Kong Surname: Y-DNA Haplogroup
Published genetics research or a documented case study links the surname Kong to a specific Y-DNA paternal-line haplogroup.
Heterogeneous: C3(C2), Q1a1 and O3(O2) are the three high-frequency lineages; C3 and Q1a1 each show a single-ancestor (star-like) expansion pattern
Clade Mixed (C2 / Q1a1 / O2)
Also spelled: Kong (孔); Kung; K'ung; "Confucius clan"
Sampled 1,118 Kong-surname men from Qufu (Confucius's hometown, with an unbroken written genealogy back to Confucius, d. 479 BCE). Found 206 distinct Y-STR haplotypes; authors argue the star-like C3 and Q1a1 clusters most likely represent the "true" patrilineal descendants of Confucius among several co-existing Kong sub-lineages, reflecting known historical adoptions/discontinuities within the huge Kong genealogy. Does not use ancient/verified Confucius DNA, so the specific attribution to Confucius himself remains inferential.
Source: Hou WG, Wang CC, Jiang SH, Liu HD, Li H. "Analysis of genetic polymorphism of 17 Y-STR loci in the Kong-surnamed population of Qufu area" [曲阜地区孔姓人群17个Y-STR基因座遗传多态性分析]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 35(1):125-131 (2016).
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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