What Are the Genetic Origins of the Turkish People?

The genetic story of the Turkish people is written over millennia. Situated at a geographic crossroads, the peninsula of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) has been a stage for constant human movement and the blending of populations. The genetic makeup of people in Turkey today reflects layers of history, from ancient farmers to medieval migrations and imperial interactions. This heritage is a result of multiple ancestral sources that have shaped the contemporary Turkish gene pool.

Ancient Anatolian Foundations

The genetic bedrock of modern Turkey was formed long before the arrival of Turkic-speaking groups. For over 10,000 years, Anatolia was home to some of the world’s earliest sedentary societies. Archaeogenetic studies, which analyze ancient DNA (aDNA) from archaeological remains, show the region’s first farmers left a lasting legacy. These Neolithic peoples, with DNA found at sites like Çatalhöyük, populated Anatolia and also carried agriculture into Europe.

This ancestral layer was built upon by Bronze and Iron Age civilizations like the Hittites, Phrygians, and Lydians. Studies show that the majority of DNA in people from Turkey today is more closely related to these ancient Anatolian populations and their neighbors in the Caucasus and Levant than to populations from Central Asia.

The mobility of populations around 8,500 years ago created a relatively continuous local gene pool across Anatolia. It was this established population that later migrants would encounter and mix with, rather than replace.

The Turkic Migrations from Central Asia

A significant chapter in Anatolia’s history began in the 11th century with the arrival of Oghuz Turkic-speaking tribes from Central Asia. These groups originated in an area near modern-day Mongolia and Russia, sharing genetic links with East Asian and Siberian populations. Their westward migration was a long process across the Eurasian steppe, where they interacted with and absorbed various populations, including Iranian-speaking groups.

The Seljuk Turks’ victory at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 marked the start of their settlement in Anatolia. This event initiated a linguistic and cultural shift, but the genetic impact was one of admixture, not population replacement. Genetic studies identify specific markers common in Central and East Asian populations that trace this migration, confirming a minority contribution to the gene pool.

While culturally transformative, the genetic input from these Turkic migrations was not dominant. The arriving Turkic groups integrated into the much larger, established Anatolian population. This added a new layer to an already complex genetic profile.

Genetic Crossroads: Influences from Neighbors

Anatolia’s position connecting Europe and Asia led to continuous gene flow from surrounding regions. The genetic makeup of people in Turkey reflects centuries of contact with populations in the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Levant, and Persia. These interactions, driven by trade, imperial expansion, and migration, added further layers to the local gene pool.

The Ottoman Empire facilitated significant movement of peoples across its territories in southeastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, leading to extensive intermingling. For instance, the “devşirme” system brought individuals from Balkan communities into the empire’s elite, who integrated into Turkish society. These and other migrations created genetic connections between Turkish and Balkan populations.

There was also significant gene flow with the Caucasus region. Peoples such as Circassians, Georgians, and Laz have long histories in Anatolia, with migrations during the Ottoman period strengthening this connection. Likewise, long-standing interactions with populations in the Levant and modern-day Iran contributed to a shared genetic heritage. Modern genetic analyses confirm these close affinities with neighboring populations.

The Modern Turkish Gene Pool

The contemporary genetic landscape of Turkey is a synthesis of these historical layers: the ancient Anatolian substrate, the medieval Turkic migrations, and admixture with neighboring populations.

Population genetics studies illustrate this blend. One analysis identified the ancestry of people in Turkey as approximately 45% Middle Eastern, 40% European, and 15% Central Asian. Another study found a breakdown of 38% European, 35% Middle Eastern, and 9% Central Asian. While figures vary, they show the Central Asian element is present but that the predominant signals are from Anatolia’s West Asian and Southern European neighbors.

This genetic profile places people from Turkey in close proximity to other Mediterranean and West Asian populations. Whole-genome sequencing confirms that Turkish populations cluster with Southern European groups like southern Italians, as well as with populations from the Caucasus and the Levant. This high level of genetic variation reflects Anatolia’s history as a hub of migration.

Regional Genetic Tapestry of Turkey

The genetic composition of Turkey is not uniform, with notable regional variations that reflect local history and settlement patterns. This diversity results from localized admixture, founder effects, and the isolation of certain communities, which may have preserved older genetic strata.

Genetic profiles in western Turkey often show higher levels of Balkan and Southern European influence, a legacy of maritime contact and connections with Greece. In contrast, eastern Turkey exhibits greater genetic ties to Caucasian and Iranian populations due to geographic proximity. These differences show how local demographic history has shaped the genetic makeup of different areas.

Some studies have detected variations in the amount of Central Asian ancestry across regions. One analysis found the Central Asian genetic contribution was highest in western Turkey (12%) and lowest in the east (6.5%). This pattern could be explained by different settlement patterns of Turkic groups or more extensive intermarriage between migrants and local populations in the west.