The Genetic Ancestry of the Romani

The Romani (also known as the Roma or "Gypsies") are an ethnic group that originated from the Indian subcontinent (especially the region of Rajasthan), over the centuries they migrated to the Middle East & Europe, & later to the Americas (post 1492).

In this post, we will be focusing on the Romani diaspora in Europe, they are mainly found in Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Hungary, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Moldova, Kosovo, Montenegro, & other nations of Europe.

According to 23andMe results on Reddit, the Romani are an admixed blend of South Asian (mainly North Indian), Northwest Asian, & European (mainly Balkan).

As they were migrated out of the Indian subcontinent, they first mixed with Northwest Asians, then after migrating to Europe, they mixed with Balkan peoples, as well as some other European peoples (such as the Spaniards), despite their admixed origins, they have kept their Romani identity & way of life, similar to the European Jews (both Ashkenazi & Sephardic) who are of mixed Levantine Mizrahi Jew & various European peoples.