Did you know it’s been just over a year since we launched our Historical MatchesSM feature? This feature, available to 23andMe+ Premium™ members, compares your DNA to hundreds of ancient and historical individuals from around the world. By searching for identical segments of DNA, it can reveal genetic evidence that you share a common ancestor with that historical individual.
Looking Back: A Year of Discoveries
Over the past year, we’ve regularly updated Historical Matches to add new individuals from across the globe and throughout history—from Ancient Romans and Medieval Avars to Neolithic Ireland and Colonial Mexico.
We’ve also added individuals featured in recent ancient DNA studies that made headlines, including a powerful matrilineal lineage from Iron Age Britain and young boys who were ritually sacrificed during the Maya Civilization.
We even added few historical figures whose names you might recognize, including:
- Ludwig van Beethoven – The famed composer
- King Béla III – King of Hungary and Croatia (1172–1196)
- Princes Gleb and Izjaslav – Rulers from Medieval Kievan Rus’
- Ötzi the Iceman – A 5,000-year-old natural mummy found in the Alps
Why Aren’t More Historical Named Individuals Included?
You might be wondering: If we can include Beethoven, why not Mozart or Bach?
The answer comes down to one key factor: their genetic data. To include someone in the Historical Matches feature, we need access to high-quality, genome-wide DNA data. Unfortunately, very few named historical individuals meet this bar—either because their remains haven’t been sequenced, or the resulting data doesn’t cover enough of their genome.
Take Richard III, for example. Although researchers sequenced his mitochondrial DNA and parts of his Y-chromosome in 2012, this only covers a small portion of his total DNA. His complete genome hasn’t yet been sequenced, so we can’t include him.
Similarly, you might have heard claims last year that DNA was extracted from Christopher Columbus—and that he had Sephardic Jewish ancestry. However these claims remain unconfirmed in the scientific community and the data hasn’t been made publicly available for independent review or for further analysis.
To Celebrate Our First Year, We’re Adding More Named Individuals
But good news—some named historical individuals do have sequenced genomes and we’re adding as many of them as we can to the Historical Matches feature as part of our one-year anniversary celebration.
They may not all be household names like Beethoven, but each one tells a fascinating story. And who knows—you might discover a connection you never expected.
Here’s a sneak peek at who we’re adding:
George Bähr: The Architect Behind Dresden’s Frauenkirche
George Bähr (1666–1738) was a celebrated German architect, best known for designing the iconic Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden. Commissioned in 1722, construction began in 1726, but Bähr died in 1738—five years before it was completed.
His remains were later reburied in the church’s crypt, which was destroyed during WWII and painstakingly rebuilt decades later. During the reconstruction, researchers recovered some of Bähr’s skeletal remains and extracted DNA to explore both his ancestry and physical traits.
Bishop Peder Winstrup—and his Mysterious Burial Companion
Bishop Peder Winstrup (1605–1679) was a prominent scholar and founding figure of Lund University in what is now southern Sweden. After his death, he was buried beneath Lund Cathedral—only to become the center of an unexpected mystery.
When researchers examined his well-preserved remains in 2012, they discovered a surprise: the body of a small male fetus, approximately 5–6 months old, placed beneath him. Was this just a practical burial arrangement? Or was there a familial connection?
In 2021, researchers sequenced the genomes of both individuals and concluded the fetus was likely the bishop’s grandson—a remarkable story of DNA unlocking hidden family ties.
Hungarian Royalty: Hunyadi, Aba, and Báthory Lineages
We added King Béla III to Historical Matches in April 2024. But he’s far from the only Hungarian noble with sequenced DNA. Researchers have published genomes of members of several other powerful Hungarian lineages, including Johannes and Christophorus Corvinus, descendants of Matthias Hunyadi, who ruled Hungary from 1458–1490. Researchers have also sequenced the genomes of individuals who were buried in the Aba and Báthory family burial places. While their exact identities are still unknown, the burial location suggests that they were likely members of these prominent aristocratic families.
Discover Your Connection
Want to see if you’re genetically connected to any of these new additions—or to hundreds of other historical individuals? The Historical MatchesSM feature is available to 23andMe+ Premium™ members.
