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Haplogroup N-Z1941

N-Z1941 (Finnic-Uralic core branch)

Macro-haplogroup
K
Parent clade
N1a1a
Formed (estimate)
c. 1,800–2,200 years before present
TMRCA (estimate)
c. 1,400–1,600 years ago

Overview

N-Z1941 is one of the most influential branches of the Finnic N-Z1936 radiation and forms a major paternal lineage across Finland, Karelia and the White Sea region. Unlike the narrower N-Z1939 founder branch, Z1941 appears as a broader trunk with multiple downstream lines representing distinct regional histories. Age estimates indicate that Z1941 formed during the late Iron Age, a time when early Finnic-speaking communities were establishing stable settlement patterns and regional cultural identities. Z1941’s internal diversity shows that it likely expanded from a population base already structured into interacting river-lake systems rather than from a single rapid founder event.

Geographic distribution

Today N-Z1941 is widely found among Finns, Karelians, Veps and northern Russians. It is especially common in eastern Finland, the Karelian Isthmus and the White Sea coastal zone, while also appearing at moderate levels in Estonia. Scattered occurrences exist across Scandinavia and in diaspora communities. Its distribution correlates closely with early Uralic-speaking regions and with medieval settlement corridors linking the Gulf of Finland with inland lake districts.

Ancient DNA

  • Regional genomic studies identify Z1941 as one of the three major Finnic branches emerging around 1.7–2 kya alongside Z4747 and Z1937.
  • Ancient DNA from Iron Age Baltic and Volga–Kama interaction zones shows N3a4 upstream lineages that sit near the ancestral Z1941 node.
  • Population modeling suggests Z1941 represents a structured early Finnic paternal layer that predates later localized expansions.

Phylogeny & subclades

Z1941 forms a direct sister branch to Z1937 and Z4747. Under Z1941, several well-resolved subbranches exist, including Y13874 and other region-specific microclades found in Finnish and Karelian populations. Compared to some narrower branches, Z1941 shows higher internal diversity, indicating a substantial and long-lasting paternal base population.

  • N-Y13874 (major downstream branch)
  • Regional Finnish–Karelian microbranches
  • Other minor Z1941-derived lines in northern Russia

Notes & context

N-Z1941 is crucial for representing Finnic paternal diversification because it preserves deeper structure that is not seen in more bottlenecked lineages such as Z1939.