Ethnicity and Population Structure in Personal Naming Networks
Author Information
Author(s): Mateos Pablo, Longley Paul A., O'Sullivan David
Primary Institution: Department of Geography University College London, London, United Kingdom
Hypothesis
The structure of naming networks mirrors socio-cultural structures in populations.
Conclusion
Naming networks reveal clear cultural naming practices that persist even after migration.
Supporting Evidence
- The study constructed naming networks from a dataset of 300 million names across 26 countries.
- Results showed that naming practices reflect social norms and cultural customs.
- Distinctive naming practices persist even after immigration to different social contexts.
- The methodology allows for the detection of new naming communities and ancestral hierarchies.
Takeaway
This study shows that the names people choose for their children can tell us a lot about their culture and community, even if they move to a different country.
Methodology
The study used naming networks constructed from forename-surname pairs of a large sample of the contemporary human population in 17 countries to analyze cultural, ethnic, and linguistic population structures.
Potential Biases
There may be biases in the data due to the reliance on publicly available directories and electoral registers, which may not fully represent all populations.
Limitations
The study's findings may be limited by the representativeness of the datasets used and the potential for missing records in certain cultural groups.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed naming practices across 17 countries, including diverse populations from Europe and the Indian subcontinent.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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