20 Historical Figures You Probably Share DNA With

If you are of European descent, there is a good chance that this famous Frankish king is among your ancestors. As the ruler of much of Europe during the Middle Ages, he had many children, who in turn fathered millions more. His reign dates back more than 1,000 years, so his genetic legacy has had plenty of time to spread across the globe.

DNA tests have revealed that a surprising number of men in Asia (and elsewhere) carry a very specific Y chromosome that traces back to the founder of the Mongol Empire. Thanks to his numerous descendants and his vast empire, his DNA has become widespread among a large portion of the world’s population. Even if you don’t feel like a fierce warrior, there’s a good chance you’re related to one of them.

Although it is difficult to trace specific DNA patterns across millennia, many people of Mediterranean or North African descent share genetic markers with the ancient Egyptian ruling class. This iconic queen belonged to a lineage that migrated and intermingled throughout the region for centuries, leaving behind a trail that future generations have been able to follow. You may well carry within you the elegance of an ancient dynasty without ever having set foot near a pyramid.

Another legendary king, this figure from Irish legend is said to be the father of millions of people today, most of whom likely have ancestors from Northern Ireland or Scotland. Studies have shown that between 5 and 30 percent of people who have access to their family tree on this side of the family share a common ancestor dating back to around 500 A.D.

This is undoubtedly one of the best-documented family trees in existence: the descendants of this Chinese philosopher are literally everywhere. Over the course of more than 2,500 years of history, millions of living descendants of Confucius have been identified. Who knows—you might have ancestors who passed down to you a gift for wise sayings.

If you have even a drop of English blood, you are most likely a descendant of this medieval king. He had hundreds of children who went on to populate much of Europe, both among noble families and among the common people. Edward III’s DNA has spread throughout the world and been passed down through countless generations.

In the United States, many families have oral traditions or written records linking them to this famous historical figure from the early colonial era. His descendants, known as the “Red Rolfe” lineage, have played a prominent role in American history and have grown considerably in number over the generations. It is highly likely that your American roots connect you to this iconic historical figure, a bridge-builder.

For thousands of years, the Jewish people have traced their origins back to this ancient Israelite king. Many Jewish genetic markers can be traced back to a single man throughout history and across the globe. As a result of migrations to new countries, many of these ancestors settled far from Israel.

By collecting mitochondrial DNA samples, scientists are able to trace certain lineages through the maternal line. Marie-Antoinette was just one queen among many in a family tree that intertwined with nearly all of Europe. This means you might share a maternal lineage with France’s most famous queen.

The great Irish king who drove the Vikings out of Ireland lives on through his millions of descendants. If your last name is O’Brien (or a variant thereof), you can be almost certain that you are descended from him. However, as is often the case with royalty, his DNA has spread far beyond those who bore his name.

The descendants of this Anglo-Saxon king were not confined to England. Over the centuries, his children and grandchildren married into royal families throughout Europe. Many of these descendants went on to start families of their own.

As members of the German royal family, many of the ancestors of the Russian empress—who reigned for the longest period—were originally from other parts of Europe. Like most members of royalty, her parents and grandparents were related to one another in various degrees of kinship. This genetic heritage spread widely when Europeans began emigrating to the United States and beyond.

The descendants of the last Aztec emperor continued to be an integral part of the social fabric of Mexico and Spain long after the empire’s fall. Through various marriages and family lines, his DNA has traveled across centuries and oceans to reach many people living today. You may have a direct biological connection to the powerful ruler of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan.

Hundreds of years is far too long a time for even the most resilient family trees to survive. Fortunately for this illustrious king of Scotland, his descendants married into numerous royal families, which carried on his legacy. Today, anyone with Scottish ancestors likely shares a common ancestor with this Scottish warrior.

China’s only female emperor had more descendants than almost any other ruler of the ancient world. For more than a millennium, Wu Zetian’s lineage has endured among the vast population of East Asia and can be found today in millions of people. You, too, may have what it takes to be an empress.

It was thanks to ancient Hungarian migrations that this unexpected ancestral discovery was made. As the Huns crossed Europe on their way to Asia, their genes remained among the peoples they conquered. Attila may not have been known for having children, but he certainly left his mark on the world.

The famous French “Sun King” did not merely pass on his genes to his own children. The descendants of Louis XIV married members of the nobility and royal families throughout Europe. That is why his DNA has become widespread in the genetic makeup of many European countries.

Queen Isabella and her husband financed Christopher Columbus’s voyage and unified Spain. But they also brought with them to the New World an ancestral legacy dating back several millennia. As Spanish settlers spread across the Americas, they carried Isabella’s legacy with them.

Historians still don’t know whether Ragnar was a single man or several, but they all agree on one thing: the Vikings explored regions farther afield than most other peoples of the time, thereby spreading their genetic heritage to the four corners of the world. If you have Scandinavian ancestors—or even just Northern European ones—there’s a good chance you have Viking blood running through your veins.

Many families believe they can trace their origins back to this ancient Israelite king. Thanks to written records passed down from generation to generation, it has been discovered that some of these genetic links date back several centuries. So, dig a little deeper into your family history, and you may find that your roots go all the way back to Solomon.