At a glance
- When
- about the first to the eighth century CE
- Where
- from the Baltic coast of Poland to the Black Sea, later Italy and Iberia
- Entries in our catalogue
- 176 (105 individual genomes)
- Countries of the finds
- 8
What ancient DNA shows
Genetic studies of Wielbark cemeteries in Poland report ancestry close to Iron Age Scandinavians, which supports some movement of people from Scandinavia into the region, alongside local ancestry.
The Chernyakhov culture of Ukraine and Moldova was multiethnic, and its individuals vary widely. In Iberia, studies found that Central and Northern European ancestry arrived in Late Antiquity, in the period of Visigothic rule, but only in small proportions across the population.
Their genetic legacy today
Gothic era migrants left a modest and diluted genetic trace in the regions they ruled. Their legacy in Iberia and Italy is clearer in history than in the genome.
Goths samples in the MYDNATLAS catalogue
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 176 entries whose culture label names the Goths. 105 of them are individual genomes; the others are reference entries, such as averages of several individuals, and samples flagged as outliers. Half of the 174 dated entries fall between 190 CE and 507 CE, with a median of 300 CE.
Where they were found
| Country | Entries |
|---|---|
| Poland | 92 |
| Spain | 46 |
| Ukraine | 13 |
| Portugal | 10 |
| Hungary | 8 |
| Germany | 3 |
| Italy | 2 |
| Serbia | 2 |
Most common labels
| Label | Entries |
|---|---|
| Wielbark Culture (Poland) | 80 |
| Visigothic (Spain) | 34 |
| Wielbark Culture | 9 |
| Chernyakhov Culture | 8 |
| Goth (East Germanic) | 7 |
| Early Medieval Iberian (Las Gobas, Visigothic period) | 4 |
Measured from the live catalogue on 2026-10-17. Dates are those recorded for each entry; the archaeological dates of the culture are given above. See our data sources for where the samples come from.
Compare your DNA with the Goths
To see how close you sit to Goths samples, you need your DNA as G25 coordinates. Download your raw data file from your testing company, convert it, and MYDNATLAS compares your coordinates with these entries and the rest of the catalogue, period by period, in its closest population and mixture tools.
- Download your raw DNA file: step by step for each testing company.
- Upload it from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage or FamilyTreeDNA, or another supported provider.
- Explore the results with the period by period breakdown and closest populations.
Start free: browse the Population Encyclopedia. The Population Encyclopedia is free to browse with a free account; analysing your own DNA needs a paid plan.
Questions
How many Goths samples does MYDNATLAS hold?
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 176 entries labelled as Goths, of which 105 are individual genomes; the rest are reference entries such as group averages, and flagged outliers. Figures measured 2026-10-17.
Where were the Goths samples found?
They come from 8 countries, most often Poland, Spain, Ukraine, Portugal and Hungary. Half of the dated entries fall between 190 CE and 507 CE.
Did the Goths come from Scandinavia?
Ancient DNA lends some support. Individuals from the Wielbark culture of Poland, often linked to the early Goths, carry ancestry close to Iron Age Scandinavians, though local ancestry is present too.