[Population genetics of Chinese surnames. I. Surname frequency distribution and genetic diversity in Chinese].

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with the distributional characteristics of Chinese surnames and the factors affecting their distribution. Analysis of alpha and nu values for three periods in the last 1,000 years clearly reveals the distributional pattern of Chinese surnames. In China, communities with the same surname are widespread, especially in the central areas where there are more relatively isolated Y chromosome of the same source (communities with the same surname) and more surnames than in other areas (especially the South China). If each surname has a certain kind of mono-type Y-DNA, then, according to the distribution of surnames, there exist the most mono-type of Y-DNA in the central provinces where are the originating center of Chinese surnames. For the first time, an equation is constructed predicting the kind of Chinese surnames. It has been estimated that there are about 3,100 surnames present in use for the Han nationality.