Native Populations of the Northern Altai: Demographic Processes of the Late 19th–early 21st Century as Reflected in Surname Dynamics

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study into the pool of surnames used among the Chelkans, Kumandins, and Tubalars living in the northern Altai from the late 19th century until the early 21st century. The study used an isonymic approach to assess the dynamics of the genetic and demographic structure of the indigenous peoples of the region. According to the factor of isonymy, the results show a low level of relationship between the generations of various northern Altai populations. Being an indicator of complex ethnicity, the composition of modern surnames reflects the impact of various social, economic, and demographic factors and processes (primarily, migration and assimilation), which have occurred previously and which are occurring currently across the territories of the northern Altai native populations.