Surnames and Genetic Structure (Cambridge Studies in Biological Anthropology)

Cambridge University Press, 1985. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 1985 1st Edition U.K. hardcover with illustrated cover boards and no jacket, apparently as issued. Unmarked pages, firm binding. Clean cover shows minor shelf-rubbing, one single very tiny edge nick (harmless) and a tiny corner bump only. A nice, sturdy and very useful copy overall. "Surnames are inherited in much the same way as are biological traits. Since surnames were generally adopted in Europe during Medieval times -- their distribution has become very uneven: analysis of their present geographic patters provides an insight into the kind of redistribution of genes that has resulted from all the migrations of the intervening years. Using non-technical language and a minimum of mathematics, this book presents a lucid description and evaluation of these studies of the genetic structure of human populations. A special feature is the appendix which presents computer-generated maps and distribution diagrams of 10 common surnames in England and Wales.