New study reveals southwestern Finns share genetic ties with Estonians, coming from Baltic region

A recent genetic study has revealed new insights into the ancestry of residents in southwestern Finland. Contrary to previous knowledge, a significant portion of the genetic makeup of southwestern Finns likely originates from the Baltic region. Researchers at the University of Helsinki conducted an in-depth examination of men’s Y chromosomes, providing a clearer understanding of the origins of the males who migrated to Finland over the past millennium.

“In comparing genetic differences within Finland and between regions of Finland and Estonia, we found that southwestern Finns are genetically as close to Estonians as they are to people from Kainuu,” explained Taru Tukiainen, a research fellow at the University’s Institute for Molecular Medicine.

The study utilized data from the FINRISKI database, which contains complete Y chromosome genetic information from approximately 1,800 Finnish men. Previous research indicated both western and eastern influences in Finnish Y chromosomes. Most modern Finnish men belong to either the N or I haplogroup, with haplogroups representing distinct human ancestry types among different population groups.

Previously, it was believed that the I haplogroup arrived from the west and the N haplogroup from the east. However, the new study indicates that carriers of the N haplogroup may have entered Finland through multiple routes. In particular, a common sub-type of the N haplogroup prevalent in southwestern Finland appears to have come from the Baltic region via maritime migration.

These findings align with linguistic and archaeological observations, as significant language similarities between southwestern dialects and Estonian have already been noted.