Genetic, Geographic and Historical Analysis of the Haplogroup L-Y215411 / L-FT368561

Abstract

This study examines the genetic continuity, geographic distribution, tribal affiliations, and historical background of the paternal lineage identified as L-FT368561 in FTDNA and L-Y215411 in YFull. The analysis integrates evidence from STR111, BigY700, YFull YTree, TimeTree, and geographic–ethnographic data. The findings reveal that this lineage has maintained a long-term genetic and cultural continuity extending from Northern Mesopotamia into the interior regions of Anatolia.

I. Introduction

The paternal lineage L-215411 / L-FT368561 has been identified across a broad geographic zone, including Mardin (Mazıdağı), Mosul, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Dersim, Erzincan, Sivas, and Amasya. This wide distribution reflects a demographic history shaped by historical migrations as well as tribal organization. The aim of this study is to correlate phylogenetic evidence with historical processes to provide a multi-layered understanding of this lineage.

II. Tribal Structures and Historical Continuity

This lineage is closely associated with several Kurdish tribal groups, including the Mîlan, Alikan, Kurmeşan, Ketikan, Omeriyan, and Baravî/Gabarî tribes. Kurmancî is the predominant language across these tribal regions, with Dimilkî/Zazakî spoken in some northern areas, and Kurdish–Arabic bilingualism observed near Mosul.

The strong continuity observed in the paternal line, when combined with genetic data, points to over a millennium of uninterrupted historical lineage.

Tribal Leader Of Milan Ibrahim Pasha and Mehmet Uzun – Foundational Figure of Modern Kurdish Literature III. Historical and Cultural Figures Connected to the L-215411 Lineage

1. Ibrahim Pasha – Leader of the Mîlan Tribal Confederation

Ibrahim Pasha, one of the most influential Kurdish tribal leaders in the late Ottoman period, shaped both the military and political structure of the Mîlan confederation. Genetic analyses indicate that Ibrahim Pasha’s paternal line belongs to L-215411. This supports the notion that the leadership tradition of the Mîlan tribe rests on a deep genealogical foundation.

2. Mehmet Uzun – Foundational Figure of Modern Kurdish Literature Mehmet Uzun, one of the founding authors of the modern Kurdish novel, also falls within this lineage.

The presence of two historically significant figures—living in different centuries yet sharing the same paternal haplogroup —demonstrates that L-215411 represents a cultural and social lineage, not merely a genetic category.