A recent genetic study offers new insights into the origins and expansion of Celtic languages, a long-standing mystery among historians and linguists. Researchers analyzing ancient DNA now suggest that these languages expanded through migrations from Central Europe during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, challenging earlier theories that linked their spread to earlier cultures.
Celtic languages—including Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton—survive today in parts of Western Europe. But thousands of years ago, they were spoken across a much wider area, stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to Anatolia, modern-day Turkey. How these languages spread remains a debated topic, with three main theories shaping the discussion.
One theory proposed that Celtic languages traveled along the Atlantic coast with the Bell Beaker culture during the Early Bronze Age. Another suggested they originated in France, Spain, or northern Italy.
The latest research, however, points to their expansion from Central Europe during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, carried by migrations linked to the Urnfield, Hallstatt, and La Tène cultures.
DNA evidence supports migration theory
Scientists analyzed DNA from over 750 ancient individuals from key regions, including France, Germany, Austria, and the British Isles, to trace these movements. The findings reveal significant population shifts during the Bronze and Iron Ages, providing genetic clues to the spread of Celtic languages.
New Study: Tracing the Spread of Celtic Languages using Ancient Genomics. A thread: pic.twitter.com/StKgBqwgJd
— Cisalpine Heritage (@CisalpinePride) March 2, 2025
In England, genetic transitions occurred at two key moments. The first took place about 4,500 years ago with the arrival of the Bell Beaker people. The second, between 3,200 and 2,800 years ago, saw an influx of groups from Central Europe, including the Urnfield and Hallstatt cultures.
Genetic traces from southeastern Europe in France and the Czech Republic suggest interactions with populations from Hungary and Serbia. Researchers also found an increase in genetic markers from Anatolia during the Iron Age, highlighting complex cultural exchanges that influenced Europe’s linguistic landscape.
Reevaluating the Bell Beaker influence
The findings challenge the long-held idea that Celtic languages spread alongside the Bell Beaker culture in the Early Bronze Age. While the Bell Beaker people significantly shaped the genetic makeup of Western Europe, new evidence suggests that language expansion happened later alongside the Urnfield culture migration.
The study underscores the importance of human movement in shaping Europe’s linguistic and cultural evolution. Using genetic data to track population shifts, researchers now see a clearer picture of how the Celtic languages emerged and spread.
The results reshape historical understanding, linking the expansion of these languages more closely to the migrations of specific ancient societies rather than earlier cultural influences.
