Cao (曹, Cáo) Surname: Y-DNA Haplogroup
Published genetics research or a documented case study links the surname Cao (曹, Cáo) to a specific Y-DNA paternal-line haplogroup.
O2-M268, later refined to O2-F1462
Clade O2
Also spelled: Tsao, Tso
Researchers genotyped men from clans with 70-100 generation genealogical records claiming descent from Emperor Cao Cao (155-220 CE) or his ancestor Marquis Cao Can, and found haplogroup O2-M268 significantly enriched among the Cao Cao-descent clans (P=9.3x10^-5). This was later corroborated by ancient DNA extracted from a tooth in the tomb of Cao Ding, Cao Cao's granduncle, refining the lineage to O2-F1462. Notably the same study found Marquis Cao Can's claimed lineage carried a DIFFERENT haplogroup (O3-002611), disproving Cao Cao's own claimed descent from the Marquis even while confirming the Cao Cao clan lineage itself.
Source: Wang CC, Yan S, Hou Z, Fu W, Xiong M, Han S, Jin L, Li H. 2012. "Present Y chromosomes reveal the ancestry of Emperor CAO Cao of 1800 years ago." Journal of Human Genetics 57(3):216-218; confirmed by ancient DNA in Wen SQ et al. 2016, "Ancient DNA supports Emperor Cao Cao's paternal genetic lineage belonging to haplogroup O2-F1462," Acta Anthropologica Sinica 35(4):617-625.
How to read this. A surname match means some people with that surname, in a specific study or family record, were found to share a haplogroup, most likely due to a shared patrilineal ancestor generations back. It is not proof that you personally carry that haplogroup: surnames change through adoption, remarriage, non-paternity events, and independent origin of the same name in different families. For your own confirmed haplogroup, test your DNA with our HaploAI Y-DNA/mtDNA predictor.
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