Evidence for assortative mating and selection in surnames: a case from Yucatan, Mexico

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Publication Type Journal Article
School or College College of Social & Behavioral Science
Department Anthropology
Creator McCullough, John M.
Other Author Giles, Eugene; Thompson, Richard A.
Title Evidence for assortative mating and selection in surnames: a case from Yucatan, Mexico
Date 1985
Description Surnames are often used as metaphors for genetic material on the assumption of neutrality and general immunity from systematic pressures. The Yucatec Maya use surnames of both Maya and Spanish origin. We find evidence of positive assortative mating by ethnic origin of surname and a slight bias away from marriage of women to men with Maya surnames for parents of cohorts born from 1878 to 1970 (x2 = 11.0 to 46.6; p < .001). Selective neutrality of surnames apparently cannot be assumed in all cases.
Type Text
Publisher Wayne State University Press
Volume 57
Issue 3
First Page 375
Last Page 386
Subject Surnames; Assortative mating; Maya
Subject LCSH Names, Personal -- Social aspects; Yucatan (Mexico) -- Social conditions; Social status
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation McCullough, J. M., Giles, E. & Thompson, R. A. (1985). Evidence for assortative mating and selection in surnames: a case from Yucatan, Mexico. Human Biology, 57(3),375-86.
Rights Management (c)Wayne State University Press
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 6,089,494 bytes
Identifier ir-main,1096
ARK ark:/87278/s6gj023j
Setname ir_uspace
ID 702730
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6gj023j
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