The Maternal Genetic Lineages of Ashkenazic Jews

by Kevin Alan Brook

This book presents up-to-date information on the origins of the Ashkenazic Jewish people from central and eastern Europe based on genetic research on modern and pre-modern populations. It focuses on the 129 maternal haplogroups that the author confirmed that Ashkenazim have acquired from distinct female ancestors who were indigenous to diverse lands that include Israel, Italy, Poland, Germany, North Africa, and China, revealing both their Israelite inheritance and the lasting legacy of conversions to Judaism. Genetic connections between Ashkenazic Jews and other Jewish populations, including Turkish Jews, Moroccan Jews, Tunisian Jews, Iranian Jews, and Cochin Jews, are indicated wherever they are known.

209 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2022

About the author

Kevin Brook is a population geneticist and historian who has authored books, book chapters, and articles published by such presses as Rowman and Littlefield, Feldheim, Brill, Macmillan, M.E. Sharpe, ABC-CLIO, Charles Scribner's Sons, and Oxford University Press beginning in 1998 on topics including Khazars, Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardi Jews, Karaite Jews, Armenian Jews, Volga Germans, and African-American music.

His history book The Jews of Khazaria has been published in three editions and two languages.

He studied Russian history at Bryant College under Professors James Estey and Glen Camp.