Haplogroup E1b1b (Y-DNA)

In human genetics, Y Haplogroup E1b1b (E-M215) previously known as E3b (or "haplotype V") is one of the major genetically distinguished paternal lines of the human race, linking from father-to-son back to a common male ancestor. In other words it is a major Y-chromosome haplogroup, a sub-group of the macro haplogroup E, which is defined by the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation M215. It is a subject of discussion and study in genetics as well as genetic genealogy, archaeology, and historical linguistics.

Famous Members

• Adolf Hitler is likely to have been descended from both Jews and Africans, according to DNA tests. Samples taken from relatives of the Nazi leader show that he is biologically linked to the 'sub-human' races he sought to exterminate. Journalist Jean-Paul Mulders and historian Marc Vermeeren used DNA to track down 39 of the Fuhrer's relatives earlier this year. (...) A Belgian news magazine has reported that samples of saliva taken from these people strongly suggest Hitler had antecedents he certainly would not have cared for. A chromosome called Haplogroup E1b1b (Y-DNA) in their samples is rare in Germany and indeed Western Europe. 'It is most commonly found in the Berbers of Morocco, in Algeria, Libya and Tunisia as well as among Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews,' Mr Vermeeren said. 'One can from this postulate that Hitler was related to people whom he despised,' adds Mr Mulders in the magazine, Knack. Haplogroup E1b1b1, which accounts for approximately 18 to 20 per cent of Ashkenazi and 8.6 per cent to 30 per cent of Sephardic Y-chromosomes, appears to be one of the major founding lineages of the Jewish population. 'This is a surprising result,' said Ronny Decorte a genetic specialist who agreed that Hitler probably did have some roots in North Africa.
  • Allan Hall, DNA tests reveal 'Hitler was descended from the Jews and Africans he hated in Daily Mail, August 24, 2010

• Napoleon Bonaparte - recent evidence states that Napoleon I was also in E1b1b Y-haplogroup (, being in subgroup 1c [analytic STR's on http://www.igenea.com/it/index.php?c=46] based on evidence gained from Charles Napoléon Bonaparte, a heir of Napoleons brother Jérôme Bonaparte, and published on 31.12.2011 in the Journal of Molecular Biology Research.

Actually Y Haplogroups do not state general personal lineage, but only patrilinear descendence, without any information on autosomal admixture. The major E group migrated probably from North African through the balcanic eastern european regions, where they still constitute a significand percentage. Following statements are cited from ISOGG 2012 [1]:

Y-DNA haplogroup E would appear to have arisen in Northeast Africa based on the concentration and variety of E subclades in that area today. But the fact that Haplogroup E is closely linked with Haplogroup D, which is not found in Africa, leaves open the possibility that E first arose in the Near or Middle East and was subsequently carried into Africa by a back migration.E1b1 is by far the lineage of greatest geographical distribution. It has two important sub-lineages, E1b1a and E1b1b. E1b1a is an African lineage that probably expanded from northern African to sub-Saharan and equatorial Africa with the Bantu agricultural expansion. E1b1a is the most common lineage among African Americans. E1b1b1 probably evolved either in Northeast Africa or the Near East and then expanded to the west--both north and south of the Mediterranean Sea. E1b1b1 clusters are seen today in Western Europe, Southeast Europe, the Near East, Northeast Africa and Northwest Africa. The Cruciani articles (references and links below) are indispensable resources for understanding the structure of this complicated haplogroup, but note that the Cruciani haplogroup labels are now superseded because of the recently discovered new SNPS that lie closer to the root of the E branch of the Y-haplogroup Tree. A caution on clade labels: Because knowledge of this branch of the Y-chromosome tree has advanced so quickly in the last few years, different clade labels can be found in current use for the same SNP-determined branch of the tree. For example, it is still common to see E3b1 and E3b2 used to distinguish between the M78 and M81 branches of the tree though greater resolution is now possible.

Haplogroup E is present in several jewish lineages, where it perhaps remains largely minoritarian (major typical Y-haplogroup being J subgroups). By the way occasional typical indoeuropean R Y-haplotypes can be found in Jews from Chazerian ascendency. Furthermore it has to be remembered that Jews use the matrilinear descendancy, so male chromosomes can come from many sources outside the jewish comunity (as they actually do) but in order to state jewish descenedancy one better examins mDNA haplogroups, given down only through the female line. Neither E nor J Y-haplotypes can state a jewish descendency or tell much about it. Most E and J haplotypes ar NOT jewish al all! In fact generally Y-Haplogorups E in europe is mainly indicative for estern europe or very ancient dinaric-alpine descendancy. Generally E and G haplogroup populations immigrated into Europe very early ("oetzi" has haplogroup G), before the indoeuropean invasion (which is R1a and R1b), maintaining its presence in the middle Orient and northern Africa.

Only the I Y-haplogroup, typical for northern scandinavian populations, acquired its characterizing SNP mutation while already in Europe, and is not found outside Europe (except modern migration), all other haplogroups originated outside Europe migating to it with their specific SNP mutation already present.

Finally it has to be stressed that major attention has to be paid to the fact that both Y-DNA and mDNA are only very small chips of general DNA, and can give suggestions, but should not be overinterpreted to avoid to give space to major methodology errors and overinterpretations.

Genetic studies

2011

• Within E1b1b1 (E-M35), two haplogroups (E-V68 and E-V257) show similar phylogenetic and geographic structure, pointing to a genetic bridge between southern European and northern African Y chromosomes (...) Both contain a lineage which has been frequently observed in Africa (E-M78 and E-M81, respectively) and a group of undifferentiated chromosomes that are mostly found in southern Europe. An expansion of E-M35 carriers, possibly from the Middle East as proposed by other Authors, and split into two branches separated by the geographic barrier of the Mediterranean Sea, would explain this geographic pattern. However, the absence of E-V68* and E-V257* in the Middle East makes a maritime spread between northern Africa and southern Europe a more plausible hypothesis.
  • Trombetta et al. 2011, A New Topology of the Human Y Chromosome Haplogroup E1b1 (E-P2) Revealed through the Use of Newly Characterized Binary Polymorphisms, PLoS One. 2011; 6(1): e16073. Published online 2011 January 6. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016073