country information set forth on this page and the  linked pages generally reflects the places where the Ashkenazi Jewish population lived as of the 19th century. 

While the geographic range and concentration of each Ashkenazi Y-DNA cluster may provide some insight into the geographic origins of such cluster, for the reasons discussed in detail below it is likely that in most if not all instances the current range and concentration will differ - often materially - from the geographic range and concentration of each cluster going back to the time of formation of each cluster (typically about 1,000 years to about 1,300 years ago), or even 500 years ago. 

In some instances, information concerning downstream branches may provide further insight into the likely geographic origins of the upstream branches, as shown by an analysis of the reported geographic origins of the 10 largest Ashkenazi Y-DNA clusters. For example, that analysis indicates the following:

1. The J1-ZS2728 subcluster of J1-L816 is comprised almost exclusively of men reporting ancestry from countries where Ashkenazi Jews lived during the 19th century, while the J1-ZS11491 subcluster of J1-L816 is most commonly reported in Mexico and Spain while less commonly reported in Germany and Poland. The two clusters share a direct male ancestor who was born in about 850 CE. These geographic patterns suggest that J1-ZS11491 is largely of Sephardic origins.

2. While the two largest subclusters within R1a-Y2619 (R1a-Y2630 and R1a-FGC18222) mirror the general Ashkenazi population in being most common in Ukraine and Poland, the two smaller subclusters within R1a-Y2619 (R1a-BY29826 and R1a-FTA51568) have a greater proportion of men in Germany and the Czech Republic than does the Ashkenazi  population as a whole. This may suggest origins in Germany for R1a-Y2619, but for various reasons - including small sample size for the two smaller subclusters and the possible lack of representativeness of the Big Y-tested population - the analysis is by its nature tentative and somewhat tenuous. 

    Reported Country                               Percentage (Number)

   1  Poland 19.52% (367)

   2  Ukraine 17.98% (338)

   3  Lithuania 10.48% (197)

   4  Belarus   9.68% (182)

   5  Germany   8.99% (169)

   6  Russian Federation   5.74% (108)

   7  Hungary   4.15% (78)

   8  Romania   3.67% (69)

   9  Czech Republic   2.34% (44)

10  Latvia   2.29% (43)

11  Israel   2.18% (41)

12  Austria   1.38% (26)

13  Slovakia   1.38% (26)

14  England   1.33% (25)

15  United States   1.22% (23)

16  Netherlands   1.01% (19)

17  Moldova   0.90% (17)

18  France   0.64% (12)

19  Italy   0.64% (12)

20  Turkey   0.59% (11)

21  Mexico   0.53% (10)

22  United Kingdom   0.37% (7)

23  Canada   0.32% (6)

24  Greece   0.32% (6)

25  Bulgaria   0.27% (5)

26  Spain   0.27% (5)

27  Iraq   0.21% (4)

28  Morocco   0.21% (4)

29  Sweden   0.21% (4)

30  Algeria   0.16% (3)

31  Australia   0.16% (3)

32  Portugal   0.16% (3)

33  Scotland   0.16% (3)

34  Netherlands Antilles   0.11% (2)

35  Argentina   0.05% (1)

36  Bolivia   0.05% (1)

37  Egypt   0.05% (1)

38  Estonia   0.05% (1)

39  Finland   0.05% (1)

40  Ireland   0.05% (1)

41  Jamaica   0.05% (1)

42  Northern Ireland   0.05% (1)

43  Norway   0.05% (1)

44  Palestinian Territory   0.05% (1)

45  Russia (Republic of Chechnya)   0.05% (1)

46  South Africa   0.05% (1)

47  Suriname   0.05% (1)

48  Switzerland   0.05% (1)

49  Syrian Arab Republic   0.05% (1)

50  Tunisia   0.05% (1)

51  Venezuela     0.05% (1)

52  Wales   0.05% (1)

Unknown Origin       865

Total   2,750

Total (excluding Unknown Origin)   1,880

Reported Countries of Most Distant Known Ancestor on Direct Male Line for All Ashkenazi Y-DNA Clusters (Alphabetical)

    Reported Country                               Percentage (Number)

Algeria   0.16% (3)

Argentina   0.05% (1)

Australia   0.16% (3)

Austria   1.38% (26)

Belarus   9.68% (182)

Bolivia   0.05% (1)

Bulgaria   0.27% (5)

Canada   0.32% (6)

Czech Republic   2.34% (44)

Egypt   0.05% (1)

England   1.33% (25)

Estonia   0.05% (1)

Finland   0.05% (1)

France   0.64% (12)

Germany   8.99% (169)

Greece   0.32% (6)

Hungary   4.15% (78)

Iraq   0.21% (4)

Ireland   0.05% (1)

Israel   2.18% (41)

Italy   0.64% (12)

Jamaica   0.05% (1)

Latvia   2.29% (43)

Lithuania 10.48% (197)

Mexico   0.53% (10)

Moldova   0.90% (17)

Morocco   0.21% (4)

Netherlands   1.01% (19)

Netherlands Antilles   0.11% (2)

Northern Ireland   0.05% (1)

Norway   0.05% (1)

Palestinian Territory   0.05% (1)

Poland 19.52% (367)

Portugal   0.16% (3)

Romania   3.67% (69)

Russia (Republic of Chechnya)   0.05% (1)

Russian Federation   5.74% (108)

Scotland   0.16% (3)

Slovakia   1.38% (26)

South Africa   0.05% (1)

Spain   0.27% (5)

Suriname   0.05% (1)

Sweden     0.21% (4)

Switzerland   0.05% (1)

Syrian Arab Republic   0.05% (1)

Tunisia   0.05% (1)

Turkey     0.59% (11)

Ukraine 17.98% (338)

United Kingdom   0.37% (7)

United States   1.22% (23)

Venezuela   0.05% (1)

Wales   0.05% (1)

Unknown Origin     865

Total 2,750

Total (excluding Unknown Origin)     1,880

Percentages of 10 Largest Ashkenazi Y-DNA Clusters in Eight Countries with the Largest Number of Tested Men

Top Reported Countries for Largest Y-DNA Clusters

The tables below provide information concerning the percentage and number of Big Y-tested men in the largest Ashkenazi Y-DNA clusters in the five countries that are most reported as ancestral countries by Big Y-tested Ashkenazi men - Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus. The data were compiled on April 22, 2023. The 10 clusters identified below are those in which at least 50 Big Y-tested men had reported ancestral countries; the 50-sample threshold is intended to minimize the effect of sampling bias on the reported results. 

Combined Geographic Results for Top Five Countries 

for All Big Y-Tested Men

        Reported Country                               Percentage (Number)

Poland 19.52% (367)

Ukraine 17.98% (338)

Lithuania 10.48% (197)

Belarus   9.68% (182)

Germany   8.99% (169)

Combined Geographic Results for Top Five Countries 

for All Big Y-Tested Men

E-Y14891 E-Y6940   G-BY764 J1-L816  J1-S12192

Poland 17.05% (22) 20.49% (25) 20.55% (15) 21.00% (21) 22.98% (37)

Ukraine 18.60% (24) 18.85% (23) 19.18% (14) 16.00% (16) 12.42% (20)

Lithuania 10.85% (14) 19.67% (24)   9.59% (7)   5.00% (5) 10.56% (17)

Belarus 10.85% (14) 13.93% (17)   4.11% (3)   8.00% (8) 11.18% (18)

Germany 13.18% (17)   4.10% (5) 15.07% (11) 8.00% (8)   9.94% (16)

J2-L556  J2-Z30390   J2-FT69390  Q-Y2198  R1a-Y2619

Poland 16.41% (21) 18.84% (13) 16.39% (10) 21.02% (21) 19.20% (48)

Ukraine 13.28% (17) 18.84% (13) 18.03% (11) 15.02% (15) 20.00% (50)

Lithuania   6.25% (8) 10.14% (7) 11.48% (7) 12.02% (12)   8.00% (20)

Belarus 13.28% (17) 11.59% (8) 21.31% (13)   2.02% (2)   4.80% (12)

Germany 19.53% (25) 17.39% (12)     0.00% (0) 13.02% (13)   6.40% (16)

Methodology and Limitations

As discussed elsewhere on this website, the methodology used to identify Ashkenazi Y-DNA on this website has certain limitations. Three of those limitations may be most significant for purposes of this analysis. First, because of the high autosomal threshhold used to identify people of likely Ashkenazi descent on their direct male lines, the analysis will fail to identify some Y-DNA lines of Jewish origins. Second, if a cluster includes a significant number of Ashkenazi men, the analysis identifies that cluster as Ashkenazi even if it includes a significant number of non-Ashkenazi men (including men of Mizrahi or Sephardic descent). Third, the analysis would not have identified Y-DNA clusters as Ashkenazi unless a sufficient number of men in those clusters had done both Big Y testing and Family Finder testing as of the time of the 2018 analysis that was used to identify Ashkenazi Y-DNA clusters. 

There are, however, other issues that are specific to the analysis of reported geographic origins set forth on this website. For example:

1.  Most Ashkenazi Jews, other than those with well-documented rabbinical ancestry, are able to trace their ancestry back to no later than the late 18th century, and the majority of them are able to trace their ancestry back to the 19th century or later. Accordingly, the country of origin reported to FTDNA will typically be the country where a direct male ancestor lived in the 19th century (or, perhaps, the late 18th century). Given migratory patterns within the Ashkenazi population, in many cases an ancestor who lived in one country as of the 19th century will have been descended on his direct male line from an ancestor who lived in another country before then.

2. Only 68.4% (1,880) of the 2,750 men in the identified Y-DNA clusters as of April 22, 2022 reported a country of origin. It is possible that the failure of those men to report a country of origin could skew the reported countries somewhat. Beyond that, it is likely that some of the men who reported a country of origin did so incorrectly, or that they might have reported a different country of origin had they traced their direct male line back another generation or two.

3. For a variety of historical reasons, and depending on the time when an ancestor emigrated, the country of origin could have been reported differently. For example, Poland was part of the Russian Empire until World War I, and portions of pre-World War I Poland became part of Ukraine. 

4. FTDNA's reported information concerning countries of origin sometimes do not provide the level of detail that one would want for purposes of analysis. For example, Ukraine encompasses Lviv, Odesa, and Crimea, and the Russian Federation stretches from Saint Petersburg  to Vladivostok.

5. A disproportionate number of North American men have done Big Y testing through FTDNA. A large number of those men are descended from men who emigrated between the 1890s and the early 1920s. To the extent that a disproportionate number of those emigrants came from countries within the Pale of Settlement - including Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus - those countries might be disproportionately represented within the list of reported countries of origin. (Those four countries are, in that order, the top four countries identified through this analysis, together comprising nearly 57% of the reported countries of origin.)

6. The Holocaust precludes any sort of definitive determination as to the percentages of men in each Y-DNA cluster with ancestral origins in a particular country. For example, a disproportionate number of Jews in Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus were murdered in the Holocaust. To the extent that FTDNA's pool of Big Y-tested men includes Holocaust survivors and/or the direct male descendants of survivors, their reported countries of origin will likely not be representative of those of the pre-World War II Jewish population of Europe.

7. Depending upon the number of tested men in a particular cluster, percentages by country may be skewed significantly because of either or both the failure to test of a representative group of men in that cluster or a mistake as to the identified country of origin.

8. Because men with close matches on Y-DNA STR testing are more likely to upgrade to Big Y testing, and because close matches are more likely to share countries of origin with each other, certain reported countries for certain Y-DNA cluster might overstate the proportion of such countries among people in such clusters.

9. Note that aggregated country frequencies for all men in a cluster may obscure useful information concerning the geographic dispersion of subclusters within the cluster. For example, a cluster may have multiple subclusters, each of which has a somewhat different geographic range. If one of the subclusters has a significant number of men from a particular country or region while the other subclusters do not, it would be more likely (but by no means certain) that the cluster did not itself originate in that country or region but that the subcluster's direct male ancestor may have moved to that country or region at some point after branching began in the cluster.