Surname distribution in population genetics and in statistical physics

Area of Science:

• Population Genetics
• Statistical Physics
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Surnames exhibit neutral gene-like behavior, making them valuable for genetic studies.
• The study of surname distribution has a rich history spanning over a century.
• Isonymy (study of identical surnames) is used to measure consanguinity and analyze population migrations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical and recent developments in surname studies.
• To explore the application of surname analysis in population genetics and migration studies.
• To discuss the theoretical models and physical techniques used to understand surname distribution dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical and contemporary surname studies.
• Application of isonymy for measuring consanguinity and migration.
• Modeling surname dynamics using Yule process and branching phenomena.
• Utilizing field-theoretical techniques, including the Renormalization Group, for analyzing neutral evolution.

Main Results:

• Surname distribution often follows asymptotic power-law behavior, consistent with theoretical predictions.
• The analogy between patrilineal surname transmission and Y-chromosome propagation aids genetic characterization.
• Stochastic dynamics models successfully explain observed surname distributions.
• Field-theoretical models predict scale-invariant distributions and critical exponents.

Conclusions:

• Surname studies provide a robust framework for understanding population genetics, migration, and social structures.
• The application of physical models, like the Renormalization Group, offers powerful tools for analyzing complex surname dynamics.
• Surname distribution analysis continues to be a valuable interdisciplinary research area.