Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Robinson Ydna Origins Possibly in Spain or Portugal?
The
Iberian Peninsula, which consists of modern day Spain and Portugal, has
been colonized and ruled by several tribal powers throughout history.
The identity of the ancient Iberians is unknown; however it is known
that the Celts who came later merged with them, to form the
Celtiberians. The Atlantic Modal Haplotype,
the most common haplotype in Western Europe is a part of R1B1A2 and it
has Celtic and Germanic variations. A Celtic origin is most likely for
individuals of Spanish lineage who are members of Haplogroup R1B1A2. In
the year 409, the weakening of the Roman Empire's power in Iberia
resulted in a power vacuum throughout the peninsula. That same year,
Germanic Suevi,Vandals, and Sarmatian Alans followed shortly after by
the Visigoths established kingdoms throughout Iberia. These Germanic
tribes brought with them Haplogroup I as well as Germanic variants of
haplogroup R1B1A2. These Germanic Kingdoms were taken over by the Moors
in the 8th century, but were reestablished in the 13th century during
the Reconquista, setting the stage for the Spanish speaking, Christian Spain we know today.
In
the early 11th century the establishment of the very prominent Narbonne
Talmudic Academy in France resulted in
increased Jewish educational opportunities for the Jews of France and
Spain. Some researchers propose that during the height of the academy’s
prominence, many non-Jews from France and Spain were attracted to the
famous school and underwent conversions to Judaism, thus introducing
haplogroups R1B1A2 and I into the Jewish gene pool. Even non-Jews who
had not attended the academy may have been enticed to convert. In
Spain, some estimates hold that Jews comprised 10-20 percent of the
total population. This is a very high percentage considering that
historically Jews have been known to make up about 1% of the world's
population. Jews were very successful in business and reached very high
positions in Spanish society, to the point that many not only held
titles of nobility and were employed frequently by the crown, but some
researchers believe some Jews even married into the royal family.
The
Jews' prominence in Spain prior to the Inquisition may have made
conversion to Judaism more attractive and accessible, thus creating yet
another opportunity for haplogroup R1B1A2 and haplogroup I to be
introduced into the Jewish gene pool. Pogroms in Spain, may also
account for the introduction of some Western European DNA among
Sephardic Jews, although pogroms were not so common in Spain, nor as
severe as they were in Eastern Europe. These origins are highly
speculative and research is currently underway to confirm these
theories, however these haplogroups are present in most Sephardic and
Ashkenazic communities in small percentages. These haplogroups have
even been found among Sephardic Jews whose ancestors migrated to the
Ottoman Empire in the fifteenth century and have not been to Europe
since. Therefore Jewish ancestry cannot be discounted because of a
match with a Western European haplogroup. A member of this project with
tradition of Jewish ancestry on his paternal line and is a member of
these haplogroups may have direct descent from a convert to Judaism.
Since converts may marry born Jews, indirect Jewish ancestry on other
lines is possible and testing of other family members may be
necessary. Sephardic Jews, but more often Spaniards and
other Europeans brought these lineages with them to the Dominican
Republic from Europe.
My son is also R1b1a2 and his father's father was born and raised in England. I have traced his Henwood line back to the 16th century in England, mainly in the Hampshire area. We don't know where they were in the 13th century. All I know is that with DYS#393 being a 12 and not a 13 as most Robinson lines have, this puts us farther eastward, so I've been told.
Resource: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/dominicansephardim/default.aspx?section=results
Labels: Jews, Portugal, R1b1a2 Y dna haplogroup, source, Spain
