?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Getting+the+most+from+a+surname+study%3A%0D%0Asemantics%2C+DNA+and+computer+modelling%0D%0A(third+edition)&rft.creator=Plant%2C+Dr+John+S&rft.creator=Plant%2C+Prof+Richard+E&rft.subject=Population+Biology&rft.subject=Statistical+Models&rft.subject=Historical+Linguistics&rft.subject=Semantics&rft.description=We+here+address+such+questions+as%3A+what+does+a+surname%0D%0Amean%3Bis+it+single+origin%3Band%2Cwhy+do+some+surnames+grow+abnormally+large%3F+Though+most+surnames+are+rare%2C+most+people+have+populous+surnames.+In+this+article%2C+we+consider+in+particular+the+evidence+that+some+frequent+surnames+could+be+completely+or+nearly+single+origin%3B+this+would+imply+that+the+whole+surname+relates+to+a+single+family%0D%0Athat+has+grown+abnormally+large.+Some+populous+surnames%0D%0Ahave+a+geographical+distribution+that+might+be+thought+to+be+consistent+with+a+single+origin.+As+yet%2C+such+supposition+generally+lacks+support+from+adequate+DNA+evidence.%0D%0A%0D%0AGuided+by+the+empirical+evidence%2C+our+computer+simulations+identify+various+possible+reasons+for+a+surname+family%E2%80%99s+unusually+prolific+growth.+In+particular%2C+chance+is+a+main+factor.+Also%2C+overall+population+growth+conditions+vary+widely+between+different+counties.+This+can+go+a+long+way+towards+explaining+the+large+population+of+Plant%2C+which+is+apparently+the+second+largest+single-family+contender+in+the+favourable+growing+conditions+of+Staffordshire.+This%0D%0Asurname+shows+relatively+little+evidence+of+a+significant+living+population+that+stems+from+origins+other+than+that+of+its+dominant+family.+The+initial+semblance+that+Sykes+could+be+the+second+largest+single-family+contender+in+West%0D%0AYorkshire+is+more+open+to+debate%2C+since+there+might+be+more%0D%0Asubstantial+other+origins.+To+explain+its+dominant+family%2C+it+seems+necessary+to+invoke+some+exceptional+characteristics+such+as+more+favourable+growth+factors+for+its+homeland+than+those+pertaining+in+the+available+data+for+the+whole+county.+Also%2C+for+the+computer+modelling%2C+we+consider+the+effects+of+additional+factors+such+as+polygyny%2C+resilience+to+plague%2CY-chromosome+linked+fecundity%2C+or+an+early+start+to+an+hereditary+surname.+Such+factors+can+be+beneficial+in+seeing+a+family+through+initial+precarious+times%2C+sustaining+its+survival+through+to%0D%0Aa+small+but+real+chance+of+subsequent+proliferation+in+more+favourable+Industrial+Age+growth+conditions.+&rft.date=2014-01-10&rft.type=Other&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F9191%2F1%2FGTM3-Guild.pdf&rft.identifier=++Plant%2C+Dr+John+S+and+Plant%2C+Prof+Richard+E++(2014)+Getting+the+most+from+a+surname+study%3A+semantics%2C+DNA+and+computer+modelling+(third+edition).++++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F9191%2F