Green eyes are most commonly found among people with Celtic ancestry, such as those from Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland.
Green eyes are most common among those of Celtic and Germanic descent.
The highest concentration of people with green eyes is found in Ireland, Scotland, and northern Europe. In fact, in Ireland and Scotland, more than three-fourths of the population has blue or green eyes – 86 percent! Many factors go into having green eyes.
However, historians have found evidence that among the ancient Celts, blue and green eyes were common, while brown eyes were less common and perceived as exotic. Blue eyes often have yellow, gold, grey, or hazel flecks in them. Green eyes tend to be a more olive green, which can range from yellow-green to blue-green.
So where did our green-eyed ancestors come from? Most origins point to areas around the Caucasus Mountains, which link Asia and Europe. That may help explain why so many different countries and continents have had green-eyed populations for thousands of years.
People of European descent represent the largest share of those with green eyes. European Americans with Germanic and Celtic ancestry comprise 16% of all green-eyed people. Even though they're most common in Europe, people with green eyes can be found all over the world, even as far as remote parts of China.
The Vikings had various eye colors, although the predominant eye color was blue or gray. However, Irish Vikings had predominantly brown or hazel eyes, and some Viking settlements were much more diverse than others.
The Celtic peoples have historically lived across mainland Europe stretching from Swizerland and Turkey in the east to Britain and Ireland In the west. They can be defined by multiple physical characteristics such as red hair, blue and green eyes, tartan clothing, and prominent statures.
What did the Celts look like? Looking again at the recordings by Roman literature, the Celts were described as wearing brightly coloured clothes, with some having used blue dye from the woad plant to paint patterns on their bodies.
If you describe someone as a Celt, you mean that they are part of the racial group which comes from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and some other areas such as Brittany.
The Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark also report high rates of green eyes. 22. Green and blue eyes are also common in Finland, with 85% of its population having lighter eyes.
Green irises have an uncommon melanin level — less than “truly” brown eyes, but more than blue eyes. This is why green eyes are so unique. And while 9% is indeed rare, green eyes have an even lower eye color percentage across the globe.
The different variants of genes are referred to as alleles. The gey gene has one allele that gives rise to green eyes and one allele that gives rise to blue eyes. The bey2 gene has one allele for brown eyes and one for blue eyes.
People with green eyes are curious, very passionate in their relationships, and have a creative outlook on life. Although these people tend to get jealous easily, they possess large amounts of love. As green is considered a youthful, invigorating colour, you are known to bring vibrancy and compassion wherever you go.
Green eyes are common in Central Europe, Iraq, Iran and Turkey. Gray eyes are common in Europe, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Twenty-nine percent of participants associated green eyes with sexiness, the top characteristic thought to be related to this color. Green-eyes was also thought of as creative (25 percent) and a little devious (20 percent). Being trustworthy and shy was also linked to green-eyed people.
Other traits far more prevalent among people of Celtic ancestry include lactase persistence and red hair, with 46% of Irish and at least 36% of Highland Scots being carriers of red-head variants of the MC1R gene, possibly an adaptation to the cloudy weather of the areas where they live.
From as far back as the 16th century, historians taught that the Irish are the descendants of the Celts, an Iron Age people who originated in the middle of Europe and invaded Ireland somewhere between 1000 B.C. and 500 B.C. That story has inspired innumerable references linking the Irish with Celtic culture.
The Celts were usually described as blond, whether naturally or through the use of chalk or lime-water to lighten the hair.
Irish people are known for pointy and angular features, characterized by strong-looking jaws and chins, deep-set eyes, and pronounced cheekbones. They also tend to have slick oval heads as well as long and tall pointed noses.
The “truest” Celtic bloodlines existing today belong to those from the Scottish Highlands, Perthshire, Northwest Scotland and the descendants of the ancient ruling families in Ireland and Wales.
The 8 Celtic Nations. Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galtcia and Asturias.
Since most Norwegians — 55 percent — have blue eyes, it is possible that the results would differ in other populations, the researchers acknowledged.
Through DNA testing, it is possible to effectively trace your potential inner Viking and discover whether it forms part of your genetic makeup or not. However, it's not 100% definitive. There's no exact Nordic or Viking gene that is passed down through the generations.
Anyone can be born with hazel eyes, but it's most common in people of Brazilian, Middle Eastern, North African, or Spanish descent. When eyes are hazel, they are brown mixed with amber and green. In some cases, there are shades of gray, blue, and gold within the iris too. Brown eyes may also have some green in them.