Can DNA testing confirm Jewish or 10-Israel Ancestry?

Friday, 27 July 2007 07:00

Have you ever wondered if you have Jewish or 10-Israel Ancestry? Many people from non-Jewish families ask themselves, "Am I Jewish?", "Am I Hebrew?", or "Were my ancestors of the Lost 10 Tribes of Israel?" Believe it or not, you can actually have your DNA tested by FamilyTreeDNA (a simple cheek swab) to help confirm if you have Israelite ancestors.

FamilyTreeDNA is the first, most accurate, and most trusted genealogy-driven DNA testing organization available today. Because of their database size, history, and credibility among scientists, National Geographic uses FamilyTreeDNA exclusively to perform their DNA tests for human-migration research in the Genographic Project.

What DNA Test Should I Take to Determine if I have Jewish or 10-Israel Ancestry?

If you're male and your goal is simply to determine which Y-DNA Haplogroup you belong to for deep-ancestry purposes (such as Hebrew Identity questions), the "Y-DNA - Universal Male Test" (starting at $119.00) is highly recommended as a place to start.

Men can test their Y-DNA to determine the origin of their paternal line only (which is Biblically more significant in regards to tribal identity). The Y-DNA test strictly checks the father-to-grandfather-to-great-grandfather line, with no maternal genetic influence. Women do not receive Y-DNA, and therefore cannot themselves be tested for their paternal ancestry line, but they can ask a brother or a male relative to be tested.

Both women and men can be tested individually with the Mitochondrial-DNA test (Mt-DNA) to confirm if they share a common ancestor with Jewish women. Similar to Y-DNA inheritance, Mt-DNA is only passed from woman-to-woman over many generations. Men receive Mt-DNA from their mothers, but they do not pass it to their children.

The Y-DNA and Mt-DNA tests both provide very insightful clues to our ancient origins, and they even help with connecting more recent genealogical questions (if that is of any interest to you). FamilyTreeDNA has thousands of surname projects that you can take part in and likely already have one or many specific to you.

Disclaimer: Even though FamilyTreeDNA is exclusively promoted by this website, FamilyTreeDNA does NOT endorse some of the views and/or genetic-based Hebrew-identity theories suggested within this website. FamilyTreeDNA is generally very careful when using a person's genetic haplotype to confirm association with any precise tribe or indigenous group, such as associations with the Cohen Modal Haplotype (Levitical Priestly class), descendants of Genghis Khan, Native Americans, etc. Once you have been tested and discover your specific haplogroup, you'll be given a lot of useful and compelling information, but you can also visit research sites like this one where theories are suggested and hypothesized in greater detail (such as here) in regards to Biblical history, etc.

Some of the alternative views you'll find here may be grossly different in some time-origin specifics compared to what you may learn from most secular institutions... since our ideas are derived from Biblical time-frames (i.e., "young humanity", but not necessarily young Earth). We have the mindset that the Hebrew Scriptures are a valid, legitimate, and compelling instrument of Ancient History and a useful tool in interpreting modern realities foretold in many ancient Hebrew prophecies, such as the multitudes promised to Abraham and Ephraim(i.e., the "Lost 10 Tribes of Israel"). We use secular and biblical histories, mathematics, genealogy, and linguistics as supporting evidence wherever possible.

For official FamilyTreeDNA disclosure, see the short article Can DNA Testing Confirm Jewish Ancestry? by President and CEO of FamilyTreeDNA, Bennett Greenspan.

HAPLOGROUP HYPOTHESES:

Migration Map for Y-Chromosome Haplogroups:

Compare with the Haplogroup Map of the World

Fundamental Genetic Problem regarding the 10-Israel and Jewish Question:

Finding Israelites with the use of Genetics has some fundamental problems. The first major problem can be understood by this verse:

Exodus 12:37-38:
37 And the children of Israel set out from Rameses to Sukkoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides the little ones.
38 And a mixed multitude went up with them too, also flocks and herds, very much livestock.

The "mixed-multitude' aside... it is conceivable (even probable) Jacob and his twelve sons have many unbroken direct male descendant lines in the modern world (with their yChromosome still intact but with various mutations). Of course, there have been many converts into Judaism and there has been inter-marriage. Some direct male lines simply died because a father had numerous daughters and no sons, or no children at all. Those problems, in regards to our purpose here, are obvious, but there may be other important problems we're missing, working through, or haven't considered yet.

Comments (20)

Wonder if you can help answer a quick question for me. I know that my grandmother (my father’s mother) grew up in Moliterno Italy. Her maiden name was Vitali. Her father’s was named Pasquali Vitali. I have been working with an Italian-Jewish genealogist/ researcher named Nardo Braverman who is himself an Italian Jew living in Italy. He assures me that my grandmother’s maiden name “Vitali” is indeed Semitic. He explained to me that the province of Potenza where my grandmother grew up was once a Jewish cultural center prior to the inquisitions in the 1400’s. He explained that there were more Jews in this area than in Russia, Poland, Germany and that the oldest synagogue in Europe was discovered very close to Potenza. He did some tracing and it appears that the name Vitali (literally translated “life”) was the Latinized version of the Hebraic name Chaim from Chai (also meaning “life”). He explained that Jews would often translate or change their names to help them assimilate. He showed me a registry of Italian Jews just prior to WWII with 296 families with the name Vitali. Of course most Jews converted to Catholicism and Latinized their names in the 1400’s in order to avoid persecution. The balance of the Jews that still occupied the region in the 1940’s were shipped up to the camps and murdered when Mussolini finally bowed to Hitler. My question is this: Is there a way to confirm this through DNA testing? If so, how would I go about it? This would be my father’ mother’s father. Or in other words, my father’s grandfather on his mother’s side. I don’t have a clue where to start. Thanks for your help. Garrett Roush garrettr@panhandlebank.com

Does your grandmother have any Vitali brother's still living... or any of her brother's sons? If one of them would take the Y-DNA test, then you could compare their haplotype with the broader Jewish population who have been tested and possibly the Vitali Jews that Braverman mentioned to you. There may be other more efficient methods which I'm not aware of yet, but that is my best suggestion.

You could also start a FamilyTree DNA "Vitali" Y-DNA Project which would encourage Vitalis to test and join, maybe even reluctant Vitali male relatives (if you have any still known to you). Click on the FamilyTreeDNA link and then go to the Projects link and you'll see better what I'm suggesting. I didn't see a Vitali Y-DNA Project started yet when I checked.

Hope that helps!

Regards,
Hanok

Bad news. No living males from my great granfathers line (Vitali). Any suggestions?

My paternal line's dna signature is rare--J2a-Eta (m92+)--the Griese surname, in its variations, are primarily Italian--Grisi, Grieco, Greco--but my people are from Germany--the only match I had was someone in Alsace France--many Italians and Jewish people settled here going way back--I'm now aware of my Greek heritage, but were my paternal ancestors possibly Greek Jews from southern Italy?--any info is good info--Kevin

Garret James,
Without having a surviving carrier of your GrGrandfather's y-Chromosome, it is difficult to discern much in regards to his specific line's ancestry, but finding a pool of other Italian Vitalis who have tested may be helpful because their genetic signatures could be compared with the broader Jewish population.

Kevin,
Greek Jews? Italian Jews? I'm really not sure there is such a thing in truth. But there is such a thing as an "Opportunist Jew" (but opportunity seeking isn't exclusive to the House of Jew-dah). The Radhanites, medieval Jewish merchants, were very active all over the Mediterranean Sea (including Italy), yet Jewish migration/relocation has not just been driven by commerce/opportunity. Jewdah has frequently been expelled from and invited to various nations/kingdoms for the last 2000 years... which is why I think Hg.J is so wide-spread around the Med. Sea and Europe in general. So, finding others with your genetic signature may be the most informative. Have you submitted your results to YSearch.org?

Kind regards,
Hanok

Comments (1)

Shalom Hanok. I received my results for my Y-DNA and mt-DNA tests from Family tree DNA. I have not yet located a male from my paternal grandmother's -father's line with the name Vitale. I was incorrect in the spelling, it is Vitale, not Vitali. I have begun dialogue with my grandmothers niece in the Province (PZ). She is the daughter of my grandmother's brother Achile Vitale. I am hoping she can help me trace the male Vitale line back, to see if there was a brother who has living sons / grandsons who carry the Vitale name. But for now I am hoping you might be able to help me with my Y and mt tests. Pun intended here, but...it’s all "Greek" to me. Any chance you can decipher them for me? Thanks, Garrett

Hi Garret, Congratulations on receiving your results from FTDNA! I'll dialog with you more via email.

I sent my dna for testing and have results, but it is all so technical. No way to figure it out myself. Is there someone who can help determine if I have Jewish ancestry? Thanks!!!

My father's family came from Rumania and ashkenasi with Rabbis in the family. My mother's family from Poland but she thought that her family came from Spain originally she also had Rabbis in her family, both families were Jewish, how could I know as to whether they were from the Levitical priesthood?

I am not sure that I understand this correctly. Can I find out if I have Hebraic roots from just my dna? I am a female.

Shalom Brett,
It is true that the result information FTDNA sends you is very technical and sometimes difficult to interpret. They try to give summary type explanations to make it more simple and informative. FTDNA really cannot make a determination if you are "Jewish", but with your genetic haplotype, they can determine how you compare with the broader Jewish populations and their common haplotypes. If you read other articles on this website, you'll learn that there is a historical difference between the Jewish and 10-Israel populations. There are genetic overlaps, but the 10-Israel/Ephraimite population is much larger than the Jewish population. So even if you don't appear to have Jewish Ancestors, it is very possible that you may have Ephraimite ancestors. Some even have ancestors in both groups.

Which test did you take? And what Haplogroup(s) were you placed in?

Joseph,
If you and/or a male descendant of your mother's father can take the Y-Chromosomal DNA test with FTDNA, they will let you know if you/he has the "Cohen Modal Haplotype" (CMH), which is very common among Jews who traditionally believe they are Cohen/Priests.

See the paper: Y-Chromosomes of Jewish Priests and the site: Cohen project Y-DNA results.

Juhls,

The "Hebraic Roots" question is complicated for a number of reasons. I do believe there are genetic identifiers that clearly (in my mind) identify Israelites, but there are some that I'm not yet sure about, especially in the mt-DNA realm (that of females). Part of the reason this is a complicated subject is because of the "mixed multitude" that left Egypt with the Hebrews, who themselves became integrated with the people as Hebrews. Caleb is probably an ideal example of this reality. He was integrated in with or became a "companion" to the tribe of Judah, but he was NOT a carrier of Judah's y-Chromosome. Caleb simply embraced the El of the Hebrews and crossed over to His Way. We know this is also going to be a phenomenon in the future because of the Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 37 prophecies... where Ephraim and Judah both have "companions" who presumably have non-Israelite DNA.

Even so, if you begin to look and consider the sheer number of your own ancestors (think of it as an upside down tree), you likely have thousands of ancestors who descended from Ephraim and/or Judah and/or one of the other tribes. Ephraim was prophesied to become "the fullness of the nations" in Genesis 48:19 and his descendants are found all over the world, even within the camp of Jew-dah/Judah... which is why I believe Y-Haplogroup R is so common in Jewish males.

There are alot of ongoing studies on mt-DNA and many papers already published. Check out FTDNA's mtDNA Library of Scientific Papers.

Having your father and/or brothers tested would be one way you could find out your father's y-Haplogroup. Have you already purchased a mtDNA test?

I used this site FamilyTreeDNA and found out that I have Sephardic Jewish ancestory which goes back to Spain and also direct links to Israel on my mothers side. It confirmed what I new already in my spirit that I was of Jewish decent!

I have been told about Jewish ancestry I have, but have found my identity in Yeshua and feel in my spirit that to pursue genetic DNA testing would detract from my focus upon this more important spiritual truth and make me more carnal/fleshy.

If anyone feels the spirit telling them to rest in Him, here's your confirmation!

Adam,
Thank you for your comment, brother. In Ezekiel's description of the millennial kingdom and Temple, he depicts the Levite clan of Tsadok being restored as priests. Is it in your view that these sons of Tsadok are literally and genetically descended from Tsadok? Furthermore, Jeremiah and Hosea and many other prophets indicate 10-Israel and Jew-dah will be restored to the Land. I'm not sure how you or anyone could spiritualize or allegorize those realities. Obviously, Yah is not simply concerned with the Spirit only or the Flesh only. We must keep a balanced view on this. Yes, native-born Israelites were cut-off from the Assembly in antiquity (e.g., Korah and many Simeonites)... and yes non-natives were grafted in (e.g., Caleb and Ruth), but to disregard the physical and unconditional promises given to Abraham, Isaak, and Jacob would force you to blot out huge tracts of scripture. Also, there is a reason (IMHO) Yah designed the human y-Chromosome the way He did. Probably many reasons, but one significant one was to have a confirming slow-changing witness or confirmation of the promise of multitudes that He made. He is not a Liar.

The flesh and the physical has received a bad rap for at least a couple thousand years. Very early on, there were so-called Christian sects (e.g., Marcionites) that perceived everything in the natural to be innately evil or at best contemptible, and only Spirit was good (in their religious paradigm). Some of that dogma crept into "the Church" and in my opinion, it is almost completely unreasonable and illogical. Does flesh make decisions to do evil on its on accord? Or is flesh told to do evil by degenerate minds? The word "carnal" and "physical" are not interchangable words.

These are good things to ponder. Thanks again for your comment.

Hanok

Hi, Do these tests suggest affiliation with any of the twelve tribes or only the 3 sects mentioned in your descriptions? Is it worth it to pursue even if it can't tell me an ancestral tribe? Thanks Joelle

Hi Joelle,
The only tribe that some scientists believe can be pinned down partially is the tribe of Levi... because of what has been called the Cohen Modal Haplotype (CMH)... which is basically a set of markers which have been commonly found among Jewish men who traditionally believe themselves to be of the priestly class of the tribe of Levi.

Other than the CMH, FamilyTreeDNA can match your DNA with the broader Jewish population who has also been tested... and will tell you if you have Jewish Ancestry... but because of the problem inherently connected to the historical fact that non-Jews have converted to Judaism, they can't truly say if your Jewish ancestors had Jewish DNA... because the DNA may reflect ancient or recent conversions.

I hope that makes sense. Personally, I think taking the DNA test was rewarding because it helped connect me to many of my more recent ancestors and even living family that I would have otherwise never met or connected with. So... far me, it was certainly worth taking the test, but ultimately that is a decision you have to make. Of course, everyone's financial situation is different too. If I were independently wealthy, I would help every person I could who was interested in Jewish or 10-Israel ancestry. =)

Regards,
Hanok

My Mother's family name was Bebeagua. She was from Gibraltar and everyone knows this is a made up surname. It is most probably Genoese which fits with most Gibraltarians who are of Genoese descent. I would very much like to find out whether the name is in anyway related to a Jewish background. I am a male and thinking of taking a DNA test to see if I have Jewish ancestry on my mother's side. Is that possible?

Hi Dep,

You can indeed have your mtDNA tested and then compare it with the common Mitochondrial haplotypes found within Jewish populations that have been tested. I think you would probably find the "Family Finder + mdDNAPlus" test to be a good choice in your situation, but the "Comprehensive Genome" test would be the ultimate... however... it is by far the most expensive.

Regards,
Hanok