What is the Roma ethnicity?
Q: What is the Roma ethnicity?
A: The Roma are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group found mainly in Europe. In English, they are often called Gypsies. Some Roma, but not all consider "Gypsy" to be a slur.
Q: Where did the Roma originate from?
A: The Roma people originally came via the Silk Road from the Indian subcontinent around the time of the Migration period and settled in Egypt. A DNA study by Indian and Estonian researchers shows that their ancestors originate from Chandala (untouchables), Dalit and Shudra communities of their ancestral homeland.
Q: How has DNA changed among the Roma population?
A: Gene flow from Turks into the Roma people population at the Ottoman Empire happened through the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans and Byzantine Empire. Much DNA from host countries where they live has also flowed into Romani people through intermarriages. Another gene study shows South Indian Tamil people DNA to Romani people, as well as Y-DNA H which is linked to Brahmin ancestry. It is also claimed that some Romani originated from Sindh.
Q: Are there any physical characteristics unique to Romani newborns?
A: According to an Indian study, newborns of Romani descent have a blue-greyish spot known as Mongolian spot. Another study showed that many Romani men from Zargari tribe in Iran's Qazvin Province were born without a foreskin or with a very short foreskin - a rare condition called Aposthia.
Q: Where can we find large populations of Roma today?
A: There are populations of Roma all over Europe, but largest populations are found in Eastern Europe and in the Balkans region.
Q: What groups make up European Roma today?
A: Various groups include East European birth; Sinti in Germany and Manouches in France and Catalonia; Kaló in Spain; Ciganos in Portugal; Gitans of southern France; Romanichals of Britain; Romanlar in Turkey
