At a glance
- When
- about 209 BCE to 100 CE
- Where
- the eastern Eurasian steppe, centred on Mongolia
- Entries in our catalogue
- 201 (116 individual genomes)
- Countries of the finds
- 3
What ancient DNA shows
A 2020 study in Cell found that the Xiongnu were highly heterogeneous, mixing ancestry related to western steppe Saka populations, ancestry with an Iranian related component and Northeast Asian ancestry of the eastern steppe. Individuals buried in the same region could differ greatly.
Studies of Xiongnu elite cemeteries on the empire's western frontier found that high-status women held prominent roles and that elites tended to carry more Northeast Asian ancestry than lower-status people, whose ancestry was more varied.
Their genetic legacy today
Xiongnu era ancestry fed into later steppe peoples. Shared stretches of DNA link some Xiongnu elite burials with Hun period individuals in Europe, centuries later.
Xiongnu samples in the MYDNATLAS catalogue
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 201 entries whose culture label names the Xiongnu. 116 of them are individual genomes; the others are reference entries, such as averages of several individuals, and samples flagged as outliers. Half of the 200 dated entries fall between 200 BCE and 100 CE, with a median of 76 BCE.
Where they were found
| Country | Entries |
|---|---|
| Mongolia | 163 |
| China | 19 |
| Russia | 19 |
Most common labels
| Label | Entries |
|---|---|
| Xiongnu (Mongolia) | 140 |
| Xiongnu-Era Inner Mongolia (China) | 16 |
| Xiongnu (Russia) | 6 |
| Early Xiongnu (Mongolia) | 3 |
| Mongolia Iron Age Xiongnu Late | 2 |
| Xiongnu | 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 Xiongnu
To see how close you sit to Xiongnu 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 Xiongnu samples does MYDNATLAS hold?
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 201 entries labelled as Xiongnu, of which 116 are individual genomes; the rest are reference entries such as group averages, and flagged outliers. Figures measured 2026-10-17.
Where were the Xiongnu samples found?
They come from 3 countries, most often Mongolia, China and Russia. Half of the dated entries fall between 200 BCE and 100 CE.
Were the Xiongnu one ethnic group?
No. Ancient DNA shows the Xiongnu empire brought together people of very different ancestry, from western steppe to Northeast Asian, under one political order.