DNA Search
In 2010, the Y-DNA (male) haplotype of Sehrbundt family member was tested. The - rather surprising - result suggested that he belongs to the haplogroup R1a1a, and, more specifically, to a subgroup discovered only in 2009 and then named R1a1a7.
This subgroup, defined by the SNP marker M458, appears as R1a1a1g1 in the 2012 ISOGG haplogroup tree. The Y-DNA was additionally tested for the SNP marker M458, and the positive result confirmed its attribution to this clade. The haplotype data fit best into a subgroup named "N" (not to be confused with haplogroup N), as defined by the researchers Peter Gwozdz and Larry Mayka, and the "Central European branch", as defined by a group of Russian researchers including Anatole Klyosov and Igor Rozhanskii. As of today, there is no reliable structure deeper down in this subgroup, with one exception: about half of its members bear a so-called recLOH mutation at the STR marker DYS464, i.e. instead of the standard four copies of this marker they have six, given as DYS464a-f. The Sehrbundt haplotype belongs to this latter group. The map for the "Central European branch" shows its wide distribution through much of Central and Eastern Europe, with no clear geographical center for either of those haplotypes with resp. without the recLOH mutation at DYS464. Generally, R1a and its subgroups concentrate in Eastern Europe; a connection with the kurgan cultures from the Pontic steppes is discussed. However, the chronology - and, with it, the origin of R1a - remains unclear; the DNA mutation rates play a crucial role in the tentative attribution of haplogroups to historical migrations, but they are still heavily disputed and vary by a factor of three.
The Sehrbundt family is presumed to descend from the Serponti family of Lombardy, Northern Italy, which is documented there since about 1100 AD. After being part of the Roman Empire for several hundred years, Lombardy was invaded by the Germanic Longobards. In terms of male DNA, Italy is a mixture of Neolithic immigrants from the Balkans and of Bronze Age Celtic immigrants; R1a shows up with less than 4%, and R1a1a1g1 so far was found just once: in the Sehrbundt haplotype. Naturally, the question arises how that haplotype could happen to appear in Northern Italy. One may suspect that the haplotype came with the non-Germanic tribes accompanying the Longobards during their invasion of Italy, however this mystery is far from being solved.
Unfortunately, until today, the search for living relatives from other branches of the family was unsuccessful. All the more, it would be highly interesting to find others likewise belonging to the haplogroup R1a1a1g1 and having a genealogical paternal background from (Northern) Italy or surrounding countries like Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia.
