Cohen (secondary priestly lineages) Surname: Y-DNA Haplogroup
Published genetics research or a documented case study links the surname Cohen (secondary priestly lineages) to a specific Y-DNA paternal-line haplogroup.
J2-M410*; J2a-M12
Clade J2
Also spelled: Cohn, Kohn, Kahn
Within the same 215-man Cohanim sample used to refine the CMH, 14.4% carried J2-M410* and 7.4% carried J2-M12 -- the second and third most frequent lineages after J-P58 (46.1%). Demonstrates the Jewish priesthood descends from several unrelated/anciently-diverged paternal lines, not one exclusive genetic signature; ~21 distinct lineages were identified overall among Cohanim in the study.
Source: Hammer et al. 2009, Human Genetics 126:707-717
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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