FamilyTreeDNA maintains the world’s largest mtDNA haplotree, built from millions of data points contributed by customers around the world and decades of innovation in maternal-line genetic genealogy.
FamilyTreeDNA is proud to host the world’s largest mtDNA haplotree — a living, evolving record of human maternal ancestry. Built from millions of data points contributed by customers around the world, the tree continues to grow and refine as new results are added and existing branches are better understood.
In this update, we highlight the current state of the mtDNA haplotree, including overall growth in branches, notable haplogroups, and newly added ancient connections. Whether you’re a genetic genealogist, population researcher, or DNA enthusiast, these updates offer insight into how maternal lineages connect us across generations — one mitochondrial sequence at a time.
What Is the mtDNA Haplotree?
The mtDNA haplotree is a branching structure that shows how maternal lineages are related based on shared mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) changes. It is built using mutations found across the full mitochondrial genome, which is passed from mothers to their children over generations. Each branching point on the tree represents a shared maternal ancestor, allowing researchers to trace maternal lineages across both recent history and deep time.
How mtFull Sequence Powers the Haplotree
The mtDNA haplotree is powered by full mitochondrial genome testing through FamilyTreeDNA’s mtFull Sequence test. By analyzing the entire mitochondrial DNA sequence, mtFull Sequence provides the high-resolution data needed to accurately place individuals on the mtDNA haplotree and identify previously unknown branching points.
As more full mtDNA sequences are added, the tree continues to expand and refine, improving resolution within maternal lineages and revealing new connections that were not previously visible.
In other words: when you take an mtFull Sequence test, you don’t just learn about your maternal ancestry — you contribute directly to the continued growth and refinement of the mtDNA haplotree.
Explore Your mtDNA Haplogroup with Discover™
Once you’re placed on the mtDNA haplotree, Discover haplogroup reports provide free additional context for understanding your maternal lineage. These interactive reports allow you to explore:
- Historical background and geography: Your mtDNA haplogroup’s historical context and geographic distribution
- Ancient connections: Ancient individuals from archaeological excavations around the world that are associated with your maternal line
- Timelines and branching: Estimated timelines and major branching events within the haplotree
You can also explore reports for other mtDNA haplogroups, making Discover a valuable resource for genealogists, project administrators, and researchers interested in maternal-line history and population studies.
Why Is FamilyTreeDNA’s Tree the Largest?
FamilyTreeDNA maintains the world’s largest mtDNA haplotree because of its combination of deep full-sequence testing, years of active stewardship, and continuous scientific curation. By developing novel methods and analyzing a vastly larger and growing dataset, the mtDNA Tree of Humankind has evolved into a far more detailed and genealogically useful resource.
Our mtFull Sequence test provides complete mitochondrial genome data, allowing for accurate placement on the tree and ongoing refinement of maternal lineages as new results are added. Each high-quality mtDNA result contributes directly to improving the resolution of the haplotree.
Here’s what sets FamilyTreeDNA’s mtDNA tree apart:
- Full-sequence data: Powered by full mitochondrial genome sequencing
- Scientific curation: Continuously curated by an in-house scientific team
- Ongoing refinement: Regularly refined as new data becomes available
- Unmatched scale: Tens of thousands of mtDNA branches, far exceeding earlier public versions of the tree
Other mtDNA trees rely primarily on static, publicly available datasets. In contrast, FamilyTreeDNA’s mtDNA haplotree is dynamic — growing, refining, and improving as part of an active research ecosystem supported by the global genetic genealogy community.
The Current Size of The Updated mtDNA Haplotree
Haplotree Branches
- Total branches: 54,481
- Growth: +625
- Growth rate: 1.16%
Top contributors
- Haplogroup H: +124 (largest numerical growth)
- Haplogroup Q: +100 (+55.87%)
- Haplogroup U: +88 (+1.36%)
- Haplogroup P: +85 (+38.12%)
- Haplogroup M: +47 (+1.63%)
Why Some mtDNA Haplogroups May Lose Branches
You may have noticed that the number of branches has dropped for some haplogroups. As part of the development during the beta phase, we are not only working on adding more branches. We are also pruning the tree by identifying and removing branches with low support. These refinements help ensure that haplogroup assignments are based on strong, well-supported data, making the mtDNA haplotree more accurate and reliable over time.
Ancient Connections
- Total ancient connections: 13,287
- Added:+2,477
Examples of Ancient Connections Added
Names(s):
Individuals from the Riesa manor burial crypts (17th–19th centuries), Saxony, Germany
Study:
“Beyond simple kinship and identification: aDNA analyses from a 17th–19th century crypt in Germany” (Alterauge, Amelie et al.)
Age:
Burials dated to the 17th–19th centuries (c. 1577–1866)
Male or Female:
Multiple individuals (male and female)
mtDNA Haplogroup(s):
T2b8, V23a, K1b1b1f, H229, C5c1a, V7a2c1
Ancient DNA analysis of individuals interred in two burial crypts beneath the former cloister church at Riesa manor revealed six distinct mtDNA lineages spanning multiple noble families associated with the estate. The crypts were used successively by the von Felgenhauer family, later by the Barons von Odeleben, and eventually by the von Welck family.
One notable finding was the presence of mtDNA haplogroup T2b8 in both von Welck family burials and an earlier Felgenhauer child, Adam Christoph von Felgenhauer, despite a lack of documented maternal relationship and a gap of more than a century between the burials. Other lineages identified include haplogroups associated with Central, Eastern, and Northwestern Europe, as well as maternal lines linked to ancient Polabian Slav contexts.
Two of the Riesa mtDNA lineages show connections to ancient individuals from Niederwünsch, located approximately 60 miles away, suggesting a possible long-term maternal presence in the region. FamilyTreeDNA’s research team used these sequences to place the individuals on the mtDNA haplotree, further refining maternal-line resolution and highlighting how ancient DNA continues to inform both historical and genealogical research.
Why These Numbers Matter
This isn’t just about numbers. The world’s largest mtDNA haplotree:
- Helps researchers and genealogists trace maternal lineages with greater precision and break genealogical brick walls
- Provides deeper insight into shared maternal ancestry across populations and time
- Supports scientific research into population history, migration, and maternal inheritance
As the mtDNA haplotree continues to expand and refine, these improvements increase its value not only for individual researchers, but also for broader historical and scientific studies that rely on accurate maternal-line data.
How You Can Contribute
Every branch in the mtDNA haplotree begins with a tester. Want to help grow and refine the tree?
- Take or upgrade to the mtFull Sequence test to determine your precise placement on the mtDNA haplotree
- Join an mtDNA Group Project to collaborate with others researching shared maternal ancestry
- Encourage relatives to test, especially those from underrepresented regions or maternal lineages
Your mtDNA test doesn’t just reveal your maternal history — it helps improve the mtDNA haplotree and deepen our understanding of maternal ancestry across generations.
Stay Updated
This page reflects the most current state of the mtDNA haplotree and will be updated as new refinements are made. Feel free to bookmark it, share it with your genetic genealogy group, or cite it in your research as a reference point for the mtDNA Tree of Humankind.
We’ll continue sharing mtDNA tree highlights and updates across our channels, but this page will always serve as the central resource for the most up-to-date information about the mtDNA haplotree.
Let’s keep growing this tree — together.