Catalan DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Spain · Southern Europe
Catalonia lies in the north-east of Spain, between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, and Catalan is a Romance language closely related to Occitan, spoken across the border in southern France. In the Middle Ages, the Crown of Aragon carried Catalan speakers to Valencia and the Balearic Islands. In our model, the Catalan average is 54.1% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, 30.0% steppe, 13.2% Western hunter-gatherer and 2.6% North African, with a little more steppe and hunter-gatherer ancestry and less North African ancestry than the Andalusians (28.9%, 11.5% and 4.6%). The nearest modern averages are Spanish samples from Cantabria (distance 0.0105) and Valencia (0.0112), followed by Galicians, the Spanish average and the Portuguese, while French samples from Bigorre and the south come at about 0.021, closer than the Occitan average (0.0261). The best ancient match is an early to high medieval group with an Ibero-Romance profile from Castile and Leon (0.0122), while early medieval people from Catalonia itself come further down (0.0193).
- Largest ancient components in our model: Anatolian Neolithic farmers 54.1%, Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 30.0%, Western hunter-gatherers 13.2%
- Closest modern population in our data: Spanish (Cantabria), distance 0.0105
- Closest ancient group in our data: Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile), distance 0.0122
Where does Catalan DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Catalan individuals sampled in Spain, listed in the G25 sheet as "Spanish_Cataluna" and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Catalan average
The ancient make-up of the Catalan average is led by Anatolian Neolithic farmers (54.1%), followed by Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (30.0%) and Western hunter-gatherers (13.2%). The Anatolian Neolithic farmers component reflects the Neolithic farmers of Anatolia, who carried agriculture into Europe from about 6500 BC. The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) share (30.0%) reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC.
Smaller traces of North African hunter-gatherers (Iberomaurusian) (under 5%) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.031): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. The model draws on West Eurasian ancient genomes, with modern West African and East Asian stand-ins.
Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report
Closest modern populations to Catalan
Genetically, the Catalan average sits nearest to Spanish (Cantabria) at 0.011, Spanish (Valencia, Valencian) at 0.011 and Galician at 0.015. On our scale, a distance of 0.011 counts as very close. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Galician (0.015), Spanish (0.016) and Portuguese (0.020). Even the tenth closest, Basque (Navarre Center), is only 0.026 away: Catalan belongs to a dense cluster of related populations, so small differences inside that cluster should not be over-interpreted.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish (Cantabria) | 0.0105 | Very close |
| 2 | Spanish (Valencia, Valencian) | 0.0112 | Very close |
| 3 | Galician | 0.0152 | Very close |
| 4 | Spanish | 0.0157 | Very close |
| 5 | Portuguese | 0.0198 | Very close |
| 6 | French Occitan (Occitanie Hautes-Pyrenees Bigorre Lourdes) | 0.0210 | Very close |
| 7 | French (Bigorre) | 0.0214 | Very close |
| 8 | French (South) | 0.0221 | Very close |
| 9 | Occitan (Southern France) | 0.0261 | Close |
| 10 | Basque (Navarre Center) | 0.0261 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Catalan
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Catalan, Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) (Early to High Medieval, c. 500-1300 AD) comes first, at 0.012, with Portugal High Medieval Kingdoms of Galicia-Portugal Castro de Avelas next. That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) | Early to High Medieval, c. 500-1300 AD | 0.0122 |
| 2 | Portugal High Medieval Kingdoms of Galicia-Portugal Castro de Avelas | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0182 |
| 3 | Portugal High-Late Medieval Santarem | High to Late Medieval, c. 1000-1500 AD | 0.0186 |
| 4 | Spain Catalonia Early Medieval | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0193 |
| 5 | France Early Medieval Merovingian Camp du Chateau (West Med Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0205 |
| 6 | Spain Castile and Leon Early Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0209 |
| 7 | Portugal Late Antiquity Conimbriga | Late Antiquity, c. 250-600 AD | 0.0214 |
| 8 | Italy Veneto IA-Roman Republic Cisalpine Gaul Verona (Cenomani, West Med Profile) | Roman Republic, c. 500-27 BC | 0.0216 |
| 9 | Italy Lazio Roman Republic Palestrina Colombella (Italic Profile) | Roman Republic, c. 500-27 BC | 0.0230 |
| 10 | Germany LBA Urnfield Neckarsulm | Late Bronze Age | 0.0240 |
Ancient DNA from Spain
Our ancient DNA database holds 1,704 individuals excavated in present-day Spain, dated from about 430,000 BC to 1652 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are R1b (262), I2a (90) and E1b (68), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are H (182), U5 (179) and H1 (159). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Catalan population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Ancient DNA studies on Spain
- Investigating ancient human DNA preservation on cave walls and in rock art (2026)
- The genetic landscape of northeastern Iberian communities from the early to late Iron Age (2026)
- Analysis of medieval burials from Ibiza reveals genetic and pathogenic diversity during the Islamic period (2026)
- Uncovering a Medieval Pogrom: Genetic History of a Jewish Community in Catalonia (Spain) (2026)
- Genetic and historical perspectives on the early medieval inhumations from the Menga dolmen, Antequera (Spain) (2025)
- 'Guess Who?': Forensic genetics and archaeology converge to identify Cristopher Columbus descendants. (2025)
- Further insights into maternal and paternal human histories in southern Iberia (2025)
- The human skull from the siege of La Loma (Santibáñez de la Peña, Palencia, Spain) (2025)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 1,704 from Spain.
Compare yourself with Catalan
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Catalan average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Catalan and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Catalan individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Catalan. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Catalan average. Your own DNA has its own story: Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people with roots in the Iberian Peninsula: ancient regional core (Iberian hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers, Bell Beaker steppe arrival, El Argar and Bronze Age Iberia, Celtiberians and Iberians, Phoenician and...
More populations from Southern Europe
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Catalan?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Catalan average is about 54.1% Anatolian Neolithic farmers, 30.0% Steppe herders (Yamnaya) and 13.2% Western hunter-gatherers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Catalan?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Spanish (Cantabria)), the closest modern populations to the Catalan average are Galician, Spanish and Portuguese. The closest ancient matches are Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile), Portugal High Medieval Kingdoms of Galicia-Portugal Castro de Avelas and Portugal High-Late Medieval Santarem.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Catalan?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Catalan average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Catalan ancestry?
For the Catalan average, the regional report to choose is Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.