Y-DNA of Early Medieval Poles

[Peterski]

I compiled the data on Y-DNA haplogroups from Early Medieval Poland:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JFlLJm35tIQqfRyo4De-VJl9eCFAP4Vi46djxIV2g44/edit?usp=sharing

Let me know in case if I forgot to add any samples to this datasheet.

[Peterski]

Currently there are:

Haplogroup - # ----- %
R1a ----- 112 ----- 64.74%
I2a ----- 13 ----- 7.51%
N1 ----- 3 ----- 1.73%
R1b ----- 20 ----- 11.56%
I1 ----- 9 ----- 5.20%
E1b ----- 9 ----- 5.20%
J2 ----- 4 ----- 2.31%
J1 ----- 1 ----- 0.58%
Q ----- 1 ----- 0.58%
C ----- 1 ----- 0.58%
Total - 173 samples

[Peterski]

Number of samples by region:

Wielkopolska - 67
Lubuskie - 34
Śląsk - 23
Mazowsze - 19
Podlasie - 10
Kujawy - 9
Pomorze - 5
Świętokrzyskie - 4
Małopolska - 2

[Peterski]

Haplogroups by region (R1b in Silesia are mainly samples from Niemcza):

https://i.imgur.com/R9V0OZT.png

[Peterski]

So Early Medieval Wielkopolska had around 77% R1a (n=67 samples).

Modern Wielkopolska has only 54% R1a (n=201) according to this study:

https://www.termedia.pl/Badania-populacji-W...,23736,1,0.html (https://www.termedia.pl/Badania-populacji-Wielkopolski-w-zakresie-17-markerow-Y-STRs-oraz-8-Y-SNPs,82,23736,1,0.html)

[cass]

https://i.ibb.co/XZLQD2nf/Interpolated-R1a-Heatmap-Poland-Swietokrzyskie-North.png (https://ibb.co/cc3BwgWK)

https://i.ibb.co/F4FWxWBc/Interpolated-R1b-Heatmap-Poland.png (https://ibb.co/k2tyHyhz)

https://i.ibb.co/JRv1b1Ym/Interpolated-I2a-Heatmap-Poland.png (https://ibb.co/bgs0y04Q)

https://i.ibb.co/qY3vZQfj/Interpolated-I1-Heatmap-Poland.png (https://ibb.co/LdX3G7WR)

https://i.ibb.co/jktxdRnb/Interpolated-E1b-Heatmap-Poland.png (https://ibb.co/YBgK6ZHP)

[cass]

Medieval DNA samples from Kujawy reveal a genetically distinct profile compared to other regions of Poland — though based on a limited number of samples:

High frequency of haplogroup I1 (33%) – rare in early medieval Slavic contexts, possibly reflecting the persistence of pre-Slavic, Northern European lineages.

R1a (44%), while present, is less dominant than in most regions, suggesting a more balanced and diverse genetic structure.

I2a and R1b (11% each) point to older Neolithic/Balkan and Western European contributions.

? These findings suggest that Kujawy may have been a zone of population continuity, where ancient local lineages remained prominent alongside expanding Slavic influence. This stands in contrast to regions with a more homogeneously R1a-dominant profile.

What makes this particularly meaningful is that Kujawy and neighboring Wielkopolska formed the ancient heartland of the early Polish state ruled by the Polans (Polanie).

https://i.ibb.co/0pHzcRMv/z19897904-IEG-Aktem-Dagome-iudex-nazywanym-tak-od-pierwszych.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)

The genetic diversity observed in these regions lends deeper context to the title inscribed on the tomb of King Bolesław I the Brave (Bolesław Chrobry), as recorded on the monument funded by Casimir the Great:

"Rex Sclavorum, Gotorum sive Polanorum"
King of the Slavs, the Goths, or the Polans





https://i.ibb.co/nNCBP3K6/Schwidetzky-Ilse-Rassenkunde-Der-Altslawen193876-S-Text-0046.jpg (https://ibb.co/NdSrT1Gt)

For comparison, Schwidezky's anthropological analysis.

[Peterski]

There are only 9 samples from Kujawy including Bodzia Varangians.

I wouldn't draw conclusions based on such small number of samples.

By comparison Wielkopolska is heavily R1a based on many samples.

[Peterski]

Update because I have added several more samples:

Haplogroup - # ----- %
R1a ----- 119 ----- 65.03%
I2a ----- 15 ----- 8.20%
N1 ----- 3 ----- 1.64%
R1b ----- 20 ----- 10.93%
I1 ----- 9 ----- 4.92%
E1b ----- 9 ----- 4.92%
J2 ----- 4 ----- 2.19%
J1 ----- 1 ----- 0.55%
G ----- 1 ----- 0.55%
Q ----- 1 ----- 0.55%
C ----- 1 ----- 0.55%
Total - 183 samples

Number of samples by region:

Wielkopolska - 71
Lubuskie - 34
Śląsk - 24
Mazowsze - 20
Podlasie - 10
Kujawy - 10
Świętokrzyskie - 7
Pomorze - 5
Małopolska - 2

Y-DNA haplogroups from the Early Medieval Poland:

https://i.imgur.com/qpbLRO9.png

Y-DNA hgs from modern Poland (Grochowalski 2020):

https://i.imgur.com/yCJv8Pr.png

[Peterski]

Map showing locations of Early Medieval Polish samples + number of samples from each location:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1MiFfTqxSuMpdDWYYN7r50yP4_Z4tazk&usp=sharing

Edit:

Świętokrzyskie samples have been added to Małopolska group.

[Peterski]

Updated frequencies of Y-DNA hgs from modern Poland:

https://i.imgur.com/ruTMcYU.png