At a glance
- When
- the Mongol Empire, about 1206 to 1368 CE
- Where
- the eastern steppe of present-day Mongolia, at the centre of an empire from China to Eastern Europe
- Entries in our catalogue
- 82 (60 individual genomes)
- Countries of the finds
- 1
What ancient DNA shows
A 2020 study in Cell traced six thousand years of genetic history on the eastern steppe. It found that Mongol Empire era individuals had more East Asian related ancestry than earlier Xiongnu era people, but were also markedly varied, with some carrying substantial western Eurasian ancestry, consistent with the movement of people across the empire.
The same work found that the Xiongnu, the first steppe empire based in Mongolia, already combined eastern and western steppe ancestry, so the mixed character of steppe empires was established long before the Mongols.
Their genetic legacy today
Present-day Mongolians are genetically close to the people of the Mongol Empire period, and East Asian related ancestry carried by medieval steppe expansions is found in parts of Central Asia, the Volga region and Anatolia.
Mongols samples in the MYDNATLAS catalogue
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 82 entries whose culture label names the Mongols. 60 of them are individual genomes; the others are reference entries, such as averages of several individuals, and samples flagged as outliers. Half of the 82 dated entries fall between 1,200 CE and 1,250 CE, with a median of 1,250 CE.
Where they were found
| Country | Entries |
|---|---|
| Mongolia | 82 |
Most common labels
| Label | Entries |
|---|---|
| Medieval Mongol (Mongolia) | 38 |
| Mongol Empire (Mongolia) | 21 |
| Medieval (Mongolia) | 11 |
| Medieval Mongolia | 4 |
| Mongolia Late Medieval Mongol Period | 3 |
| Mongol Empire period (Shunkhlai Mountain, Mongolia) | 2 |
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 Mongols
To see how close you sit to Mongols 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 Mongols samples does MYDNATLAS hold?
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 82 entries labelled as Mongols, of which 60 are individual genomes; the rest are reference entries such as group averages, and flagged outliers. Figures measured 2026-10-17.
Where were the Mongols samples found?
They come from 1 country, most often Mongolia. Half of the dated entries fall between 1,200 CE and 1,250 CE.
Did the Mongol Empire change the ancestry of the lands it conquered?
In some regions measurably, in others little. East Asian related ancestry from medieval steppe expansions is found in parts of Central Asia and the Volga region, but the Mongol period is only one of several steppe movements that contributed it.