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In the UK, a study concluded that descendants of people with Norman surnames (like Percy, Glanville, Darcy, Mandeville, Baskerville) still do far better than average in income and education, and live 3 years longer than average, almost 1000 years after the events that gave them the original boost.
I'm reminded of a similar study by Italian economists. Florence conducted a detailed census in 1427 for tax purposes. The economists traced the descendants of the 1427 cohort (surnames in Italy are extremely localized) and found the descendants of the 90th percentile were significantly higher income and more likely to work in prestigious professions like doctors, bankers, lawyers, etc. than descendants of ordinary Florentines. This is remarkable because the wealth effect not only persisted over a very long timeframe, it was durable through many periods of economic and political upheaval.
Gemini tells me that similar studies have been conducted in the US, Spain, China, Sweden, with similar findings.
