red hair irish image
Kananns
Since only 1% of the world population might be red-haired. It's only in Northwestern Europe where red hair is commonest, especially in British Isles. Estimates for red hair in ethnic European populations( This doesn't include non-European immigrant populations who began arriving in Europe since the 1600's). It goes from highest to lowest. Scotland(13%),Wales(11%),Ireland(10%),England(6%),Norway,Iceland(5%),Belgium(4%),Sweden,Denmark,Germany,Netherlands,France,Switzerland(3%), Finland,Austria(2%),Spain,Italy,Slovenia,Hungary,the Czech Republic,Poland,Latvia,Estonia(1%). In France it's among the Bretons(Kelts) that red hair, ruddy and freckled complexion are commonest. In Spain it's in Galicia an old Keltic enclave, in Belgium its Wallonia(Belgae tribes). Irish, Scotch,Welsh are Kelts. Few exceptions are the tiny minority of Udmurts in Russia are also very red-headed. According to the BritishDNA project, 40% of Britons are carriers of red hair gene and 46% of the Irish. To me it seems it is, but why? Can you refute this? I don't believe in that Palaeolithic connection nonsense. If it was, then the whole Europe should've been equally red-haired. Why do you think?
Answer
Well, since the ancient peoples of the British isles were never actually called 'celts' (and there is more than one celtic language) it is probably wrong to tie in to anything specifically celtic (whicxh is a term for culture and language).The term celtic was only first used there in the 1700's; neither the Romans or the people who lived in ancient Britain/Ireland ever called themselves celts. They are mainly descended from people of the preceding bronze ages through to the mesolithic, with ties to the Atlantic coast (areas where redism is generally more frequent.)
Genes have nothing to do with language (else most Americans,Canadians etc would be turning 'English') and hence the idea of a hair colour associated with language would certainly be far less plausible than dispersal in the paleolithic/mesolithic. Older genes DO tend to be found on the western side of Europe, gradually pushed there by migrations pushing in from the east in the neolithic. That there are more paleolithic/mesolithic genes there is also obvious in that most people in northern Europe are tolerant of lactose--unlike people in the Mediterranean which took a larger neolithic 'hit.'
The red gene has been found in very ancient skeletons and is thought to have been more common in pre-neolithic times.
Well, since the ancient peoples of the British isles were never actually called 'celts' (and there is more than one celtic language) it is probably wrong to tie in to anything specifically celtic (whicxh is a term for culture and language).The term celtic was only first used there in the 1700's; neither the Romans or the people who lived in ancient Britain/Ireland ever called themselves celts. They are mainly descended from people of the preceding bronze ages through to the mesolithic, with ties to the Atlantic coast (areas where redism is generally more frequent.)
Genes have nothing to do with language (else most Americans,Canadians etc would be turning 'English') and hence the idea of a hair colour associated with language would certainly be far less plausible than dispersal in the paleolithic/mesolithic. Older genes DO tend to be found on the western side of Europe, gradually pushed there by migrations pushing in from the east in the neolithic. That there are more paleolithic/mesolithic genes there is also obvious in that most people in northern Europe are tolerant of lactose--unlike people in the Mediterranean which took a larger neolithic 'hit.'
The red gene has been found in very ancient skeletons and is thought to have been more common in pre-neolithic times.
What did the Irish and the Celts really look like?
Gavin J
I know the stereotype of the red hair, fair skin ,and freckles of the Irish. But, rumor has it that that is from the Scandanavian people who settled into Ireland many years ago. I watched a program that said the native Celtic tribes of Ireland had black hair and grey eyes. My father is 100% from the British Isles and he has black hair and hazel eyes, along with his siblings. Anybody know the phenotype of the Irish or any physical defining qualities?
Answer
As the last poster said,genetically we are not 'celts' (if you accept celts as mid Europeans originating in/around Hallstatt Austria in about 800 bce),though we are culturally celtic. Our closest relatives genetically are the Basques of Spain which just might give you an idea about possible Irish colouring! These people arrived here post-Ice age,about 8000 years ago, and were followed a few thousand years later by farmers from the Near East and some other tribes of the Atlantic seaboard who may have originated in Italy (and ultimately the near east as well.) These folks would probably be dark-haired-they also may be the ones who brought the celtic language.
The fair/red hair may come from Viking invasions, but may also have been in the population anyway (Basque people tend to be fairer than many average Spaniards)-for instance, people said red hair in the Scots comes from Vikings, but it was noted by the Romans long before any vikings entered Scotland!
Of the Irish/Irish descended people I know closely, 7 have blue eyes, 5 very dark brown eyes, 3 hazel green eyes. Hair colour- light brown 1,midbrown-4, dark brown-6, black-2.(some of these are my own family members and we are all dark-the black Irish as they say.)
As the last poster said,genetically we are not 'celts' (if you accept celts as mid Europeans originating in/around Hallstatt Austria in about 800 bce),though we are culturally celtic. Our closest relatives genetically are the Basques of Spain which just might give you an idea about possible Irish colouring! These people arrived here post-Ice age,about 8000 years ago, and were followed a few thousand years later by farmers from the Near East and some other tribes of the Atlantic seaboard who may have originated in Italy (and ultimately the near east as well.) These folks would probably be dark-haired-they also may be the ones who brought the celtic language.
The fair/red hair may come from Viking invasions, but may also have been in the population anyway (Basque people tend to be fairer than many average Spaniards)-for instance, people said red hair in the Scots comes from Vikings, but it was noted by the Romans long before any vikings entered Scotland!
Of the Irish/Irish descended people I know closely, 7 have blue eyes, 5 very dark brown eyes, 3 hazel green eyes. Hair colour- light brown 1,midbrown-4, dark brown-6, black-2.(some of these are my own family members and we are all dark-the black Irish as they say.)
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Title Post: Is red hair,freckled complexions linked to Keltic speech and if yes why is it so?
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Author: Yukie
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Rating: 92% based on 976 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Yukie
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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