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Y-DNA Haplogroup Atlas

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Haplogroup I1h

I1-Y11222

Macro-haplogroup
I
Parent clade
I1
Formed (estimate)
c. 3,800–4,500 years before present
TMRCA (estimate)
c. 2,700 years ago

Overview

I1h (Y11222) represents a northern European coastal lineage within haplogroup I1 that diverged during the Late Nordic Bronze Age. The clade is associated with communities along the North Sea and Skagerrak coastlines, reflecting maritime cultural networks that connected Denmark, southern Norway, the Jutland peninsula and the Frisian region. I1h shows a demographic profile consistent with small-scale but stable expansions among proto–Germanic-speaking groups.

Geographic distribution

Modern distributions peak in Denmark, southern Norway, northern Germany, the Netherlands and coastal England. Smaller frequencies appear in Sweden and Belgium, mostly reflecting migrations during the medieval and early modern periods.

Ancient DNA

  • Iron Age North Sea burials contain haplotypes clustering upstream from Y11222-related branches.
  • Viking Age samples from Denmark and Norway show proximity to basal I1h expansions.
  • Some early medieval Frisia-associated individuals align with downstream I1h microclades.

Phylogeny & subclades

I1h sits within the Z58 > Z138 framework but forms a distinct minor coastal branch. SNPs such as Y11222 and Y2245 define a lineage differentiated from the larger I1b (Z58 > Z63) cluster.

  • I1-Y2245
  • I1-BY287

Notes & context

I1h helps clarify the fine structure of North Sea–Baltic Bronze and Iron Age networks. Its distribution strongly mirrors maritime cultural spheres of northern Europe.