Footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of Spain.
To assess whether the present-day geographical variability of Spanish surnames mirrors historical phenomena occurred at the times of their introduction (13th-16th century), and to infer the possible effect of foreign immigration (about 11% of present-day) on the observed patterns of diversity, we ha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2015-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0121472 |
| _version_ | 1818934595887824896 |
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| author | Roberto Rodríguez-Díaz Franz Manni María José Blanco-Villegas |
| author_facet | Roberto Rodríguez-Díaz Franz Manni María José Blanco-Villegas |
| author_sort | Roberto Rodríguez-Díaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To assess whether the present-day geographical variability of Spanish surnames mirrors historical phenomena occurred at the times of their introduction (13th-16th century), and to infer the possible effect of foreign immigration (about 11% of present-day) on the observed patterns of diversity, we have analyzed the frequency distribution of 33,753 unique surnames (tokens) occurring 51,419,788 times, according to the list of Spanish residents of the year 2008. Isonymy measures and surname distances have been computed for, and between, the 47 mainland Spanish provinces and compared to a numerical classification of corresponding language varieties spoken in Spain. The comparison of the two bootstrap consensus trees, representing surname and linguistic variability, suggests a similar picture; major clusters are located in the east (Aragón, Cataluña, Valencia), and in the north of the country (Asturias, Galicia, León). Remaining regions appear to be considerably homogeneous. We interpret this pattern as the long-lasting effect of the surname and linguistic normalization actively led by the Christian kingdoms of the north (Reigns of Castilla y León and Aragón) during and after the southwards reconquest (Reconquista) of the territories ruled by the Arabs from the 8th century to the late 15th century, that is when surnames became transmitted in a fixed way and when Castilian linguistic varieties became increasingly prestigious and spread out. The geography of contemporary surname and linguistic variability in Spain corresponds to the political geography at the end of the Middle-Ages. The synchronicity between surname adoption and the political and cultural effects of the Reconquista have permanently forged a Spanish identity that subsequent migrations, internal or external, did not deface. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:06:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5338f192197a448e98fa30a38564202a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:06:47Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-5338f192197a448e98fa30a38564202a2022-12-21T19:52:22ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01104e012147210.1371/journal.pone.0121472Footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of Spain.Roberto Rodríguez-DíazFranz ManniMaría José Blanco-VillegasTo assess whether the present-day geographical variability of Spanish surnames mirrors historical phenomena occurred at the times of their introduction (13th-16th century), and to infer the possible effect of foreign immigration (about 11% of present-day) on the observed patterns of diversity, we have analyzed the frequency distribution of 33,753 unique surnames (tokens) occurring 51,419,788 times, according to the list of Spanish residents of the year 2008. Isonymy measures and surname distances have been computed for, and between, the 47 mainland Spanish provinces and compared to a numerical classification of corresponding language varieties spoken in Spain. The comparison of the two bootstrap consensus trees, representing surname and linguistic variability, suggests a similar picture; major clusters are located in the east (Aragón, Cataluña, Valencia), and in the north of the country (Asturias, Galicia, León). Remaining regions appear to be considerably homogeneous. We interpret this pattern as the long-lasting effect of the surname and linguistic normalization actively led by the Christian kingdoms of the north (Reigns of Castilla y León and Aragón) during and after the southwards reconquest (Reconquista) of the territories ruled by the Arabs from the 8th century to the late 15th century, that is when surnames became transmitted in a fixed way and when Castilian linguistic varieties became increasingly prestigious and spread out. The geography of contemporary surname and linguistic variability in Spain corresponds to the political geography at the end of the Middle-Ages. The synchronicity between surname adoption and the political and cultural effects of the Reconquista have permanently forged a Spanish identity that subsequent migrations, internal or external, did not deface.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0121472 |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Rodríguez-Díaz Franz Manni María José Blanco-Villegas Footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of Spain. PLoS ONE |
| title | Footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of Spain. |
| title_full | Footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of Spain. |
| title_fullStr | Footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of Spain. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of Spain. |
| title_short | Footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of Spain. |
| title_sort | footprints of middle ages kingdoms are still visible in the contemporary surname structure of spain |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0121472 |
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