The Origin of the People Groups

Hall of Life—Human Exhibits

on June 27, 2016

Genesis 10 gives us a list of the names of the grandsons of Noah. The descendants of these families later traveled to other parts of the world via land bridges (that existed as a result of the Ice Age) to the Americas or Australia or on boats to the Pacific Islands, for example.

Gomer	His descendants settled in Galatia in modern Turkey. From there, they migrated to France, Spain, Wales, Germany, and Armenia. He was also the father of the Miautso people of China.
Magog	His descendants (the Scythians) inhabited parts of Romania and the Ukraine. He was also the ancestor of the Goths. The Irish Celts also trace their ancestry to him.
Madai	His descendants were the Medes. The Medes and Persians are the ancestors of those who live in Iran. The Medes also traveled into India.
Javan	He was the father of the Greek people. His children also settled in Cilicia and Cyprus. His later descendants gave rise to many of the European nations, including the Britons.
Tubal	His descendants became known as Iberes, and they settled in Georgia (in the former Soviet Union).
Meshech	Moscow and the surrounding region were settled by Meshech.
Tiras	His descendants were called Thracians, and they settled much of what is known as Yugoslavia.
Cush	The Ethiopians came from the line of Cush.
Mizraim	He and his family traveled to and settled in Egypt.
Phut	Phut founded Libya.
Canaan	He founded Palestine (modern Israel and Jordan). His children were Philistim (Philistines), Sidon, Heth (Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgasites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, Hamathites), Nimrod (founded Bablyon in 2234 BC), Erech, Accad, and Calneh.
Elam	He founded Persia. His descendants eventually merged with the Medes to form the nation of Iran.
Asshur	His descendants became known as the Assyrians.
Arphaxad	He and his family founded Chaldea. Eber gave rise to the Hebrew nation. Joktan’s sons settled Arabia.
Lud	Lud gave rise to the Lydians (Western Turkey).
Aram	He settled the area known as Syria. His people are called the Arameans, and they speak Aramaic (a language that Jesus spoke while He was here on earth).