The YHRD database is a repository for many scientific projects and is maintained are maintained by the forensic/research community. Y-chromosomal data is accepted from participating laboratories across the world from many populations.

A growing number of diagnostic and research laboratories have joined in a collaborative effort to collect population data and to create a sufficiently large reference database. All institutions contributing in this project, participated in an obligate quality control exercise.
 
This database is interactive and allows the user the search for Y-STR haplotypes in various formats and within specified population pools. Related information i.e. STR characteristics, mutations, population genetic analyses etc. is documented.

The database size is currently about 26,600 mainly from Eurasian decscent although African, East Asian, Eskimo Aluet and Amerindian populations are represented.

YHRD screenshot

Currently, the database only holds data for up to 11 markers. They are:

YHRD markers    DYS 19 389i 389ii 390 391 392 393 385a 385b 438 439

Searching on the database is easy and open to all. Although the database only has relatively few markers with which to compare, it is quite large and has many populations covered. A map is also reported in the search results, allowing you to see where those haplotypes have been observed.

Some caution is needed when viewing the results. For example, if you have many 'hits' in Germany, this could be because there may be a particularly large sample from that country and so the chances of having hits there are increased. Bear in mind your haplotype may well be present in many other regions, but not yet included in the database - this is an important point when trying to determine where your 'deep' paternal ancestors originate.