An analysis of the spatial distribution of surnames in the Lecco area (Lombardy, Italy)

Abstract

The internal mobility of the population of the province of Lecco (Lombardy, Italy) was evaluated on the basis of the frequency of characteristic surnames in three territorial areas as a function of their geographical distance. Nearly three fourths of the patterns are statistically significant in one of the three areas, where the process of diffusion of surnames could be interpreted as due to socioeconomic factors. On the contrary, a similar distribution is less evident in the other two areas of the same territory. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 11:305–315, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Geography of surnames in the Azores: Specificity and spatial distribution analysis

“…Spatial autocorrelation summarizes the genetic similarity between populations in relation to their geographical proximity. In particular, spatial autocorrelation helps focus on the similarity of values of a variable (i.e., the frequency of a surname) between pairs of populations within arbitrary classes of distance (Caravello and Tasso, 1999). This method allows estimation of the spatial distribution of surnames in the considered territory, in order to emphasize the specific processes of diffusion of individuals.…”

“…Indeed, they were used to estimate inbreeding changes in a population, to measure the degree of population subdivision, and to analyze changes in genetic relationships between populations (Pettener et al, 1998). Due to their high polymorphism, surnames permit an effective means of characterization, even when populations belong to a geographically limited area (Caravello and Tasso, 1999). Moreover, they represent a precious instrument for evaluating the affinity among different human groups which also live in a restricted geographical area, whereas biological markers, in that case, usually afford poor differentiation.…”

Nominal kinship cues facilitate altruism

“…Analysing surnames to estimate gene¯ow, inbreeding coef® cients, dispersal patterns, population structure, and consanguineal distance in contemporary and historical name registries, has a long and distinguished history (e.g. Roguljic  et al 1997;Caravello & Tasso 1999;Lasker 1999;Rodrõ  guezLarralde et al 2000;Barrai et al 2001;Koertvelyessy et al 2001). Surnames represent the continuity of kinship and individuals' social identity, status, entitlements and obligations insofar as they are de® ned by descent (e.g.…”

A study of the spatial distribution characteristics of Chinese surnames

“…The spatial autocorrelation coefficient, an important index that describes whether the spatial distribution of a given variable is significantly autocorrelated, can be used to investigate more geographic information about surnames (Caravello & Tasso, 1999; Orrù et al, 2018; Román‐Busto et al, 2013; Sokal et al, 1992).…”

“…Besides the visual presentation of spatial distribution of surname on map, most researches adopt spatial autocorrelation coefficient or spatial correlogram. Such analytical methods have been widely applied to various countries and regions to uncover classical patterns of population migration and diffusion, including England and Wales (Sokal et al, 1992), the Lecco area (Caravello & Tasso, 1999), the Azores (Cabral et al, 2005), the Portuguese-Spanish Border (Rom an-Busto et al, 2013), and Sardinia (Orrù et al, 2018).…”