[Suitability of Russian surnames as a "quasi-genetic" marker]

The possible usefulness of Russian surnames as a quasi-genetic marker in the population study is analysed. Two approaches for the populations of different hierarchical levels are used. The coefficients of correlations between the matrices of genetical (based on gene frequencies in the populations) and quasi-genetical (based on surnames frequencies in the populations) distances were determined. The mean correlation coefficient is 0.315 +/- 0.15. Genetical and quasi-genetical distances and the level of gamete exchange between populations are connected, being reversely dependent. The mean correlation coefficients are: -0.63 +/- 0.13 and -0.23 +/- 0.16. The correlation coefficient for matrices of quasi-genetical and geographical distances was 0.39 +/- 0.08, this being -0.42 +/- 0.08 for matrices of quasi-genetical distance and geometrical mean of population dimensions. It is shown that surnames can replace genetic markers in description of the population genetic structure and in the study of the processes influencing this structure.