Reunification by Y-Chromosome Lineage Analysis of an Ashkenazi Jewish Family with a Rare Surname who were Spatially and Temporally Separated

Abstract

Y-chromosome lineage analysis is very useful for confirming a relationship between paternal relatives separated by various circumstances. In this study, we attempted to reconnect three paternal lineages who all share the same rare Ashkenazi Jewish surname Korenbaum or a derivative of that name. Even though some of the men tested from each of these three lineages were from different continents, they all shared an oral history of a male ancestor from the Bug River region in modern day Belarus and a strong reference to familial separation. Because the surname is exceedingly rare, it is believed that all Korenbaums are related. However, genealogical research has thus far been unable to connect several distant branches including a large branch living in Germany Today Korenbaums are spread around the world, with significant populations in the United States, Israel, France, Russia, Germany, England and other countries. The Y-DNA analysis was performed using four Y-chromosome biallelic markers and twelve YSTR markers to determine the haplogroup and haplotype for the various Korenbaum descendants. It was determined that all three Korenbaum lineages possessed the same rare haplotype belonging to the Near East Yhaplogroup E1b1b1b2a. This analysis supports that these lineages share a common paternal ancestor. Two of these lineages were confirmed by genealogical records to have a common male ancestor born in the mid-19th century. While the third lineage could not be directly connected though genealogical records, the rareness of the surname, their shared oral history, the age of Ashkenazi surnames and records of the oldest Korenbaum ancestor point to a likely common ancestor born in the late 18th century in modern-day Belarus. We conclude that Ychromosome analysis is a powerful tool in lineage confirmations of displaced peoples. However, its usefulness is greatly diminished if not used in conjunction with other investigative tools. Further work on the Korenbaum family may prove useful for understanding Y-lineage evolution rates and dating.