Migration through surnames in Campobasso Province, Italy
G Biondi1, P Raspe, C G Mascie-Taylor
1Dipartimento di Biologia animale e dell'uomo, Università di Torino, Italy.
Journal of Biosocial Science
|April 4, 2001
Summary
Grandparental surname data from Italy revealed surname distribution fits Fisher
Area of Science:
- Population genetics
- Anthropology
- Demography
Background:
- Understanding population structure and migration patterns is crucial in genetics and anthropology.
- Surname distribution can serve as a proxy for genetic relatedness and historical population movements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze grandparental surname distribution in Campobasso Province, Italy.
- To apply Fisher's logarithmic distribution to model surname frequencies.
- To investigate sex-based differences in mobility using surname data.
Main Methods:
- Collected grandparental surname data from schoolchildren across 22 communes in Campobasso.
- Utilized log2-log2 transformation to assess surname distribution linearity.
- Fitted the data to Fisher's logarithmic distribution model.
- Standardized the parameter 'v' to account for sample size bias.
Main Results:
- Surname distribution exhibited near-perfect linearity, supporting Fisher's logarithmic distribution.
- The parameter 'v', indicating surname diversity or turnover, was higher in females.
- Standardized 'v' values were approximately one-third of estimates derived from exogamy data.
- Higher 'v' values for females suggest greater mobility of female marriage partners compared to males.
Conclusions:
- Fisher's logarithmic distribution effectively models surname patterns in this Italian population.
- Female marriage partners exhibit significantly higher mobility than males in the studied region.
- Surname analysis provides valuable insights into historical migration and sex-specific demographic behaviors.
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