Overview
N1a1 (L392/L1026) is the primary branch of N1a and forms the ancestral paternal lineage underlying the expansion of Uralic-speaking populations across northeastern Europe and the forest–taiga belt. Its formation corresponds to the early Holocene reoccupation of northern Eurasia after the Last Glacial Maximum. N1a1’s descendants became deeply involved in the ethnogenesis of Finnic, Volga-Uralic and several northern Russian groups.
Geographic distribution
Highest frequencies occur in Finland, Estonia, Karelia, Komi, Mari, Udmurt, northern Russians and among Saami. Significant frequencies extend into the Volga–Ural region, western Siberia and the Baltic.
Ancient DNA
- Mesolithic genomes from Karelia show early N1a1-like signatures related to forest-zone foragers.
- Neolithic and Bronze Age Uralic-associated individuals carry L1026-derived lineages.
- Iron Age Baltic-Finnic populations exhibit downstream N1a1 microclades.
Phylogeny & subclades
N1a1 splits into N1a1a (dominant Finno-Ugric branch) and several smaller northern Eurasian microbranches.
Notes & context
N1a1 is the core paternal signature of northern Uralic and Finno-Permic populations.
References & external links