Male line information: Y-group E1b1b

All members of Y-group E1b1b can trace their Y-chromosomes back to one man who is thought to have lived about 26 thousand years ago in Africa. This man belonged to a group of hunter-gatherers that were probably located in Northeast Africa, after modern humans colonized Asia, Europe and other parts of the world. Much has been speculated about the migration history of the male-line ancestors of present day members of Y-group E1b1b, because of its complex geographic distribution. It is thought to have originated in Northeast Africa, with migrating males taking it south and west within Africa, but also out of Africa and into Western Asia and Southern Europe. At some point, it is believed that there was a migration from Western Asia, bringing a slightly different form of Y-group E1b1b chromosomes back into Africa.

Today, members of Y-group E1b1b are found in Africa (at a frequency of 0 to 50 percent), Europe (0 to 20 percent) and Western Asia (0 to 15 percent). About 2 percent of African American males and 4 percent of European males belong to Y-group E1b1b.

Note that Y-group E1b1b was previously called E3b. The name was changed to accord with the latest developments in the scientific literature.