La profondeur des souches ancestrales au Québec, une mesure de la régionalité de la population

Abstract

The ancestral roots of a population usually refer to the paternal lines, due to the transmission of surnames from one generation to another. However, paternal lines reach only a portion of the ancestors, whose relative importance diminishes as we go back generations. Using genealogical samples built with data from the BALSAC population register and which goes back to the 17th century, this study aims to measure and compare the depths of ancestral roots in the populations of various regions of Québec, taking into account the origins of all ancestors. An index of the depth of regional ancestral roots was developed using a method similar to that used for the calculation of genealogical depths. Results indicate significant regional variations in the depth of ancestral roots, reflecting the history of migration that has characterized the population of Quebec over generations. Average depths range from less than one generation to nearly six generations of ancestors married into the same region. For some individuals, the regional ancestral depth can reach up to eight generations. Maternal branches of up to eleven generations were observed in some regions.

Keywords

• ancestral root
• regionality
• genealogy
• quebec population
• maternal line
• paternal line