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

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. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.