Surname Repetition in Three Population Groups of Andhra Pradesh: Kolam, Koya and Kuruma

The studies on surnames give information regarding origin, migration, evolution and variation within and between populations. Lasker (1988) noted that the distribution of surnames reflects the effect of mate choice on a population’s genetic structure. The present study on surname repetition is done with the aim of assessing genetic homogeneity/heterogeneity among the Kolam (primitive tribe), Koya (tribal group) and Kuruma (Caste group) population groups of Andhra Pradesh. The Repeated-Pair (RP) value is found to be very high as compared to random Repeated-Pair (RPr) in all the three populations studied, reflecting a reduction in genetic variability and shows inclination towards genetic isolation. Corresponding author: K.N.Saraswathy, Lecturer Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India Telephone: 011-27667329; Fax: 011-27666614 E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Mating pattern of a community governs its demographic and genetic profile. Surname exogamy/endogamy both in Indian and international context has its unavoidable influence on the changing scenario of gene pools of Mendelian populations. Change is the starting point of evolution which is a continuous process. Surname analysis, also called as “poor man’s population genetics” can throw light not only on the heterogeneity or homogeneity of the population groups but also estimate, in a crude way, the extent of gene flow between populations. Such studies would be a prerequisite for major genetic and epidemiological studies. George Darwin (1875), son of Charles Darwin, was the first person to use the isonymous surnames of couples to study the amount of inbreeding in a population. Later Crow and Mange (1965) gave the mathematical models based on isonymous marriages followed by Lasker and Kaplan (1985) proposing a new measure of sub structuring populations using nonisonymous surnames of couples. The origin of the concept of surnames dates back to as early as 5000 years ago in China to as late as 68 years ago in Turkey (Jobling, 2001). Surnames of any community belonging to any geographic region trace their origin to basically six important categories i.e. geography, occupation, personal characteristics, name of the place, descendent from Landowner’s and ancestry. The three presently studied populations are from the state of Andhra Pradesh, India and are categorized into primitive tribal (Kolams), tribal (Koyas) and caste (Kurumas) groups. All the three populations under study are patrilineal societies. MATERIAL AND METHODS Kolam is one of twelve primitive tribes reported from Andhra Pradesh mainly distributed in three states of India namely Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Kolams in Andhra Pradesh are mainly confined to Adilabad district constituting 97.7% of the Kolams population of the state. As per the 1981 census the total population of Kolams in Andhra Pradesh was 21,842. Kolams call themselves Kolavar which means stick or bamboo in their dialect, which has been derived from their livelihood of making baskets, wattles and winnowing fans from bamboo. The Koya tribe is distributed in the districts of East and West Godavari, Khammam, Warangal and Adilabad districts of Andhra Pradesh. The total population of Koyas according to the 1981 census report is 3, 59,779. Both the tribes claim their origin from the Bhima of the Pandava brothers. In both the groups, the clan name is taken as surname following strict clan/ surname exogamy. However origin of surnames is based on physical features and geographical locations. The two tribes live in small hamlets away from other tribal and non tribal groups leading to geographical isolation which can inturn cause genetic isolation.