In this paper, a probability model leading to a Yule distribution is developed in the study of surname frequency data. This distribution, suitably truncated, is fitted to actual data as an alternative to the discrete Pareto distribution, with quite satisfactory results

The problem of determining how family names evolve preoccupies both statistics and human biology. The determination of a proper and well justified probability model to describe the probability distribution of surnames has been confronted by many authors. In this paper two stochastic models...