King David: DNA & Surnames
An evidence-based examination of genealogical claims, DNA research, and the historical record surrounding Davidic descent.
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Our Position
The Israel Foundation supports rigorous, evidence-based genealogical research and encourages honest scholarship in the study of Jewish ancestry. We believe that scientific integrity and faithfulness to the historical record are essential to honoring Jewish heritage.
Family Migration Patterns
Interactive map showing the documented migration routes of families discussed in the research — from Ancient Israel through Belarus, Spain, and into the Americas.
Click any location on the map to learn more about its role in the migration history.
The following perspective is shared by genealogical researchers Ted Kandell and Nancy Grossman, whose work combines DNA testing with historical documentation to examine claims of Davidic descent:
On Claims of Davidic Descent
ALL claims of Davidic Descent and direct provable descent from Biblical figures are false, and made without any scientific or historical evidence.
The Kandell Family & DNA Evidence
The actual rabbinical ancestry of Theodore E. Kandell is from the Eventov family of Belarus, which historically was the "Ivier" and "Ashkenazi" family and which has been confirmed by DNA testing to be descended from the J1c3d-L147.1+ L858- Ashkenazi-Treves family.
False Claims Documented
The false claim of Davidic Descent via Rashi first made in 1819 on the title page of Brit Olam by Yitzhak Ashkenazi (Ivier): Sefer Brit Olam, Vilna, 1819.
The false claim of Davidic Descent for the Treves family made by Dr. Neil Rosenstein in The Lurie Legacy: The House of Davidic Royal Descent published and sold by Avotaynu.
The false claim of Davidic Descent via Rabbi Abraham Broda of Prague (G2b2-M377 L72+) who is an ancestor of Nancy H. Grossman, which includes the Lubavitcher Rebbes: Dr. Neil Rosenstein, Braude Beginnings Avotaynu XVI/3/43 Fall 2000 — based on a false pedigree invented by Beilinson in 1880 for the 5th Lubavitcher Rebbe tracing him to R. Abraham Broda the "Eshel Avraham."
The Proper Role of Genetic Science
Genetics is a science. There is much to learn from a study of the origins of Jewish families with known genealogies confirmed by Y (and mtDNA) testing, including tracing IBD segments, severe population bottleneck and rapid population expansions among Ashkenazim, as well as connections to Hispanics, French Canadians, Huguenots, Cajuns, Mennonites, South Italians, North American European Colonials and others.
Our shared ancestry and historical documentation of Jewish migrations can explain a lot about shared disease risk alleles between Jews and others, as well as the non-Jewish sources (especially North African and Iberian sources) of Jewish ancestry.
An emphasis on Davidic Descent, descent from Biblical Aaron, and "Pure Israelite Blood" is totally contrary to mainstream Rabbinic Judaism (e.g. Tractate Kiddushin). As the Rambam said, defining the normative traditional Jewish perspective, the Moshiach will come from an unknown family. Rabbi Akiva was the son of converts. Anything else is not only scientifically false, but something very foreign, contrary to the Maimonidean spirit of Jewish tradition.
It's about time we all spoke up, told the truth and stand up and stop those who profit off of false claims of "Davidic" and "Biblical Aaron" descent.
Ted Kandell & Nancy Grossman
Genealogical researchers specializing in Jewish DNA studies and Ashkenazi family history.
The Israel Foundation's Position
The Israel Foundation supports rigorous, evidence-based genealogical research and encourages honest scholarship in the study of Jewish ancestry. We believe that scientific integrity and faithfulness to the historical record are essential to honoring Jewish heritage.
The research presented on this page by Ted Kandell and Nancy Grossman represents serious, DNA-backed genealogical scholarship. While the specific findings and claims are those of the researchers themselves, The Israel Foundation stands behind the principle that all genealogical claims — including those of Davidic descent — must be held to the same standards of scientific and historical evidence.
We encourage visitors to engage with this material thoughtfully and to support scholarship that advances truth over tradition-based mythology.
The Israel Foundation hosts this research as a public resource. The views and findings are those of Ted Kandell & Nancy Grossman — Genealogical researchers specializing in Jewish DNA studies and Ashkenazi family history.