Data from: Traces of Medieval migrations in a socially-stratified population from Northern Italy. Evidence from uniparental markers and deep-rooted pedigrees.

Social and cultural factors had a critical role in determining the genetic
structure of Europe. Therefore, socially stratified populations may help
to focus on specific episodes of European demographic history. In this
study, we use uniparental markers to analyse the genetic structure of
Partecipanza in San Giovanni in Persiceto (Northern Italy), a peculiar
institution whose origins date back to the Middle Ages and whose members
form the patrilineal descent of a group of founder families. From a
maternal point of view (mtDNA), Partecipanza is genetically homogeneous
with the rest of the population. However, we observed a significant
differentiation for Y-chromosomes. In addition, by comparing 17 Y-STR
profiles with deep-rooted paternal pedigrees, we estimated a Y-STR
mutation rate equal to 3.90 * 10−3 mutations per STR per generation and an
average generation duration time of 33.38 years. When we used these values
for tentative dating, we estimated 1300-600 years ago for the origins of
the Partecipanza. These results, together with a peculiar Y-chromosomal
composition and historical evidence, suggest that Germanic populations
(Lombards in particular) settled in the area during the Migration Period
(400–800 AD, approximately) and may have had an important role in the
foundation of this community.