Madeira’s DNA Explained: Iberian Roots, African Lineages, and a Global Diaspora
If you’ve made a DNA test and ‘Madeira’ showed up, or if you know you have Madeiran ancestry, you may be curious about what sets Madeirans apart. What does Madeira’s DNA mean or look like? What secrets is it hiding? Did Madeirans become a different, identifiable group in just five centuries?
Why does Madeira show up on DNA tests?
During the Age of Exploration, Madeira became the first overseas colony. The settlement on the island was an experiment that would change the course of history forever. In fact, not long after the settlement on the island, Madeirans were sent to the Azores, Cape Verde and even Brazil to start new colonies.
In later centuries, when economic crisis hit, many Madeirans who had stayed on the island had to leave. In the 19th century, many emigrated to Hawaii to work on sugar plantations. In the 20th century, Madeirans created a sizeable diaspora in Venezuela and the Caribbean, South Africa, and Australia. In total, there are over 1.5 million Madeirans around the world.
Most likely, if you have detectable Madeiran DNA, you descend from these later migrations. Now, onto what you really want to now.
Madeira’s DNA is mostly Iberian.
Before the arrival of the first Portuguese settlers, Madeira was uninhabited. Thus, their founder effect is still felt today. Despite a colourful history filled with Italian noblemen, French pirates, Norwegian sailors lost at sea rescued by Madeira wine barrels, English businessmen and even a runaway Polish king, Madeira’s DNA is mostly Iberian, consistent with Portuguese settlers.
That said, DNA still doesn’t answer one of the main questions that have puzzled historians. Were the first settlers from the North or the South of the country? Popular lore established that Madeira had been populated by the second sons of noblemen searching for riches, along with farmers from Algarve. However, both history and DNA suggest a considerable amount of settlers came mainly from Minho, up North.
There is, however, a noticeable difference between the settlers of Madeira and Porto Santo. Being much drier and hard to defend, Porto Santo was sacked several times and even had to be repopulated at a certain point. As a result, Porto Santo’s DNA is less diverse than Madeira’s, with a profound founder effect pointing towards the Algarve.
But there’s a significant contribution from West Africa.
Population genetics studies of Madeira consistently show a strong Iberian base combined with an unusually high proportion of African maternal lineages.
When you analyse DNA, there are two different types of DNA you want to look at. One is Y-DNA, the genetic material passed on the Y chromosome. In simple terms: the DNA men inherit from their father, their father’s father, and so on along the patrilineal line. Then there’s mtDNA, mitochondrial DNA passed on solely from the mother.
It’s precisely in mtDNA that we find proof of Madeira’s history – the one that’s not often mentioned in the books. Despite Madeirans being mostly Portuguese, there’s a significant contribution from West and Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies suggest that 13% to 14.8% of Madeirans’ mtDNA comes from this region of the world.
This means that going back several generations on their matrilineal line – that’s your mother’s mother, and your grandmother’s mother – over 10% of Madeirans have an African ancestor. The south of the island, especially Funchal, has the highest contribution from Africans, while the north of the island and Porto Santo have the least.
Where is African DNA in Madeira coming from?
In all likelihood, this DNA comes from a direct flow from Africa during the Atlantic Slave Trade.
It’s worth noting that Portuguese people often share DNA with North African populations. That’s a product of Arab and Berber presence in the peninsula for 700 years, as well as a significant Sephardic Jewish community (estimated to be 20% of the population before they were expelled or forced to convert in 1497). Therefore, a good amount of North African and Mediterranean Y-DNA could come from the original Portuguese settlers.
It could also come from the first slaves brought to the island. In the 15th century, Berbers, Moors and Guanches (native Canary Islanders), all from North Africa, were brought to the island to develop the “sugar economy” and build the first water canals – the now famous levadas. You can see their imprint on Madeira’s culture through bolo do caco, couscous, and local toponymy.
However, in terms of DNA, it’s hard to say which percentage came from Berbers who were forced into slavery or, for example, a settler from the Algarve. In fact, some historians even suggest some of this Moorish culinary culture could have come from settlers as well, although that’s contentious.
West African DNA in those percentages, however, wouldn’t come from the mainland. It’s a much more recent addition to the gene pool. But, by the 16th century, around 10- 15% of Madeira’s population (2.000 people) were slaves, including many from present-day Guinea. And in Madeira, like in many other regions of the world, white men had children with African women – which shows up on mtDNA. African men didn’t have children with white women, which is why their presence doesn’t show on Y-DNA.
Further Evidence supporting African mtDNA in Madeira came from the Slave Trade
Funchal shows the highest African mtDNA frequencies, which is an important hint. Madeira’s sugar economy declined quickly, which meant most slaves (African, Guanches or Moors captured in battle) were employed as house staff in the city and not on country farms. Around 60% of all recorded marriages between slaves were recorded in Sé, right in the centre of Funchal, regardless of ethnicity.
Another possible motive for higher concentrations of African mtDNA in Funchal is that illegitimate children were often abandoned in ‘baby boxes’ (Roda dos Expostos) or left at the care of the church. In fact, throughout the 18th century, 50% of newborns in Funchal were illegitimate children. However, Funchal has less Y-chromosome variety, suggesting most fathers were Iberian.
Which Ethnic groups are closest to Madeirans?
Present-day Madeirans are closer to Portuguese mainlanders, followed by North Africans (from modern day Algeria), Jewish and other Mediterranean populations.
Most of their DNA comes from Southern Europe. Apart from Portuguese DNA, they show some Spaniard DNA, compatible with populations from Galicia and Andalusia in Spain. There’s a smaller contribution from Italians on the patrilineal line, which would be consistent with the presence of Spanish and Italian businessmen and sailors in Madeira’s early history.
Of course, as mentioned above, there’s also a significant contribution from North Africa on both mtDNA and Y-DNA. A lot of these lineages could come from the original settlers, but they could also originate in early slave populations, including Moors from North Africa and Guanches from the Canary Islands. This would explain Madeiran’s closeness to modern day Algerians and Canary Islanders, both descended from Berbers.
Are Madeirans genetically different from the Portuguese then?
Not really. For a lot of people with Madeiran ancestry, that may show up simply as “Iberian”. In fact, most Madeirans I know who took their DNA tests had mostly Iberian DNA coming from Portugal and Spain, with smaller percentages coming from Africa.
However, Madeira is an island and there’s a founder effect. Because of the small founding population, as well as some African contribution, it’s possible to form a small cluster that points towards Madeiran ancestry. That’s why some DNA companies are sometimes able to put down Madeira and the Azores as different categories.
Speaking of the Azores, their genetic profile differs significantly from Madeira’s. The Azores had a bigger migration from Northern and Central Europe, which is noticeable on their Y-DNA. They also had less contribution from Africans, and West African DNA is barely detectable. So, if your DNA points to the Azores, do not look for answers here!
Do you have Madeiran ancestry?
If you know the names or places associated with your Madeiran ancestors, I may be able to help trace where on the island your family came from using local archives. Reach me at apaz@thatsmadeira.com with the data you have and I’ll give you a quote for personalised Madeiran genealogy research.