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What's in a Name? A Method for Extracting Information about Ethnicity from Names

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  • Andrew Harris, J.

Abstract

Questions about racial or ethnic group identity feature centrally in many social science theories, but detailed data on ethnic composition are often difficult to obtain, out of date, or otherwise unavailable. The proliferation of publicly available geocoded person names provides one potential source of such data'if researchers can effectively link names and group identity. This article examines that linkage and presents a methodology for estimating local ethnic or racial composition using the relationship between group membership and person names. Common approaches for linking names and identity groups perform poorly when estimating group proportions. I have developed a new method for estimating racial or ethnic composition from names which requires no classification of individual names. This method provides more accurate estimates than the standard approach and works in any context where person names contain information about group membership. Illustrations from two very different contexts are provided: the United States and the Republic of Kenya.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Harris, J., 2015. "What's in a Name? A Method for Extracting Information about Ethnicity from Names," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(2), pages 212-224, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:polals:v:23:y:2015:i:02:p:212-224_01
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    Cited by:

    1. Simson, Rebecca & Harris, J. Andrew, 2022. "Diversity and liberalisation reforms: Evidence from the University of Nairobi," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    2. Christian Dippel & Stephan Heblich, 2021. "Leadership in Social Movements: Evidence from the "Forty-Eighters" in the Civil War," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(2), pages 472-505, February.
    3. Harris, J. Andrew & Posner, Daniel N., 2022. "Does decentralization encourage pro-poor targeting? Evidence from Kenya’s constituencies development fund," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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