Population genetics of Chinese surnames II. Inheritance stability of surnames and regional consanguinity of population

This paper analyzes and compares the distributional curves and isonymy of surnames and the consanguinity of regional population in the Song and Ming dynasties and the 2 presenl. The distribution of surnames in the three periods reveals two significant phenomena: (1) The historical inheritance of Chinese surnames is continuous and stable. This explains why the consanguineous culture relics represented by surnames and the evolution of life substances especially Y chromosome has basically the same pattern. (2) Two types of surnames, common and rare, can be identified in China. The 100 common surnames, less than 5% of the total number of Chinese surnames, are connected with more than 85% of the population, while the rare surnames, more than 95% of the total number of surnames, are related to only about 15% of the population. The distribution of common surnames acts as the major factor reflecting the genetic composition in different regions, and it determines the historical population migration and the degree of consanguinity between regional populations. The rare surnames are of regional characteristic and relative isolation. As a result, it is possible that the study of Chinese surnames and of the distribution pattern of population with the same surname serves as an important approaches to Chinese paternal genetics and Y chromosome evolution. This may provide valuable clue for the study of population highly subject to genetic diseases.