Haplogroups R1b, I1, R1a, and even E1b and G2a have a plethora of interesting famous figures associated with them, proven through YDNA tests, YDNA tests of relatives, or ancient DNA tests. Maciamo has kept small lists on his individual haplogroup pages, and there's even a Wikipedia page on the subject. But Haplogroup I2 has been notoriously absent. So, following Vadim Verenich's lead somewhat, I've been looking for famous members of Haplogroup I2, especially via the YDNA testing of cousins.
Here is my current tally of famous I2 carriers:
Alexey Buldakov, a Russian actor. Per Vadim Verenich, he tested personally as I2a-Din-N, or I2a1b3a in current ISOGG nomenclature.
Sir Henry Clinton, the British Commander-in-Chief in America during much of the American Revolutionary War. His notable patrilineal relatives included the Earls of Lincoln and most of the Dukes of Newcastle, meaning that other notable I2 carriers on his line include Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln, Henry Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle, and Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle. A direct descendant of Sir Henry Clinton tested as I2-M223, predicted with moderate confidence to be I2-M223-Isles-E L1193+, or I2a2a1a2 in current ISOGG nomenclature. This sample is available at ySearch ID: C9X5J.
Davy Crockett, an American frontiersman, folk hero, and congressman from Tennessee. The Crockett Families DNA Project has his family, including a direct descendant of his father John Crockett, as I2-M223-Cont2a Z76+, or I2a2a3a in current ISOGG nomenclature.
Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton, a Scottish nobleman famous for becoming the chief pilot of the first flight over Mount Everest, as well as for his later involvement with Rudolf Hess. A relative of the noble Douglas-Hamilton family tested I2-M223-Isles-E L1193+ at the Hamilton Surname DNA Project. Some other famous Douglas-Hamiltons include mummification and art enthusiast Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton and the politically influential James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton. Furthermore, the family claims descent from the Earls of Angus, although some competing claimants have tested differently.
Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln's first Vice President, and an influential Maine politician. The I-M223 Project has the Hamlin haplogroup as I2-M223-Cont2a Z76+, or I2a2a3a in current ISOGG nomenclature.
Miklós Horthy, Regent of Hungary through most of World War II. Per Vadim Verenich and others at MolGen (in Russian), a Horthy cousin has tested as I2a-Din-N.
Eddie Izzard, an English comedian and actor. A BBC documentary series he starred in, Meet the Izzards, stated that he tested as I2, and has matches named Frerichs and Speer, who are known to be I2-M223-Roots Z2054+.
Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United Sates, who had been Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Vice President until Lincoln's assassination. The Johnson/Johnston/Johnstone DNA Surname Project has him listed as I2, and the I-M223 Project has his family's haplogroup categorized as I2-M223-Cont Z76+ L1317+.
Huey Long, a Louisiana politician famous for his left-wing populism and his motto, "Every Man a King," who was assassinated in 1935. The Long Surname DNA Project has relatives of his as I2-L38, or I2a2b in current ISOGG nomenclature.
Henry Luce, an American magazine publisher responsible for launching Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated. His notable relatives who also carried I2 include Henry W. Luce, Moses A. Luce, and Robert Luce. The Luce Surname DNA Project has the Luce haplogroup as I2-M223-Isles-E L1193+, or I2a2a1a2 in current ISOGG nomenclature.
Andrey Makarevich, a Russian rock musician who leads Mashina Vremeni. Per Vadim Verenich, he tested personally as I2a-Din-N.
Taymuraz Mamsurov, the President of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The Ossetian DNA Project has the Mamsurov haplotype as I2c-B L596+.
Jack Nance, an American actor famous for his role in Eraserhead and other films. The Nance DNA Project shows relatives of his as I2a-Isles-B1 L161+, or I2a1b2 in current ISOGG nomenclature.
Gregory Petsko, an influential American biochemist. He claims to have tested I2 without specifying a subclade; since he is patrilineally a Cossack, he is most likely I2a-Din-N.
Charles Polk, Jr., a 19th century Governor of Delaware. The Polk-Pollock DNA Project has his haplotype as I2-M223-Cont1 L1198+, or I2a2a3a2a in current ISOGG nomenclature. Although once thought to be related to James K. Polk, this connection has been disproven by data from the same DNA project.
Myles Standish, a Mayflower passenger, signer of the Mayflower Compact, and military leader for the Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower DNA Project has his haplotype as I2-L38, or I2a2b in current ISOGG nomenclature. According to the same project, the less famous fellow Mayflower passenger Henry Samson also carried I2, specifically I2-M223-Cont2a Z76+.
Yegor Titov, a Russian association footballer. Per Vadim Verenich, he tested personally as I2a-Din-N.
Pavel Tsitsianov, a Georgian governor-general famous for his military actions in modern Azerbaijan. He belonged to the Georgian house of Tsitsishvili, which also included medic prince Zaza Panaskerteli-Tsitsishvili. The I2*, new ISOGG I2b and I2c Haplogroup Project has the Tsitsishvili haplotype as I2c-B L596+.
Anthony L. Turkevich, a Russian-American radiochemist famous for determining the composition of the Moon's surface. His father, Leonty Turkevich, was also notable as the Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America. The RussiaDNA Project shows Anthony's son to have tested as I2a-Din-N.
William A. A. "Bigfoot" Wallace, one of the most famous of the Texas Rangers. The I2*, new ISOGG I2b and I2c Haplogroup Project has his family's haplotype as I2c-A L596+.
Oliver Winchester, an arms manufacturer and the namesake of the Winchester rifle. The Winchester Family DNA Project has his family branch's haplogroup as I2a-Isles-B L161+, or I2a1b2 in current ISOGG nomenclature.
John Howard Yoder, an influential Mennonite theologian and author of The Politics of Jesus. His relative, Amish author Joseph Yoder, has also been shown to have been I2. The Yoder DNA Project has their haplogroup as I2-M223-Cont1 L1198+.
And here's a collage of some of the above:
My research has also found several other interesting possibilities, which have not yet been proven entirely, but are worth exploring, including:
- 2 out of 3 claimants of descent from Hasan-Jalal Dawla have tested as I2c.
- A member of the Donauri family, another Georgian noble family, has tested as I2c. That could mean that Samuel of Kakheti, Gabriel of Kakheti, and St Hilarion the Georgian were I2c, although all lived very long ago.
- Suspected, but not 100% proven, relatives of Fausto Veranzio have tested as I2a-Din.
Does anyone else have any to add?
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Originally Posted by sparkey
Those are not super famous, but that's a start. It's funny that they look a bit alike (nose and mouth especially) and also a bit like a great-grand-father of mine who was also I2 (based on my second cousin's test).
