I just finished reading The Son Also Rises: Surnames and the History of Social Mobility. By Gregory Clark, which is pretty pessimistic about rates of social decline with a close to 80% maintenance rate per generation. But even with a 20% decline, the Norman maintenance of prestige for nearly 1000 years is unparalleled and an anomaly. And this is through all the changes in English history like democracy, Labour, and the welfare state.
He basis his studies mostly on Norman last names from the original Norman conquerors of 1066, such as Darcy, Bernard Montgomery and Walt Disney.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/apr/03/social-mobility-britain-aristocracy
Clark largely leaves the issue as a mystery. I was wondering if anyone more knowledgeable about English social history might have any theories.
Here is a chart showing their representation at Oxbridge
Why were the holders of Norman last names unique in being able to hold on to an elite status for nearly 1000 years?
so i need to get around to reading that book but can you clarify the other examples he uses as non english societies with names that decay? My initial thoughts would be something about a combination of the insular nature of Britain and the fact there was never another wave of colonists with their own names to suplant the old ones.
