The empirical study of the spatial distribution of Chinese surnames

Based on the result of different areas of the country's last name number and proportion in 2007, we can investigate the spatial correlation of surnames in different space. Combined with different surnames in the spatial distribution, we also study the characteristics of population diffusion difference in different areas. Chinese last names in a strong regional distribution, some surnames are mainly distributed in the southern coastal area, while some others are mainly distributed in north China and northeast China. Different parts of the space correlation reflect the characteristics in region's population diffusion. Results show that the population of Chinese name has short-range correlation in spatial distribution and different surnames reveal the spatial correlation distance is roughly around 600–1200 km. Within the scope of the distance, a linear correlation downs with the distance. This suggests that the radius is different in different parts of the population flow, factors affecting the population flow related to the geographical environment, language and culture, etc.