Quick Answer
Hazel eyes are often associated with Irish ancestry, but they are not exclusively an Irish trait. Hazel eyes are multicolored eyes that contain combinations of brown, green and gold. They are relatively uncommon globally but are more frequently found in people of Celtic and Northern European descent, including the Irish. However, hazel eyes can occur in people of any ethnic background. The perception of hazel eyes as an Irish trait likely arises from the higher prevalence of hazel eyes among Irish people compared to others.
Prevalence of Hazel Eyes
Hazel eyes are one of the rarest eye colors worldwide. Only about 5-8% of the global population has hazel eyes. They are slightly more common among Caucasians, with estimates ranging from 5-10% prevalence. Among people of Celtic heritage, including Irish, Scottish and Welsh, the rate is estimated to be 10-20%. Here is a table showing the estimated prevalence of hazel eyes by ethnic group:
| Ethnic Group | Prevalence of Hazel Eyes |
|---|
| Global | 5-8% |
| Caucasian | 5-10% |
| Hispanic | 1-2% |
| African | 1% |
| Asian | 1% |
| Celtic (Irish, Scottish, Welsh) | 10-20% |
As the table shows, hazel eyes are significantly more common among those of Celtic ethnicity, including Irish people, compared to most other groups. This explains why they are often perceived as an Irish trait. However, many other ethnicities can also have hazel eyes.
Causes of Hazel Eye Color
The color of human eyes is determined by the amount and type of melanin pigment in the iris. Brown eyes have a lot of melanin, blue eyes have very little, and hazel eyes have a moderate amount of a form of melanin called eumelanin.
Hazel eyes get their multicolored appearance from a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering. This is when shorter wavelengths of light are absorbed by melanin while longer wavelengths are reflected back, creating shades of green, gold and brown in the iris.
The exact genes involved in eye color are complex, but some associated with hazel eyes include:
| Gene | Effect |
|---|
| HERC2 | Regulates OCA2 expression |
| OCA2 | Produces melanin pigment |
| SLC24A4 | Influences melanin type |
Research suggests the prevalence of these eye color genes in the Irish population can partly explain the higher rate of hazel eyes. But similar genetic profiles related to melanin production are also found in other ethnic groups.
Irish History and Hazel Eyes
It is also important to understand the history of eye color in Ireland. Hazel eyes are believed to have been very rare during prehistoric times in Irish populations. Blue eyes were also historically uncommon.
When Celtic tribes migrated to Ireland beginning around 500 BC, they carried genetic traits for lighter eye colors. Intermixing with Scandinavian Vikings after 800 AD likely introduced more variation.
By the 19th and 20th centuries, hazel and blue eyes had become much more prevalent in Ireland. Today, it’s estimated that over 75% of Irish people have blue or hazel eyes.
Here is a table summarizing the historical patterns in Irish eye color:
| Era | Common Eye Colors |
|---|
| Prehistory – 500 BC | Brown |
| 500 BC – 800 AD | Brown, some blue and hazel |
| 800 AD – 1800s | Brown, blue, hazel |
| 19th century – today | Blue, hazel, brown |
This increasing prevalence of lighter eye colors produced the modern association of blue and hazel eyes with Irish ancestry. But the Irish gene pool remains diverse, and brown eyes are also very common among Irish people.
Conclusion
In summary, while hazel eyes are more common in Irish and Celtic populations compared to global averages and other ethnicities, they are not exclusively an Irish trait. Hazel eye color arises from genetic factors producing moderate melanin levels, which are shared across many populations if less frequently than in Northern Europe. The perception of hazel eyes as distinctly Irish emerges from their historically increasing prevalence in Ireland. But hazel eyes have the potential to occur in people of any ethnic background or heritage. Their associations with specific populations are based on higher frequencies, not absolute belonging to any one group. Hazel eyes are a beautiful and genetically complex trait found in Ireland and beyond.
FAQs
Hazel eyes, which feature a predominately green iris with a ring of brown or amber near the pupil, are also common in Ireland.
What nationality is known for hazel eyes? ›
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.
What race is most likely to have hazel eyes? ›
Hazel. Approximately 5% of the world's population and 18% of people in the U.S. have hazel eyes, which are a mixture of green, orange, and gold. Hazel eyes are more common in North Africa, the Middle East, and Brazil, as well as in people of Spanish heritage.
What color eyes do most Irish have? ›
Where in the world are the most green eyes? 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!
What ancestry is hazel eyes? ›
Hazel Eyes and Ethnicity: Hazel eyes are more commonly found in people of European descent,particularly those of Celtic origin. Hazel Eyes and Aging: As people age, their eye color may change due to the natural decrease in melanin levels. This can cause hazel eyes to appear lighter or more green over time.
What color eyes did Vikings have? ›
Yes, the ancient Norsem*n of the Viking Age were commonly known to have blue eyes. This distinct physical trait is often associated with the Scandinavian region and its historical inhabitants.
How special are hazel eyes? ›
According to the World Atlas, only about five percent of the world's population have hazel eyes—just behind the rarest eye color, which is green. The rarity of hazel eyes can be attributed to the intricate genetic factors involved in their development, which includes the combination of melanin and Rayleigh scattering.
Who was the first person to have hazel eyes? ›
We'll never know who the first person who had hazel eyes was, but if they were around today, they would join 5–8% of the world's population that claims the color. The term hazel comes from the color of a hazelnut and is recorded describing eyes as early as the 1690s.
What is the personality of someone with hazel eyes? ›
Hazel eyes are like looking into a pool of warm honey and amber hues, so it's only a given that people with hazel eyes tend to be warm and inviting. These people also enjoy taking chances and are bursting with powerful, vivacious energy.
Are hazel eyes incomplete dominance? ›
Incomplete dominance shows in individuals with lighter shades of brown and hazel. A golden-brown iris indicates the mixture of both eumelanin and pheomelanin (produces the yellow color), and hazel is usually a mixture of brown and green or blue and green, depending on the shade.
There are two main types of hazel eyes: those with brown as the dominant color in the iris and those with green as the dominant color. While all hazel eyes will have a combination of green and brown colors, the difference in dominant colors is why hazel eyes can appear either mostly green or mostly brown.
Do hazel eyes change color with age? ›
Hazel eyes don't actually change color. But, they might appear to change color depending on the environment. For instance, hazel eyes might look different depending on the light. Like other colors, their appearance can also be influenced by the color of your clothes or makeup.
What are Irish personality traits? ›
There are countless variations on the Irish personality, but certain traits are pretty consistent – the warmth, the wit, the passion. Yes, we're passionate! About music, about sport, about making our mark on the world. We like a good book and the person who can write one.
What is the rarest hair and eye color combination? ›
According to an article by evolutionary biology professor Mark Elgar, PhD, of the University of Melbourne, blue-eyed redheads are the absolute rarest, with 0.17% of the population having that combination of hair and eye color. So if that describes you, you're most likely one in a million—or more!
Who are the Irish genetically related to? ›
They were also found to have most similarity to two main ancestral sources: a 'French' component (mostly northwestern French) which reached highest levels in the Irish and other Celtic populations (Welsh, Highland Scots and Cornish) and showing a possible link to the Bretons; and a 'West Norwegian' component related to ...
What region has the most hazel eyes? ›
Hazel eyes are more common in Spaniards (up to 55,2% hazel-green), North Africa, the Middle East, and Brazil.
Is Hazel the rarest eye color? ›
Of those four, green is the rarest. It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. Hazel/amber is the next rarest color after green. Blue is the second most common and brown tops the list, found in 45% of the U.S. population and possibly almost 80% worldwide.
What hair color is most common in Ireland? ›
The most common hair color among Irish people is dark hair [1]. While there is a common stereotype that Irish people have red hair, it is actually not the most prevalent hair color in the population. According to research, approximately 62-63% of Irish people have dark hair [1].
Are hazel eyes rare in the UK? ›
Only around 5% of people in the world have this eye colour. They are just as rare as amber eyes but not as rare as colours like green, purple and grey. Hazel eyes are most common among people of North African, Middle Eastern, Spanish and Brazilian descent.
