Description
Haplogroup C2a1a3a1 (F5481) is the common paternal ancestor of the Abak and Ashamaily clans of the Kazakh Kerey tribe (Middle Zhuz). Based on Y-STR and whole Y-chromosome sequencing, the TMRCA of this lineage is estimated at approximately the mid-9th century CE. Together, the F5481 descendants account for the majority of the Kerey tribe's male line — C2a1a3a1b1 (FT224144, Ashamaily) at 77.3% within Ashamaily, and C2a1a3a1a (FT411734, Abak) at 69.8% within Abak. The traditional Kazakh genealogy holds Abak and Ashamaily as brothers descended from a single common ancestor, which is consistent with the genetic finding of a shared F5481 ancestor.
Interesting Fact
The genetics of C2a1a3a1 (F5481) largely supports traditional Kazakh oral genealogy (shejire): the ancestor who lived ~850 CE corresponds to the legendary common forebear of Abak and Ashamaily, though the TMRCA divergence between the two lineages suggests they may not have been as close as brothers — more likely cousins or more distant patrilineal relatives.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerey tribe — Ashamaily clan | Kazakhstan | n=110 | |
| Kerey tribe — Abak clan | Kazakhstan | n=130 | |
| Kazakhs (Kerey, all) | Central Asia | n=400 | |
| Kyrgyz | Central Asia | n=300 |
Associated Clans & Tribes
Tribe
Kerey
Kazakhstan
The dominant patrilineal tribe of the Kazakh Middle Zhuz; F5481 is the defining ancestor of its two main sub-divisions
Clan
Abak
Kazakhstan
One of the two primary Kerey clans; FT411734 (C2a1a3a1a) defines the Abak patriline
Clan
Ashamaily
Kazakhstan
Sister clan to Abak; FT224144 (C2a1a3a1b1) defines the Ashamaily patriline
Tags
References
- Zhumadilova et al. (2024) — Y-Chromosomal insights into the paternal genealogy of the Kerey tribe have called into question their descent from the Stepfather of Genghis Khan. PLOS ONE. PMC11373838.
- Lan et al. (2022) — Whole-sequence analysis indicates that the Y chromosome C2*-Star Cluster traces back to ordinary Mongols. European Journal of Human Genetics.