Surnames in Argentina: a population study through isonymy

Area of Science:

• Population genetics
• Anthropology
• Sociolinguistics

Background:

• Understanding the genetic and social structure of populations is crucial for demographic and evolutionary studies.
• Isonymy, the study of surnames, provides a valuable proxy for analyzing historical population movements and genetic relatedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the isonymic structure of Argentina using a large dataset of elector surnames.
• To correlate isonymic distances with geographic distances and analyze regional genetic diversity.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 22.6 million surnames from Argentine electors in 2001 across 24 districts and 541 municipalities.
• Construction of isonymic distance matrices and correlation with geographic distances.
• Dendrogram construction using the UPGMA method and calculation of random inbreeding (F(ST)) and Fisher's alpha.

Main Results:

• A significant correlation was found between Euclidean isonymic distance and the logarithm of geographic distance (r=0.480).
• Clustering in the dendrogram corresponded with distinct geographical regions of Argentina.
• Highest random inbreeding (F(ST)) was observed in La Rioja, Corrientes, and Santiago del Estero, while lowest was in Buenos Aires and Santa Fé.
• Fisher's alpha diversity was higher in the east and lower in the west, suggesting 20th-century immigration patterns.

Conclusions:

• The surname structure of Argentina is primarily shaped by migration, with genetic drift playing a lesser role.
• The geographical distribution of surnames reflects historical settlement patterns and immigration waves.
• Isonymy is a powerful tool for understanding the population dynamics and genetic landscape of large countries.