While you may be well aware that your ancestors lived in Europe, thus describing your origins as “European”, there’s much more to discover about this side of your ancestry! Learn more about one or several pan-ethnic groups you can belong to, and why each of them is unique

‍

Southern European

As the name suggests, this group includes people coming from Southern Europe, usually referring to those who can trace their heritage (partly or entirely) to Italy, Spain, Portugal, or Greece. The group can also include wider geography, such as the Mediterranean islands’ inhabitants, Cypriots, and Maltese people.

‍

Southern Europeans are considered the shortest of all Europeans (especially Portuguese and South Italians). They usually have darker skin tones, as well as darker hair and eye color [1]. Many Mediterranean Europeans also have a wider nasal bridge with a drooping tip. Culturally, Southern Europeans tend to maintain closer family ties that go well into adulthood and lean towards tradition.

‍

Northeastern European

The Northeastern European group usually refers to Finnish and Baltic people, or anyone tracing their origins to one or several countries in this region.

‍

This group is often characterized by ashy blonde hair, small, blue eyes, and small, round noses with a majority of its mass being concentrated around the nostrils, and not at the bridge [2]. Northeastern Europeans are also known to be taller than their Southern counterparts. Culturally, this group is famous for being direct and polite at the same time, often ranking among the most educated and resilient people in Europe.

‍

Western and Northern European

Western and Northern Europeans include a large number of populations, such as Scandinavian (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic), British and Irish, French, Belgian, Dutch, and German to name a few. Therefore, you can be considered Northern or Western European if you trace your ancestry to one of the countries in this geographic region.

‍

While people of this region share some common physical traits, such as being relatively tall, there are some significant differences between Western and Northern Europeans. Scandinavians are known to have the “light look”, with pale skin and fair hair; narrow, straight noses, and a pointed chin. On the other hand, most Germans have square face shapes with prominent jaws [3]. French people, in their turn, tend to have hazel eyes and shorter stature [4], compared to other Western European neighbors.

‍

Culturally, each of the Western and Northern European countries has its own set of distinct features, but collectively they’re famous for valuing cultural diversity, having a tendency to be open-minded, and being more individualistic compared to their Southern counterparts [5].

‍

Eastern European

Eastern Europeans are a large group, comprising people of mostly Slavic or Balkan origins. However, the complex history of the region has contributed to a higher number of people of mixed ancestry.

‍

The majority of Eastern Europeans share quite similar facial features, such as high cheekbones, deep almond-shaped eyes, and circular faces. Geography plays an important role in determining some physical features: while people of Slavic origin share more common features with Northern populations (such as pale skin and fair hair), the Balkan population, located in Southeastern Europe, tends to have darker features and olive skin, looking more like their South European neighbors.

‍

Eastern European populations are also diverse in a cultural sense; however, they can be commonly described as medium-to-high individualistic, goal-oriented, and yet, traditional [6].

‍