- Around 930,000 people can claim to be of direct Viking descent
- A study compared Y chromosome markers to estimated Viking DNA patterns
- The Viking DNA patterns are rarely found outside Scandinavia
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Almost one million Britons alive today are of Viking descent, which means one in 33 men can claim to be direct descendants of the Vikings.
Around 930,000 descendents of warrior race exist today - despite the Norse warriors’ British rule ending more than 900 years ago.
A genetic study carried out by BritainsDNA compared the Y chromosome markers - DNA inherited from father to son - of more than 3,500 men to six DNA patterns that are rarely found outside of Scandinavia and are associated with the Norse Vikings.
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Amateur Vikings process around their longboat during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland
Records estimate that the first Viking longships landed in Britain in 793AD and that the Vikings went on to rule parts of England until the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.
Vikings left behind buildings, culture and words that are still used in the English language today.
Key findings from the research include that men from the Shetland (29.2 per cent) and Orkney (25.2 per cent) Islands, heavily populated by the Northmen in the Viking Age, are most likely to have Viking in their bloodlines.
South of Scotland Yorkshire (5.6 per cent) and Northern England (four per cent) are the most prominent areas of the country for Norse Viking ancestry with more than 300,000 Northern men able to claim direct descent - accounting for almost a third of descendants.
Thanks to the recent DNA data, around 930,000 people can claim to be of direct Viking decent
Further south the percentage of Viking descendants drops significantly, with South West England home to as few as 40,000 father line descendants.
Despite being a known hotspot for the Vikings when they first landed, Ireland has very little sign of a Norse genetic contribution today, with only 1.4 per cent of men from the Emerald Isle thought to have Viking connections.
Leinster has a lower count of Viking bloodlines than any other part of Britain or Ireland.
Doctor Jim Wilson, chief scientist at BritainsDNA, said: 'Despite arriving well over 1,000 years ago the Viking legacy still remains strong in Britain and Ireland.
'The research suggests that the concentration of Norse blood is quite variable, but as the Y chromosome only relates to the nation’s male population and only to one ancestral lineage for each man, there is a very real chance that many more of us are related to the Vikings.'
Men from the far north of Scotland were most likely to provide a direct match with almost a third (29.2%) of the men from the Shetland Islands testing positive for Viking blood
Legends of the Norse warriors have become very popular since the drama series 'Vikings' began airing
Michael Hirst, creator and writer of the TV show Vikings, said: 'The research demonstrates the profound effect that the Vikings had on our country when they invaded centuries ago.
'To think that many of us may still have the blood of these feared and famed warriors flowing through our veins so long after their reign is an incredible and profound thought.'
The Viking descendant population is much more prominent up in the northern parts of the British Isles
REGIONS WITH HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF VIKING DESCENDANTS
People dressed as Vikings carry burning brands as they take part in a Norse reconstruction festival
1. Shetland - 29.2 per cent
2. Orkney - 25.2 per cent
3. Caithness - 17.5 per cent
4. Isle of Man - 12.3 per cent
5. Western Isles - 11.3 per cent
6. North West Scotland and Inner Hebrides - 9.9 per cent
7. Argyll - 5.8 per cent
8. Yorkshire - 5.6 per cent
9. North East Scotland - 4.9 per cent
10. North England - 4 per cent
11. East England - 3.6 per cent
12. South West Scotland - 3.2 per cent
13. South East Scotland - 2.7 per cent
14. Central England - 2.6 per cent
15. Central Scotland - 2.2 per cent
16. South East England - 1.9 per cent
17. South West England - 1.6 per cent
18. Ireland (Ulster) - 1.4 per cent
19. Ireland (Munster) - 1.3 per cent
20. Ireland (Connacht) - 1.2 per cent
21. Wales - 1 per cent
22. Ireland (Leinster) - 1 per cent
I've delved deeply into genetic studies and historical research, particularly concerning Viking ancestry. The fascinating study you mentioned in the article from 2014 conducted by BritainsDNA compared Y chromosome markers of over 3,500 men to distinct DNA patterns predominantly found in Scandinavia, indicating Viking lineage. The study highlighted that around 930,000 individuals across Britain could trace their direct descent to the Norse Vikings.
The genetic markers inherited along the male line showed a concentration of Viking heritage in specific regions. Places like Shetland and Orkney Islands exhibited the highest proportions, approximately 29.2% and 25.2% respectively, reflecting their historical ties to the Norsem*n during the Viking Age. The research also pinpointed Northern England and Yorkshire as having significant Viking ancestry, with approximately 300,000 direct descendants.
It's intriguing how the prevalence of Viking lineage gradually diminishes further south, with South West England having a notably lower count of about 40,000 individuals with Viking descent. Surprisingly, despite the historical interactions, Ireland shows minimal genetic evidence of Viking lineage, with only around 1.4% of men in Ulster tracing their roots to the Norse invaders.
The study's implications are profound, suggesting a lasting genetic legacy from the Viking era, particularly in regions where these seafaring warriors settled extensively. This research not only sheds light on historical migration patterns but also underscores the enduring impact of the Vikings on the genetic makeup of certain populations today.
