Eye color in the French departements

[Ikiru]

I'm repeating the work done by Chamla for the 1880 and 1940 studies of eye pigmentation in France with much bigger samples (500 vs. ~100) to get rid of the geographical inconsistencies as much as possible.

Eye color in the departement of Aisne, Northern France. (1920)
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1900 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Laon. https://archives.aisne.fr/ark:/63271/vta5469d29e64ffc/daogrp/0/layout:linear/idsearch:RECH_fd4d2d8c58ff4addde0588825ee7ec24#id: 253972167?gallery=true&brightness=100.00&contrast=100.00&center=1982.000,-1528.000&zoom=3&rotation=0.000
23 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color. The other 477 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 126 (26,4 %)
brown (marrons) 76
black (noirs) 22
dark (bruns) 10
chestnut (châtain) 6
grey brown (gris marrons) 2
yellow (jaunes) 2
ginger (roux) 1
light brown (marrons clairs) 1
orange 1
dark brown (marrons foncés) 1
light chestnut (châtains clairs) 1
obscure (obscurs) 1
dark chestnut (châtains foncés) 1
grey orange (gris orange) 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 351 (73,6 %)
blue (bleus) 174
grey (gris) 124
grey blue (gris bleu) 23
grey green (gris verts) 8
light blue (bleus clairs) 7
green (verts) 6
light grey (gris clairs) 2
greenish blue (bleus verdâtres) 2
dark blue (bleus foncés) 2
blue green (bleus verts) 1
slate grey (gris ardoîse) 1
yellowish blue (bleus jaunâtres) 1

The result of 73,6 % light and light-mixed eyes is a bit surprising because I previsouly did the same job with over 200 men of the 1868 class and only got around 58 % of light and light-mixed eyes. It's however not implausible and I'll see if these results conflict with those of surrounding departements and if so I'll renew the study with another sample of the 1900 class.

[Visage pâle]

I've done this for two southern departments and for department of Oran in Algeria.
I've taken years from 1910 to 1921. So soldiers born between 1890 and 1901. I've seen 600 matricules from each departements.

I didn't include light brown/hazel among lights but only blue gray and greenish.

Results :
Béarn (Pyrénées atlantiques) : 37.66% lights.
French Catalonia (Pyrénées orientales) : 27.5 % lights.
Oran (only soldiers of spanish ancestry) : 24.33% lights.

[Ikiru]

I've done this for two southern departments and for department of Oran in Algeria.
I've taken years from 1910 to 1921. So soldiers born between 1890 and 1901. I've seen 600 matricules from each departements.

I didn't include light brown/hazel among lights but only blue gray and greenish.

Results :
Béarn (Pyrénées atlantiques) : 37.66% lights.
French Catalonia (Pyrénées orientales) : 27.5 % lights.
Oran (only soldiers of spanish ancestry) : 24.33% lights.

Nice work you did there. I'm welcoming any help but you should take a more methodological approach. First, check only the first 500 matricules of the year 1920 even the incomplete ones. Second get detailed results for every specific color mentioned as I did, with the help of a sheet of paper it's quick, and only after you can put them into both categories. I was planning to do it for Pyrénées-Orientales which is probably the most dark-eyed departement but if you want to I'd gladly welcome your help.

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Var, Southern France. (1920)
Study of 500 military records of the 1900 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Toulon. (1R947 – 1920 : matricules 501-998 + matricule 999 from 1R948) The 1-499 matricules weren't available in the Var archives https://archives.var.fr/arkotheque/visionneuse/visionneuse.php?arko=YTo2OntzOjQ6ImRhdGUiO3M6MTA6I jIwMTktMDQtMDUiO3M6MTA6InR5cGVfZm9uZHMiO3M6MTE6ImF ya29fc2VyaWVsIjtzOjQ6InJlZjEiO2k6OTtzOjQ6InJlZjIiO 2k6MzQxO3M6MTY6InZpc2lvbm5ldXNlX2h0bWwiO2I6MTtzOjI xOiJ2aXNpb25uZXVzZV9odG1sX21vZGUiO3M6NDoicHJvZCI7f Q==#uielem_move=0%2C0&uielem_rotate=F&uielem_islocked=0&uielem_zoom=36
46 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 454 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 350 ( 77,1 %)
châtains 209
marrons 84
châtains foncés 22
marrons clairs 9
châtains clairs 8
marrons foncés 6
roux 5
châtains verdâtre 3
noirs 2
jaune clair 2

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 104 ( 22,9 %)
bleu foncé 36
bleu clair 35
bleus 16
gris 7
bleu jaunâtre 4
gris foncé 2
bleu vert 1
verdâtre 1
bleu jaune 1
gris bleu 1

22,9 % is 6 points below Chamla's 28,4 % (1940) but it's not implausible given Chamla's 19,4 % in the neighboring departement of Bouches-du-Rhône.

[Supercomputer]

It would be great if you guys could get that for all departments. Then I could fix my Chamla map here:

https://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?278104-Eye-color-map-of-France-(1940)

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Nord, Northern France. (1920)
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1900 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Valenciennes. (1R3531 – 1920 : matricules 1-500) https://archivesdepartementales.lenord.fr/?id=viewer&doc=accounts%2Fmnesys_ad59%2Fdatas%2Fir%2FRegistre s%20militaires%2FFiches%2Ffiches_matricules%2Exml&page_ref=18285&lot_num=1&img_num=1
31 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 469 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 170 ( 36,2 %)
marrons 111
noirs 13
châtains 11
bruns 9
marron clair 5
marron foncé 4
roux 3
châtain clair 2
châtain foncé 2
gris marron 2
jaunes 2
marrons noirs 2
jaune foncé 1
châtain brun 1
brunâtre 1
gris noirs 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 299 ( 63,8 %)
bleus 171
gris 75
gris bleu 26
bleu clair 7
gris vert 5
bleu foncé 4
verdâtre 2
verts 1
bleu jaunâtre 1
bleu gris 1
bleu vert jaune 1
gris moyen 1
bleus marons 1
gris jaunâtre 1
bleu pâle 1
gris verdâtre 1

Interesting results. I expected a slightly higher figure for light eyes given the results of the Aisne departement (Laon). Perhaps the apparent anomaly can be explained by the fact that the Nord departement was an industrial region that attracted a lot of immigrants (from within and outside France) who were on average more brown-eyed than the natives, or perhaps the Aisne figure is higher than reality. We'll see with neghboring departements.

[Supercomputer]

Eye color in the departement of Nord, Northern France. (1920)
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1900 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Valenciennes. (1R3531 – 1920 : matricules 1-500) https://archivesdepartementales.lenord.fr/?id=viewer&doc=accounts%2Fmnesys_ad59%2Fdatas%2Fir%2FRegistre s%20militaires%2FFiches%2Ffiches_matricules%2Exml&page_ref=18285&lot_num=1&img_num=1
31 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 469 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 170 ( 36,2 %)
marrons 111
noirs 13
châtains 11
bruns 9
marron clair 5
marron foncé 4
roux 3
châtain clair 2
châtain foncé 2
gris marron 2
jaunes 2
marrons noirs 2
jaune foncé 1
châtain brun 1
brunâtre 1
gris noirs 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 299 ( 63,8 %)
bleus 171
gris 75
gris bleu 26
bleu clair 7
gris vert 5
bleu foncé 4
verdâtre 2
verts 1
bleu jaunâtre 1
bleu gris 1
bleu vert jaune 1
gris moyen 1
bleus marons 1
gris jaunâtre 1
bleu pâle 1
gris verdâtre 1

Interesting results. I expected a slightly higher figure for light eyes given the results of the Aisne departement (Laon). Perhaps the apparent anomaly can be explained by the fact that the Nord departement was an industrial region that attracted a lot of immigrants (from within and outside France) who were on average more brown-eyed than the natives, or perhaps the Aisne figure is higher than reality. We'll see with neghboring departements.

64 is a very high percentage. Belgium is only 61% light eyed.

[Ikiru]

64 is a very high percentage. Belgium is only 61% light eyed.
The Nord departement is anthropologically identical to Belgium and perhaps slightly fairer than Wallonia because it's a former Flemish speaking territory. I actually expect slightly higher figures for both this departement and Belgium as a whole. What are your sources on the 61 % figure?

[Supercomputer]

The Nord departement is anthropologically identical to Belgium and perhaps slightly fairer than Wallonia because it's a former Flemish speaking territory. I actually expect slightly higher figures for both this departement and Belgium as a whole. What are your sources on the 61 % figure?

And it is slightly lighter than Belgium. I didn't mean the percentage should be lower, just that you said you expected it to be higher. In original Chamla study of 100 people no departma has more than 64% and despite the low sample size.

Vanderkindere studied 608.698 Belgians in 1879. I can't find the original study online (it would be great if some of the French speakers tried, maybe they will have more luck) but it's quoted by Virchow in study of Germany.

[Ikiru]

And it is slightly lighter than Belgium. I didn't mean the percentage should be lower, just that you said you expected it to be higher. In original Chamla study of 100 people no departma has more than 64% and despite the low sample size.

Vanderkindere studied 608.698 Belgians in 1879. I can't find the original study online (it would be great if some of the French speakers tried, maybe they will have more luck) but it's quoted by Virchow in study of Germany.

I just made this map of the low countries with Houdaille's data on the 1810 conscripts. This is probably not very accurate given the small samples (~200). 86422
Respecting Chamla's figures I'm surprised too, I use exactly the same sources as she does, expect that the samples I use are 4 to 5 times larger than hers. The results I get can be very easily checked as I post the link to the first 500 matricules of the class 1920 and the detailed breakdown of the colors I got. I'm trying to get a hold of her original papers published in Biotypologie, a long time dead scientific journal.

[dududud]

On the paternal side:

A. My father: dark brown

B. His father: Unknown eye color, perhaps light brown or blue


C. His grandfather (Gouy-Saint-André): chesnut color
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/858x641q90/923/gYneaE.png


D. His great-grandfather (Gouy-Saint-André): gray color
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/960x607q90/921/97USS9.png


On the father's side (born in Bruille-Saint-Amand) of the mother of his father (B): light blue
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/607x423q90/921/jAunei.png


On the maternal side of my father:

A. Color of the mother's eyes: unknown, certainly brown or blue or hazel


B. Color of her father (born in Douai): blue
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/729x471q90/924/Da0s8C.png

C. Color of maternal grandfather (born in Solesmes) of mother (A): gray
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/618x362q90/921/wJ0M4w.png



From my maternal side:

A. Color of my maternal grandmother: certainly brown or hazel (her hair was brown or black also), last name"Venderotte";

B. Color of eyes of her father (Courcelles-lès-Lens): unknown, certainly brown, dark or light or hazel

C. Color of eyes of her paternal grandfather (Courcelles-lès-Lens): gray brown
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/6104/mUptpT.png

D. Color of eyes of the maternal grandfather ( Courcelles-lès-Lens) of her father (B): gray
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/710x276q90/921/n7vfk0.png


On the maternal side of my maternal grandmother (A):

A. Color of eyes of her mother: unknown, maybe brown or gray / hazel

B. Eye color of her maternal ndfather (Courcelles-lès-Lens) : gray
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/707x493q90/923/1CSw7g.png

C. Eye color of her maternal great-grandfather (Courcelles-lès-Lens): gray
https://imageshack.com/a/img924/8523/mgzzs6.png

[Supercomputer]

I just made this map of the low countries with Houdaille's data on the 1810 conscripts. This is probably not very accurate given the small samples (~200). 86422
Respecting Chamla's figures I'm surprised too, I use exactly the same sources as she does, expect that the samples I use are 4 to 5 times larger than hers. The results I get can be very easily checked as I post the link to the first 500 matricules of the class 1920 and the detailed breakdown of the colors I got. I'm trying to get a hold of her original papers published in Biotypologie, a long time dead scientific journal.

Do you have any source for this map (a study or at least a screenshot)?What is the number for the entire country? The numbers are a bit higher than Bolk and Van Herwerden (at around 70% for whole Netherlands) but I think that is because of the different definition of "light". Here is my thread of Dutch eye color:
https://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?282801-Who-has-more-light-eyes-the-Dutch-or-the-Germans

[Visage pâle]

Nice work you did there. I'm welcoming any help but you should take a more methodological approach. First, check only the first 500 matricules of the year 1920 even the incomplete ones. Second get detailed results for every specific color mentioned as I did, with the help of a sheet of paper it's quick, and only after you can put them into both categories. I was planning to do it for Pyrénées-Orientales which is probably the most dark-eyed departement but if you want to I'd gladly welcome your help.


Some classifications are weirds such "orange verdâtres" (greenish orange) and "jaunes" (yellow). I've searched what it could be. There is explanation (in french) http://combattant.14-18.pagesperso-orange.fr/Pasapas/E306RMinstructions.html

"Greenish orange" mean eye's center is orange, the rest is greenish blue.
"Yellow" mean center is yellow and the rest is blue.

So for my classification, i've included "greenish orange" and "yellow" amond "light eyes" only when the conscript had light hair (light brown, red, blond) because it's probably a more precise classification of green and blue.

[Visage pâle]

I will do the same for Corsica.

[Supercomputer]

Some classifications are weirds such "orange verdâtres" (greenish orange) and "jaunes" (yellow). I've searched what it could be. There is explanation (in french) http://combattant.14-18.pagesperso-orange.fr/Pasapas/E306RMinstructions.html

"Greenish orange" mean eye's center is orange, the rest is greenish blue.
"Yellow" mean center is yellow and the rest is blue.

So for my classification, i've included "greenish orange" and "yellow" amond "light eyes" only when the conscript had light hair (light brown, red, blond) because it's probably a more precise classification of green and blue.

Greenish orange are hazel eyes. I wouldn't call them light. If center is yellow the rest light than it depends on the ratio. Not all those eyes are light as well.

[Ikiru]

Do you have any source for this map (a study or at least a screenshot)?What is the number for the entire country? The numbers are a bit higher than Bolk and Van Herwerden (at around 70% for whole Netherlands) but I think that is because of the different definition of "light". Here is my thread of Dutch eye color:
https://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?282801-Who-has-more-light-eyes-the-Dutch-or-the-Germans

You already got the source: the one with Chamla's figures. In 1810 the Low Countries were part of France so they were divided into departements and conscripted the same way the rest of France was. You also get 1810 light eyes figures for West and North Germany, Piedmont and Catalonia, all then parts of France.
I feel that the Netherlands are quite significantly more light-eyed than Germany as a whole. They're on the same level as North Germany that is 10 to 20 points above South Germany.

[dududud]

You already got the source: the one with Chamla's figures. In 1810 the Low Countries were part of France so they were divided into departements and conscripted the same way the rest of France was. You also get 1810 light eyes figures for West and North Germany, Piedmont and Catalonia, all then parts of France.
I feel that the Netherlands are quite significantly more light-eyed than Germany as a whole. They're on the same level as North Germany that is 10 to 20 points above South Germany.

According to you, the data above (color of eyes of my ancestors of the North) correspond more or less to what you exposed?

[Ikiru]

Some classifications are weirds such "orange verdâtres" (greenish orange) and "jaunes" (yellow). I've searched what it could be. There is explanation (in french) http://combattant.14-18.pagesperso-orange.fr/Pasapas/E306RMinstructions.html

"Greenish orange" mean eye's center is orange, the rest is greenish blue.
"Yellow" mean center is yellow and the rest is blue.

So for my classification, i've included "greenish orange" and "yellow" amond "light eyes" only when the conscript had light hair (light brown, red, blond) because it's probably a more precise classification of green and blue.

As you see in my figures I didn't include yellows, gingers and oranges, all variations of light browns. The best is to post the complete breakdown of the colors you got so we can change them of place later on if we modify the definition of light-mixed eyes.

[Supercomputer]

You already got the source: the one with Chamla's figures. In 1810 the Low Countries were part of France so they were divided into departements and conscripted the same way the rest of France was. You also get 1810 light eyes figures for West and North Germany, Piedmont and Catalonia, all then parts of France.
I feel that the Netherlands are quite significantly more light-eyed than Germany as a whole. They're on the same level as North Germany that is 10 to 20 points above South Germany.

Can you give me the direct link where are the lower counties? I can't read French. Does that mean the categories/standards were the same as in the numbers for France (since it's the same study)?

[Ikiru]

Can you give me the direct link where are the lower counties? I can't read French. Does that mean the categories/standards were the same as in the numbers for France (since it's the same study)?

Pages 680-682 https://www.persee.fr/doc/ahess_0395-2649_1976_num_31_4_293747

[Ikiru]

According to you, the data above (color of eyes of my ancestors of the North) correspond more or less to what you exposed?

Yeah it does. It's always interesting to look into these old records right? Always staggering how short people were at that time: the vast majority of them in the 160-170cm range. I'm checking thousands of these matricules in good order to establish light eyes averages by region.

[Visage pâle]

Done, i've quickly seen 100 corsican conscripts born in 1892, so classe 1912.

26% light (blue, gray)
42% light and medium brown. (chestnut, light chestnut)
32% dark brown

[Visage pâle]

Greenish orange are hazel eyes. I wouldn't call them light.

Greenish is mostly blue with green shade. Hazel show only green.


If center is yellow the rest light than it depends on the ratio. Not all those eyes are light as well.

That's why i included them among the light ones only when conscripts had light hair too. In such cases, it's probably just a slightly pigmented blue eye.

[Ikiru]

Done, i've quickly seen 100 corsican conscripts born in 1892, so classe 1912.

26% light (blue, gray)
42% light and medium brown. (chestnut, light chestnut)
32% dark brown
Alright, maybe you can help yourself with a sheet of paper and give the detailed breakdown, preferably with the first 500 matricules from the class 1920, like this: 86425

[Visage pâle]

Alright, maybe you can help yourself with a sheet of paper and give the detailed breakdown, preferably with the first 500 matricules from the class 1920, like this: 86425

I will do it when i have more time.

[dududud]

Yeah it does. It's always interesting to look into these old records right? Always staggering how short people were at that time: the vast majority of them in the 160-170cm range. I'm checking thousands of these matricules in good order to establish light eyes averages by region.


Yes. I have also (don't quote) a picture (I could have a picture of better quality, later) of my maternal great-great-grandfather:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/501x457q90/922/uTP1u9.png

With the full military record:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1850x1041q90/921/RETCVl.png
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1850x1041q90/921/dwhrOE.png

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Creuse, Central France. (1920)
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1900 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Guéret. (1R 626 – 1920 : matricules 1-500) https://archives.creuse.fr/arkotheque/visionneuse/visionneuse.php?arko=YTo2OntzOjQ6ImRhdGUiO3M6MTA6I jIwMTktMDQtMDYiO3M6MTA6InR5cGVfZm9uZHMiO3M6MTE6ImF ya29fc2VyaWVsIjtzOjQ6InJlZjEiO2k6NDtzOjQ6InJlZjIiO 2k6MjY5O3M6MTY6InZpc2lvbm5ldXNlX2h0bWwiO2I6MTtzOjI xOiJ2aXNpb25uZXVzZV9odG1sX21vZGUiO3M6NDoicHJvZCI7f Q==#uielem_move=0%2C13&uielem_rotate=F&uielem_islocked=0&uielem_zoom=100
13 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 487 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 170 ( 34,9 %)
marrons 87
marron clair 28
châtains 14
jaunes 10
noirs 7
marron foncé 5
châtain foncé 4
bruns 4
jaunâtre 4
gris marron 2
jaune foncé 1
gris brun 1
jaune clair 1
orange vert 1
gris noir 1


LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 317 ( 65,1 %)
gris 161
bleus 94
gris bleu 29
gris foncé 9
gris vert 6
gris clair 4
bleu clair 4
bleu foncé 3
gris verdâtre 2
gris jaunâtre 2
verts 2
azur 1

A bit surprising to find such a high percentage in Central France, but Chamla got a rather high figure too (56,6 %).

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Haut-Rhin, Northeastern France. (1920)
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1900 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Colmar. (18AL2/256 – 1920 : matricules 1-500) http://www.archives.haut-rhin.fr/search/result#viewer_watch:a011474626416YXwY2r/e2ea4e6a85
34 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 466 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 202 ( 43,3 %)
bruns 115
châtains 31
marrons 22
noirs 16
jaunes 8
châtains clairs 7
marrons clairs 2
bruns foncés 1


LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 264 ( 56,7 %)
bleu 164
gris 43
bleus clairs 22
bleu-gris 18
bleus foncés 7
gris bleu 4
gris verts 3
verdâtre 3

These results are interesting because they're slightly higher than Chamla's 50,3 % (1940) and slightly lower than Virchow's ~ 61 % (1900). I suspect that Chamla divided the grey eyes in two, and only put half of them into the light eyes category. This might explain the 5 to 10 points difference in Northern France with the results I got and the difference of French-held Alsace with German-held Alsace.

[Visage pâle]

Why do you prefer classe 1920 and the first 500 ? For each year (between 1910 and 1921) i've seen 50 conscripts, because methods of classifications aren't the same. Sometimes, classification is very strict, and there is only pure blue (or gray) and the rest is described as brown. Sometimes they described light mixed very precisely. So at the end i believe there is a rather objective result as a whole.

[Ikiru]

Why do you prefer classe 1920 and the first 500 ? For each year (between 1910 and 1921) i've seen 50 conscripts, because methods of classifications aren't the same. Sometimes, classification is very strict, and there is only pure blue (or gray) and the rest is described as brown. Sometimes they described light mixed very precisely. So at the end i believe there is a rather objective result as a whole.

Because it's better to standardize the procedure and because the there is always 500 matricules per register. See the one from the Pyrénées Orientales: http://archives.cd66.fr/mdr/index.php/docnumViewer/calculHierarchieDocNum/335088/334515:335141:335088/1080/1920

[Supercomputer]

I suspect that Chamla divided the grey eyes in two, and only put half of them into the light eyes category. This might explain the 5 to 10 points difference in Northern France with the results I got and the difference of French-held Alsace with German-held Alsace.

Chamla divided eyes into 4 categories:

-blue and gray-blue
-intermediate light
-intermediate dark
-dark

I added first two categories together and called them "light". Since the first category includes gray-blue and given what we know about eye color spectrum, there isn't much room for that the intermediate dark category also includes gray eyes. Perhaps gray-brown and gray-yellow. The second category would have to be extremely narrow for that to be the case. Also Chamla's overall figure for France fits in other studies for light and light mixed eyes.

[Ikiru]

Chamla divided eyes into 4 categories:

-blue and gray-blue
-intermediate light
-intermediate dark
-dark

I added first two categories together and called them "light". Since the first category includes gray-blue and given what we know about eye color spectrum, there isn't much room for that the intermediate dark category also includes gray eyes. Perhaps gray-brown and gray-yellow. The second category would have to be extremely narrow for that to be the case. Also Chamla's overall figure for France fits in other studies for light and light mixed eyes.

There is no study other than Chamla's two studies. If you're alluding to Chamla's 1880 study: problem 1. it's from the same anthropologist whose methodology is obscure 2. it's on a very narrow sample of about 10,000 individuals, like the 1940 study. Well there exists a 1880's study by Topinard with a sample of about 200,000 individuals but he only counted blue and blue-grey eyes and exluded greens.
Anyway my methodology is - I believe - irreproachable and I don't think we'll find overall figures much different from Chamla's but perhaps and hopefully better geographical consistency.
Here is a map of the few results I've already got.

https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86439&d=1554576295

[Visage pâle]

I will do a mixed category which will include thoses we call hazel usually, so "light brown" "light chestnut" "orange" and "yellow".

[Visage pâle]

100 conscripts from Pyrénées orientales (french Catalonia).
Classe 1920 1 to 500.

*Light : 42%

Blue 11

Gray blue 5

Gray 25

Green 1

*Mixed : 6%

Light chestnut 4

Red 2

*Dark : 52%

Chestnut 37

Medium Brown 9

Black 6


This serie is much lighter than the previous i saw from 1910-1921

[Supercomputer]

There is no study other than Chamla's two studies. If you're alluding to Chamla's 1880 study: problem 1. it's from the same anthropologist whose methodology is obscure 2. it's on a very narrow sample of about 10,000 individuals, like the 1940 study. Well there exists a 1880's study by Topinard with a sample of about 200,000 individuals but he only counted blue and blue-grey eyes and exluded greens.
Anyway my methodology is - I believe - irreproachable and I don't think we'll find overall figures much different from Chamla's but perhaps and hopefully better geographical consistency.
Here is a map of the few results I've already got.

https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86439&d=1554576295

So you're counting Topinard now? So far the results aren't far from the ones I put out from Chamla. If the overall results are different then Topnard used different criteria. 10.000 is not a small sample size size even for a whole country. The issue is only with individual departments where the sample is small, so we might see a different looking map but numbers for entire France should be similar (if he used same criteria)

[Ikiru]

So you're counting Topinard now? So far the results aren't far from the ones I put out from Chamla. If the overall results are different then Topnard used different criteria. 10.000 is not a small sample size size even for a whole country. The issue is only with individual departments where the sample is small, so we might see a different looking map but numbers for entire France should be similar (if he used same criteria)

I'm not counting Topinard because his results aren't very useful for my purpose. He made four categories: blue, grey-blue, intermediate (green, yellow and hazel) and dark (medium to dark brown). The problem is that he excluded greens. He called the first 2 categories light eyes. For example in Alsace he got 39,5 % light eyes, which is more than 20 points below Virchow's result, 15 points below mine for Haut-Rhin and more than 10 points below Chamla's.

[Supercomputer]

I'm not counting Topinard because his results aren't very useful for my purpose. He made four categories: blue, grey-blue, intermediate (green, yellow and hazel) and dark (medium to dark brown). The problem is that he excluded greens. He called the first 2 categories light eyes. For example in Alsace he got 39,5 % light eyes, which is more than 20 points below Virchow's result, 15 points below mine for Haut-Rhin and more than 10 points below Chamla's.

OK so you're counting a Chamla study from 1880 or what? The same criteria but with 500 people per county as I remember you said? Just so I know...

[Ikiru]

OK so you're counting a Chamla study from 1880 or what? The same criteria but with 500 people per county as I remember you said? Just so I know...

Chamla's 1880 and 1940 studies have about the same value because they were made the same and on a similar number of people (~100 per departement). My methodology is the same as hers except I use the 1920 class (Frenchmen born in 1900, I try to be the most neutral possible) and much bigger samples (the first 500 matricules that is 450-500 people). Ideally I'd like to check 1000 matricules per departement that is100,000 for the whole country but I calculated it would take about 170 work hours which is a bit too much for a single person. Unless you want to help of course.

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Hautes-Pyrénées, Southwestern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Tarbes. (1R232 : matricules 1-500)
http://www.archivesenligne65.fr/arkotheque/visionneuse/visionneuse.php?arko=YTo4OntzOjQ6ImRhdGUiO3M6MTA6I jIwMTktMDQtMDciO3M6MTA6InR5cGVfZm9uZHMiO3M6MTE6ImF ya29fc2VyaWVsIjtzOjQ6InJlZjEiO2k6MTtzOjQ6InJlZjIiO 3M6NDoiNTU0MiI7czoyMDoicmVmX2Fya19mYWNldHRlX2NvbmY iO3M6NDoiYWQ2NSI7czoyMjoiZm9yY2VfbnVtX2ltYWdlX2Rlc GFydCI7aTozMTA7czoxNjoidmlzaW9ubmV1c2VfaHRtbCI7Yjo xO3M6MjE6InZpc2lvbm5ldXNlX2h0bWxfbW9kZSI7czo0OiJwc m9kIjt9#uielem_move=621%2C117&uielem_rotate=F&uielem_islocked=1&uielem_zoom=30
36 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 464 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 343( 73,9 %)
châtains 186
châtains clairs 50
châtains foncés 47
marrons 33
noirs 20
marrons clairs 4
bruns 2
marrons foncés 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 121 ( 26,1 %)
bleus 77
gris 32
gris bleu 5
bleu clair 4
gris clair 1
gris vert 1
clairs 1

Result close to Chamla's 25 % (1940).

Map updated: 86483

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Aube, Northeastern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Troyes. (3R689 : matricules 1-500)
http://www.archives-aube.fr/arkotheque/visionneuse/visionneuse.php?arko=YTo2OntzOjQ6ImRhdGUiO3M6MTA6I jIwMTktMDQtMDciO3M6MTA6InR5cGVfZm9uZHMiO3M6MTE6ImF ya29fc2VyaWVsIjtzOjQ6InJlZjEiO2k6MTk7czo0OiJyZWYyI jtpOjMzNDtzOjE2OiJ2aXNpb25uZXVzZV9odG1sIjtiOjE7czo yMToidmlzaW9ubmV1c2VfaHRtbF9tb2RlIjtzOjQ6InByb2QiO 30=#uielem_move=-818%2C-86&uielem_rotate=F&uielem_islocked=1&uielem_zoom=153
44 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 456 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 151 ( 33,1 %)
marrons 53
bruns 22
châtains 21
noirs 17
jaunes 14
gris jaunes 6
marrons clairs 4
jaunâtre 4
jaunes clairs 2
châtain verdâtre 2
bruns clairs 1
marrons foncés 1
blonds (?) 1
jaune vert 1
foncés 1
gris marron 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 305 ( 66,9 %)
gris 139
bleus 110
gris bleu 36
gris verts 4
gris clair 4
gris foncé 3
bleus clairs 2
bleus foncés 2
verts 2
verdâtre 1
bleu jaunâtre 1
bleus verts 1

This is much higher than Chamla's 43,4 % (1940) which was a geographical anomaly surrounded by departements in the 50-55 % range. The result is however higher than expected.

Map updated: 86485

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Finistère, Northwestern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Brest. (1R1642 : matricules 1-500)
http://mnesys-portail.archives-finistere.fr/?id=viewer&doc=accounts%2Fmnesys_cg29%2Fdatas%2Fir%2Fserie_r% 2FFRAD029_00000001R%2Exml&page_ref=41911&lot_num=1&img_num=1&index_in_visu=
68 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 442 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 245 ( 55,4 %)
roux 103
marrons 85
châtains 32
noirs 18
bruns 8
marrons foncés 7
marrons clairs 6
jaunes clairs 5
châtains clairs 5
jaunes 4
châtains foncés 1
gris roux 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 197 ( 44,6 %)
bleus 96
gris 58
verts 11
gris clairs 9
gris bleu 5
gris verts 4
bleus foncés 4
gris foncés 3
bleus clairs 2
verdâtre 2
bleu gris 1
bleus (teint pâle) 1
clairs 1

This is quite lower than Chamla's 52,8 % (1940) and I expected results at least over 50 % in the tip of Brittany. It would be interesting to expand the research to the next 500 matricules to see if this persists.

Map updated: 86486

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Marne, Northeastern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Châlons-sur-Marne. (1R1496 : matricules 1-500)
http://archives.marne.fr/ark:/86869/a011457077515cwdVJw/1/1
31 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 469 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 183 ( 39 %)
marrons 52
bruns 31
marrons clairs 30
châtains 25
jaunes 10
marrons foncés 9
noirs 6
châtains verdâtres 6
châtains clairs 5
jaune clair 3
orangé 2
bruns foncés 1
gris brun 1
foncés 1
roux verdâtre 1


LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 286 ( 61 %)
bleus 126
gris 64
bleu clairs 31
gris bleu 16
bleus foncés 12
verdâtres 10
verts 9
bleus jaunâtres 7
gris verts 4
gris clairs 4
bleu jaune 2
bleu verdâtre 1

This is quite higher than Chamla's 50,8 % (1940) but consistent with our results in the region so far (60-70 % range). I expected a 65 % as between in two departements over 65 % but variations happen on a sample of only 500. I'll do the Ardennes next.

Map updated: 86503

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Ardennes, Northern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Mézières. (1R336 : matricules 1-500)
https://archives.cd08.fr/arkotheque/visionneuse/visionneuse.php?arko=YTo2OntzOjQ6ImRhdGUiO3M6MTA6I jIwMTktMDQtMDgiO3M6MTA6InR5cGVfZm9uZHMiO3M6MTE6ImF ya29fc2VyaWVsIjtzOjQ6InJlZjEiO2k6NztzOjQ6InJlZjIiO 2k6NDM4NztzOjE2OiJ2aXNpb25uZXVzZV9odG1sIjtiOjE7czo yMToidmlzaW9ubmV1c2VfaHRtbF9tb2RlIjtzOjQ6InByb2QiO 30=#uielem_move=0%2C0&uielem_rotate=F&uielem_islocked=0&uielem_zoom=32
18 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 482 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 195 ( 40,5 %)
marrons 84
bruns 29
châtains 20
marrons clairs 11
marrons foncés 9
noirs 9
châtains clairs 6
jaunes 5
gris marrons 5
châtains foncés 4
roux 3
orangés 2
roux clair 2
orange très vert 1
roux 1
jaune caille 1
châtains vert foncé 1
bruns foncés 1
jaunes foncés 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 287 ( 59,5 %)
bleus 155
gris 65
gris bleu 28
bleus clairs 12
verdâtres 6
bleus foncés 5
verts 4
gris verts 3
gris clair 3
gris foncés 1
bleus pâles 1
gris bleu foncé 1
gris fer 1
bleu verdâtre 1
azurés 1

Near Chamla's 57 % (1940) but slightly lower than expected. It would be interesting to expand the research to 1000 matricules in the Champagne-Aisne region to see if we can get rid of the irregularity caused by the Aisne figure.

Map updated:
https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86504&d=1554743915

[Supercomputer]

In the Chamla study only five departments had more than 60% light eyes, but here there are already five with only 10 counted. Is it possible Chamla used different criteria from you?

[Ikiru]

In the Chamla study only five departments had more than 60% light eyes, but here there are already five with only 10 counted. Is it possible Chamla used different criteria from you?

I don't see how she could have used different criteria using the same material that I use now. Perhaps this is stupid but I start suspecting her - who was a woman from Marseille - to have tried to reduce the difference between the North and the South by lowering the numbers in the North. Well we'll see how the results I'll get in the South compare with hers. I'll find a way to get my hands on her articles anyway.

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Meuse, Northeastern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Bar-le-Duc. (1R688 : matricules 1-500)
http://archives.meuse.fr/ark:/52669/a011403016011OhPXG2/f9598e0af1
49 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 451 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 173 ( 38,4 %)
bruns 54
marrons 46
châtains 42
jaunes 8
noirs 6
marrons clairs 4
gris bruns 3
marrons foncés 3
châtains foncés 3
gris marron 2
châtains clairs 2

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 278 ( 61,6 %)
bleus 149
gris 79
gris bleu 18
bleus clairs 10
gris verts 7
verts 4
gris foncés 3
gris clairs 3
bleu gris 1
bleus foncés 2
gris verdâtre 1
clairs 1

Slightly lower than Chamla's 63,7 % (1940). Seems consistent with the surrounding departements.

Map updated: 86518

[Visage pâle]

Classe 1920 sucks for Pyrénées Atlantiques. I will take 1915 or 1912, much more precises.
After i will do Bouches du Rhône, Pyrénées orientales, Drôme, Corsica and in northern part, Manche, Morbihan, and in center Savoie. But it will be a bit long to have all infos.
If classe 1920 is unprecise i will take another of better value.

[Cristiano viejo]

I've done this for two southern departments and for department of Oran in Algeria.
I've taken years from 1910 to 1921. So soldiers born between 1890 and 1901. I've seen 600 matricules from each departements.

I didn't include light brown/hazel among lights but only blue gray and greenish.

Results :
Béarn (Pyrénées atlantiques) : 37.66% lights.
French Catalonia (Pyrénées orientales) : 27.5 % lights.
Oran (only soldiers of spanish ancestry) : 24.33% lights.


Please explain that.

[Visage pâle]

Please explain that.

Those who were born in Algeria, son of spanish emigrants. In Oran they were majority like that. It's easy to recognize their description, they had spanish name and often the first name. Identities of their parents are written like for all others conscripts and if they are sons of foreigners it's written.

Theses publics archives are wonderfuls. They are precious for familial's history, historian and anthropologists too.

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Pas-de-Calais, Northern France. (Data collected by @dududud)
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Arras. (1R7221 : matricules 1-500)
http://archivesenligne.pasdecalais.fr/console/ir_seriel_visu.php?SID=4sg5f4e692c0rk53tmmqcivop0&id=171755284&l=1904&h=944&titre=171755284
10 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 490 records were complete. 4 records reported eyes as "blurred" (flous).

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 148 ( 30,5 %)
marrons 80
noirs 20
bruns 18
châtains 12
roux 6
marrons foncés 4
gris noirs 2
châtains foncés 1
marrons clairs 1
jaunes 1
gris marron 1
châtains verdâtres 1
blonds 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 338 ( 69,5 %)
bleus 191
gris 115
gris bleus 14
azurs 5
gris foncés 5
verts 4
verdâtre 1
gris clairs 1
bleus jaunes 1
bleus clairs 1

-----------------------------------------------

Eye color in the departement of Hérault, Southern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Béziers. (1R1337 : matricules 1-500)
http://archives-pierresvives.herault.fr/ark:/37279/vtab0909fbc7dae3dc8/daogrp/0/layout:table/idsearch:RECH_e17e2eeedaabb6deb575ff9ae4364b99
34 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 466 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 288 ( 61,8 %)
marrons 185
châtains 71
noirs 15
châtains foncés 5
marrons foncés 5
blonds 3
marrons clairs 1
bruns 1
basanés 1
châtain clair 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 178 ( 38,2 %)
gris 85
bleus 84
verts 2
gris verts 2
gris foncés 2
bleus clairs 2
gris bleu 1

Much higher than Chamla's 18 % (1940). Expected around 20-25 %.

-----------------------------------------------

Eye color in the departement of Ardèche, Southern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Privas. (1R241-1 : matricules 1-500)
https://archives.ardeche.fr/ark:/39673/vta2bb6c0d8b2860555/daogrp/0#id:2070086204?gallery=true&brightness=100.00&contrast=100.00&center=1038.000,-1508.500&zoom=6&rotation=0.000
21 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 479 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 388 ( 81 %)
châtains 318
châtains clairs 30
châtains foncés 22
noirs 8
marrons 7
roux 2
bruns 1


LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 91 ( 19 %)
bleus 80
gris 7
gris verdâtre 1
verts 1
gris bleu 1
bleu clair 1

Much lower than Chamla's 43 % (1940). I expected a figure in the 25-35 % range. The examinators seem to have counted all grey eyes as brown in this sample. It'd be interesting to expand to the 500 next matricules.

Map updated:
https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86533&d=1554812565

[Supercomputer]

I don't see how she could have used different criteria using the same material that I use now. Perhaps this is stupid but I start suspecting her - who was a woman from Marseille - to have tried to reduce the difference between the North and the South by lowering the numbers in the North. Well we'll see how the results I'll get in the South compare with hers. I'll find a way to get my hands on her articles anyway.

Simple. Perhaps she grouped green and greenish eyes in the dark-intermediate category. There are 20-30 categories for eye color in these records. If she never specifically specifies what eye color descriptions she classified in what category, it is very possible its different than yours which is arbitrary. If her numbers come from the same archives as yours, you can check first 100 (or exact number that is given for each department) and see with which standard you get the same number as hers. Not a difficult task.

That doesn't sound plausible. If anything she would then more likely increase the numbers from the South, not decrease the numbers for the entire (hers) country.

[Visage pâle]

Pyrénées Atlantiques Part 1 (Béarn only) classe 1915, 252 conscripts.

Light : 131 (51.57%)

light blue : 5
Dark blue : 4
Blue : 69
Grey and Grey blue : 50
Green 2
Greenish 1

Mixed : 11 (4.33%)

Red : 1
Light chestnut and light brown : 10

Dark : 112 (44.09%)

Chestnut : 53
Dark chestnut : 1
Brown : 54
Dark brown : 3
Black : 1

[Supercomputer]

Eye color in the departement of Pas-de-Calais

Much lower than Chamla's 43 % (1940). I expected a figure in the 25-35 % range. The examinators seem to have counted all grey eyes as brown in this sample.

Shit, this kind of stuff makes you lose confidence in the entire data. That's the problem with these kind of records. The examiners didn't seem to use any scales or consistent standards. That's why there are so many categories. One guy called a set of eyes X while another might call them Y.

[Visage pâle]

Shit, this kind of stuff makes you lose confidence in the entire data. That's the problem with these kind of records. The examiners didn't seem to use any scales or consistent standards. That's why there are so many categories. One guy called a set of eyes X while another might call them Y.

Yes, some classifications are precices but others aren't that much.

[Ikiru]

Simple. Perhaps she grouped green and greenish eyes in the dark-intermediate category. There are 20-30 categories for eye color in these records. If she never specifically specifies what eye color descriptions she classified in what category, it is very possible its different than yours which is arbitrary. If her numbers come from the same archives as yours, you can check first 100 (or exact number that is given for each department) and see with which standard you get the same number as hers. Not a difficult task.

That doesn't sound plausible. If anything she would then more likely increase the numbers from the South, not decrease the numbers for the entire (hers) country.

There aren't really 20-30 eye color categories. Just 20-30 different terms used for describing eye color and sometimes the terms differ from one region to another. For example in the North the examinators seem to often make the distinction between blue, light blue, grey blue and dark blue whereas in the South they tend to report the vast majority of blue eyes with a plain blue.
The thing is that green eyes are generally directly reported under the term grey, the eyes reported as green, greenish and grey green generally make up only 1 - 3 %.
And I can't check the 1940 archives because they're available online up to year 1921. I'd have the physically move to each departement's archives to check them. I can check the 1880 archives though, but I need precise figures for her 1880 study.

[Visage pâle]

Southern Corsica. Classe 1912

Light : 86 (29,2%)

Light blue : 5
Dark blue : 10
Blue 46 :
Blue greenish : 1
Grey blue : 1
Light Grey : 2
Grey : 11
Light yellow : 3
Green : 1
Light greenish : 1
Greenish : 5

Mixed : 32 (10.8%)

Yellow : 6
Grey orange : 1
Chestnut greenish : 2
Light chestnut : 17
Light brown : 7

Dark : 176 (60%)

Chestnut : 95
Dark chestnut : 29
Brown : 36
Dark brown : 7
Black : 9

[Ikiru]

Detailed figures from Topinard (1889) for information purpose.

86540
86541
86542

[Visage pâle]

Detailed figures from Topinard (1889) for information purpose.

86540
86541
86542

So Vaucluse is the blondest departement of France ?! Surprising.

[Supercomputer]

I have a few maps from Topinard but I'm not sure which is for eyes and which is for hair because they are cut out of the text...I'm sure Ikiru will immediately be able to tell...

https://i.postimg.cc/8k4gSKRN/FRANCE1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/vTqK6Khn/FRANCE2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/XvbsX3Wh/FRANCE3.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Visage pâle]

So Vaucluse is the blondest departement of France ?! Surprising.

To peoples who don't know french departements, Vaucluse is here https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaucluse_(d%C3%A9partement)

[Ikiru]

I have a few maps from Topinard but I'm not sure which is for eyes and which is for hair because they are cut out of the text...I'm sure Ikiru will immediately be able to tell...

https://i.postimg.cc/8k4gSKRN/FRANCE1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/vTqK6Khn/FRANCE2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/XvbsX3Wh/FRANCE3.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

The first one is about hair color and the second one about eye color. The third one is "the result of the last two."

[Ikiru]

So Vaucluse is the blondest departement of France ?! Surprising.

I don't think Vaucluse can be at 34,6 % blonde hair (the highest in the list) while the neighboring departement of Var is the lowest in the list at 5,7 %. Probably an error

[Visage pâle]

According to Topinard, greenish and some grey eyes aren't in the light category but in the mixed one.

[Supercomputer]

The first one is about hair color and the second one about eye color. The third one is "the result of the last two."

Looks like ToeKneeHwin wasn't far off with his map, at least for France.

https://i.postimg.cc/Mp4WRJJm/Blonde-hair-Europe.png (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/8zFGTXfJ/lighteyeseurope.png (https://postimages.org/)

[Ikiru]

Looks like ToeKneeHwin wasn't far off with his map, at least for France.

https://i.postimg.cc/Mp4WRJJm/Blonde-hair-Europe.png (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/8zFGTXfJ/lighteyeseurope.png (https://postimages.org/)

Except maybe for Normandy. I doubt it's much more light-eyed than the neighboring regions, at least not over 75 %. Well we'll see.

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Drôme, Southern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Romans. (1R367 : matricules 1-500)
https://archives.ladrome.fr/?id=viewer&doc=accounts%2Fmnesys_ad26%2Fdatas%2Fir%2FRegistre s%20matricules%2FFRAD026_000552%2Exml&page_ref=21975&lot_num=1&img_num=1
11 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 489 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 246 ( 50,3 %)
marrons 124
châtains 45
roux 27
noirs 18
châtains foncés 6
châtains clairs 6
marrons clairs 5
marrons foncés 4
bruns 4
jaunes 2
gris marron 2
roux foncé 1
jaune orangé 1
gris jaune 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 243 ( 49,7 %)
bleus 124
gris 65
gris bleu 25
bleus clairs 9
gris foncés 5
bleus foncés 4
azurés 3
verts 3
gris verts 2
bleu vert 1
gris très clair 1
gris clair 1

Very close to Chamla's 49,9 % (1940). I expected something in the 35-45 % range at the foot of the Alps.

-----------------------------------------------

Eye color in the departement of Lozère, Southern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Mende. (R8289 : matricules 1-500)
http://archives.lozere.fr/ark:/24967/vta740c2192f5bb6bb3/daogrp/0/layout:table/idsearch:RECH_43446eb2300509e70be00197832ccf7d#id: 605072373?gallery=true&brightness=100.00&contrast=100.00
27 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 473 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 376 ( 79,5 %)
châtains clairs 151
châtains foncés 133
marrons clairs 40
marrons foncés 35
châtains 13
marron 2
noirs 1
gris marron 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 97 ( 20,5 %)
bleus clairs 69
bleus foncés 13
bleus 11
gris clair 2
verts 1
gris bleu 1

Much lower than Chamla's 39,4 % (1940), but similar to the neighboring 19 %. Extremely few grey eyes reported. I expected a result in the 25 - 35 % range.

Map updated: 86666

[Supercomputer]

Eye color in the departement of Drôme, Southern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Romans. (1R367 : matricules 1-500)
https://archives.ladrome.fr/?id=viewer&doc=accounts%2Fmnesys_ad26%2Fdatas%2Fir%2FRegistre s%20matricules%2FFRAD026_000552%2Exml&page_ref=21975&lot_num=1&img_num=1
11 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 489 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 246 ( 50,3 %)
marrons 124
châtains 45
roux 27
noirs 18
châtains foncés 6
châtains clairs 6
marrons clairs 5
marrons foncés 4
bruns 4
jaunes 2
gris marron 2
roux foncé 1
jaune orangé 1
gris jaune 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 243 ( 49,7 %)
bleus 124
gris 65
gris bleu 25
bleus clairs 9
gris foncés 5
bleus foncés 4
azurés 3
verts 3
gris verts 2
bleu vert 1
gris très clair 1
gris clair 1

Very close to Chamla's 49,9 % (1940). I expected something in the 35-45 % range at the foot of the Alps.

-----------------------------------------------

Eye color in the departement of Lozère, Southern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Mende. (R8289 : matricules 1-500)
http://archives.lozere.fr/ark:/24967/vta740c2192f5bb6bb3/daogrp/0/layout:table/idsearch:RECH_43446eb2300509e70be00197832ccf7d#id: 605072373?gallery=true&brightness=100.00&contrast=100.00
27 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 473 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 376 ( 79,5 %)
châtains clairs 151
châtains foncés 133
marrons clairs 40
marrons foncés 35
châtains 13
marron 2
noirs 1
gris marron 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 97 ( 20,5 %)
bleus clairs 69
bleus foncés 13
bleus 11
gris clair 2
verts 1
gris bleu 1

Much lower than Chamla's 39,4 % (1940), but similar to the neighboring 19 %. Extremely few grey eyes reported. I expected a result in the 25 - 35 % range.

Map updated: 86666

Drome was 39,9% according to Chamla.

[Visage pâle]

Eye color in the departement of Lozère, Southern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Mende.

27 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 473 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 376 ( 79,5 %)
châtains clairs 151
châtains foncés 133
marrons clairs 40
marrons foncés 35
châtains 13
marron 2
noirs 1
gris marron 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 97 ( 20,5 %)
bleus clairs 69
bleus foncés 13
bleus 11
gris clair 2
verts 1
gris bleu 1

Much lower than Chamla's 39,4 % (1940), but similar to the neighboring 19 %. Extremely few grey eyes reported. I expected a result in the 25 - 35 % range.

Map updated: 86666

Most grey eyes are include in "chatains clairs" categorie.

[Ikiru]

Drome was 39,9% according to Chamla.

I expected something like Chamla's figure. But the Drôme figure isn't that annoying because the colors breakdown seems legit (a bit less than 1 grey for each 2 blue). The Lozère figure is more annoying, with only 2 grey and 1 green reported out of 473.

[Ikiru]

Most grey eyes are include in "chatains clairs" categorie.

Probably, but grey and light chestnut aren't the same thing.

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Haute-Loire, Southern Central France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Le-Puy. (1R1062 : matricules 1-500)
http://www.archives43.fr/arkotheque/visionneuse/visionneuse.php?arko=YTo2OntzOjQ6ImRhdGUiO3M6MTA6I jIwMTktMDQtMTIiO3M6MTA6InR5cGVfZm9uZHMiO3M6MTE6ImF ya29fc2VyaWVsIjtzOjQ6InJlZjEiO2k6MjY7czo0OiJyZWYyI jtpOjI0MjtzOjE2OiJ2aXNpb25uZXVzZV9odG1sIjtiOjE7czo yMToidmlzaW9ubmV1c2VfaHRtbF9tb2RlIjtzOjQ6InByb2QiO 30=#uielem_move=0%2C0&uielem_rotate=F&uielem_islocked=0&uielem_zoom=30
4 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 496 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 335 ( 67,5 %)
marrons 242
châtains 50
noirs 19
châtains 12
roux 9
châtain clair 1
jaunes 1
marrons clairs 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 161 ( 32,5 %)
bleus 152
gris 5
gris bleu 3
bleu clair 1

Lower than Chamla's 50,9 % (1940) but in the broad range of what I was expecting (30 - 45 %).

Map updated: 86795

[Ikiru]

I finally found Chamla's study in a Parisian library. They're sending me a paper copy of the 24 pages article ( 1964 - "Note sur l'évolution de la pigmentation des cheveux et des yeux des Français entre 1880 et 1940" ) that I'll receive in 5 to 15 days. I'll post key extracts of her article in the limit of what is legally disclosable.

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Nièvre, Central France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Nevers. (1R458 : matricules 1-500)
http://archives.cg58.fr/ark:/60877/a011410878704TvyEDL/1/1
15 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 485 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 231 ( 47,6 %)
marrons 101
châtains 84
bruns 21
jaunes 7
roux 4
jaunes clairs 3
noirs 3
châtains foncés 2
marrons clairs 2
châtains verdâtres 2
jaunâtres 1
gris marron 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 254 ( 52,4 %)
gris 115
bleus 92
gris bleus 30
verdâtres 4
verts 4
bleus clairs 3
gris verts 2
bleu gris 1
bleus verts 1
gris jaune 1
gris clairs 1

-----------------------------------------------

Eye color in the departement of Yonne, Northern Central France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Auxerre. (1R795 : matricules 1-500)
https://archivesenligne.yonne.fr/ark:/56431/vta35c9971c1d3be986/daogrp/0/layout:fonds/idsearch:RECH_97759b2626bac69dcb89c82d7ee61dc5#id: 1507999108?
6 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 494 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 223 ( 45,1 %)
marrons 90
châtains 52
noirs 20
bruns 16
jaunes 13
marrons clairs 9
châtains clairs 8
jaunes clairs 8
marrons foncés 2
gris bruns 2
châtains foncés 1
gris marron 1
jaunes foncés 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 271 ( 54,9 %)
bleus 124
gris 86
bleus clairs 21
gris bleu 14
gris verts 9
gris clairs 8
verts 6
gris bleus clairs 1
gris foncés 1
bleus foncés 1

Pretty much within the range of what I expected in these two Burgundian departements (50 - 60 %). Contrast with the neighboring 66,9 % (Aube) which seems a bit too high.

Map updated: 86921

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Manche, Northwestern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Cherbourg. (1R1/199 : matricules 1-500)
http://www.archives-manche.fr/ark:/57115/a011441785963qFi92S/44b67624e5
27 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 473 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 109 ( 23 %)
bruns 47
châtains 18
châtains verdâtres 14
châtains foncés 11
noirs 4
bruns clairs 2
marrons foncés 2
châtains gris 2
marrons 1
marrons clairs 1
roux 1
châtains marron 1
châtains bruns 1
châtains verts 1
châtains clairs 1
gris bruns 1
châtains gris foncés 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 364 ( 77 %)
bleus 162
gris 117
gris bleu 37
bleus clairs 12
gris perlés 7
gris verdâtre 6
gris verts 4
verts 3
azurés 3
verdâtres 2
bleu gris 2
gris verts foncés 1
bleu pâles 1
bleu verdâtres 1
gris jaunâtre 1
gris bleus clairs 1
gris clairs 1
gris foncés 1
gris bleu clairs 1
bleus foncés 1

I was expecting a slightly lower figure. I previously said that Normandy as a whole is probably quite lower than 75 % and I still think so. However, it's possible that the figure goes slightly over 75 % in this coastal departement.

Map updated: https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86922&d=1555275396

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the departement of Seine Maritime, Northern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Rouen Nord. (1R3495 : matricules 1-500)
http://recherche.archivesdepartementales76.net/?id=viewer&doc=accounts%2Fmnesys_ad76%2Fdatas%2Fir%2Fserie_R_ affaires_militaires%2FFRAD076_IR_R_001R_registres_ matricules%2Exml&page_ref=8947464&lot_num=1&img_num=1&index_in_visu=
36 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 464 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 129 ( 27,8 %)
bruns 68
marrons 19
noirs 18
châtains 15
châtains clairs 3
marrons clairs 1
châtoyants 1
roux 1
jaunes 1
gris noirs 1
gris jaunes 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 335 ( 72,2 %)
gris 147
bleus 145
gris bleus 22
gris clairs 4
verts 4
gris foncés 3
verdâtres 3
verts clairs 3
gris verts 3
bleus gris 1

Map updated: 86932

[Supercomputer]

I finally found Chamla's study in a Parisian library. They're sending me a paper copy of the 24 pages article ( 1964 - "Note sur l'évolution de la pigmentation des cheveux et des yeux des Français entre 1880 et 1940" ) that I'll receive in 5 to 15 days. I'll post key extracts of her article in the limit of what is legally disclosable.

With so many movies and songs being downloaded every singe day it's mind boggling we have to worry about posting an 80 yearold study meant for educational purposes.

[Ikiru]

I made a detailed map from Topinard's data (1889).
His study was made from the data collected on approximately 200,000 people that is on average 2,000 per departement. He sent an eye color chart to thousands of collaborators across the country (doctors, civil servants, etc.) who reported the eye color of the people they interacted with. This study was meant to be a response to the works of Virchow in Germany as Topinard himself states it. Too bad he had to adopt a new and much different color scale that makes comparaison with other studies difficult.

https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86952&d=1555344930

[Lucas]

Big problem I had with Chamla 1940 vs French 1880 survey is that in Chamla dark eyes number rose few times higher and mixed were lowered in the same way.

I know it could be problem with hazel / greenish category but it is too much... Those values are nearly reversed. But dark hair frequency in 1940 was smaller than in 1880, which is opposite situation and add another doubt.

It is from Chamla 1966 article. It isn't problem with this table, because on his maps we see this too.


https://i.postimg.cc/bwLgzytf/chamla.png

[Ikiru]

Big problem I had with Chamla 1940 vs French 1880 survey is that in Chamla dark eyes number rose few times higher and mixed were lowered in the same way.

I know it could be problem with hazel / greenish category but it is too much... Those values are nearly reversed. But dark hair frequency in 1940 was smaller than in 1880, which is opposite situation and add another doubt.

It is from Chamla 1966 article. It isn't problem with this table, because on his maps we see this too.


https://i.postimg.cc/bwLgzytf/chamla.png

It seems that in 1880 light brown and hazel eyes were included into the mixed eyes category whereas in 1940 those eyes were included into the dark eyes category. Do you have access to the entire article?

[Ikiru]

BERTILLON'S EYE COLOR SCALE.

Bertillon created his own eye color scale from two principles: 1. the eye is to be examined very closely and not at one meter or more of distance, 2. categories should be made to describe precisely the structure of the eye so as to get rid of the vague terms like grey and green. Bertillon observes that at a close distance there is no such things as grey and green eyes: the iris is made of a pigmented aureole around the pupil that covers parts of the periphery of the iris. Only two exceptions: pure blue eyes which he calls unpigmented and pure brown eyes. Blue eyes often possess a small yellow or orange aureole around the pupil that isn't apparent unless the eye is examined at a very close range and that sometimes gives the eye an appearance of grey blue or greenish blue color.

Eyes fall into classes according to the color of their aureole: 1. unpigmented 2. yellow 3. orange 4. chestnut (light brown) 5. brown circle 6. greenish brown 7. pure brown. The class 2 is made of blue and grey blue eyes, the class 3 is made of greenish blue and green eyes, the class 4 is made of dark green and hazel eyes. Bertillon calls light the classes 1 to 3, intermediate mixed the class 4 and dark the classes 5 to 7.

Everything is explained in his article "La couleur de l'iris" available here: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k2151056/f68.image
Here is the Bertillon chart: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Bertillon_-_Identification_anthropom%C3%A9trique_%281893%29_3 71.png

And here is a picture with good lighting of the classes 3 and 4: https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86975&d=1555437646

[Ikiru]

BERTILLON'S DATA.

Two collections:
1. data on 25,000 men, mostly offenders (1889) from all over France (~ 250 per departement), three categories: light (1-3), mixed (4) and dark (5-7).
2. data on 100,000 men, mostly offenders (1900) from all over Franec (~ 1,000 per departement), two caterogies: light (1-3) and mixed and dark (4-7).

These collections can be originally found in the "Cartogrammes et listes de l'Exposition universelle de Paris de 1889/1900." I found them partially reproduced in this later work by Pierre-André Gloor: https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:103208
The eye color maps are very low definition: for the first collection 86976 and for the second 86977

I made a map with Bertillon's first collection data (1889) that I'll post and comment below. I want to make another one with his larger 1900 data but he provided figures for every arrondissement (subdivision of a departement) and I can't find a blank map of the ancient arrondissements.

BERTILLON (1889).

https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86978&d=1555438908

The data is interesting because the three figures for Alsace-Moselle are about the same as Virchow's. The figures for the Northern half of the country approximately match mine (50 - 70 % range). But for the South, figures seem generally at least 10 points too high compared with what I got. It would be interesting to get detailed maps of Spain and Italy to see what figures we're supposed to get near the Southwestern and Southeastern borders.

[Visage pâle]

BERTILLON'S DATA.

Two collections:
1. data on 25,000 men, mostly offenders (1889) from all over France (~ 250 per departement), three categories: light (1-3), mixed (4) and dark (5-7).
2. data on 100,000 men, mostly offenders (1900) from all over Franec (~ 1,000 per departement), two caterogies: light (1-3) and mixed and dark (4-7).

These collections can be originally found in the "Cartogrammes et listes de l'Exposition universelle de Paris de 1889/1900." I found them partially reproduced in this later work by Pierre-André Gloor: https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:103208
The eye color maps are very low definition: for the first collection 86976 and for the second 86977

I made a map with Bertillon's first collection data (1889) that I'll post and comment below. I want to make another one with his larger 1900 data but he provided figures for every arrondissement (subdivision of a departement) and I can't find a blank map of the ancient arrondissements.

BERTILLON (1889).

https://www.theapricity.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=86978&d=1555438908

The data is interesting because the three figures for Alsace-Moselle are about the same as Virchow's. The figures for the Northern half of the country approximately match mine (50 - 70 % range). But for the South, figures seem generally at least 10 points too high compared with what I got. It would be interesting to get detailed maps of Spain and Italy to see what figures we're supposed to get near the Southwestern and Southeastern borders.

Excellent vraiment.

[Visage pâle]

Bertillon iris classification.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Bertillon_-_Identification_anthropom%C3%A9trique_%281893%29_3 71.png

1 No pigmentation : blue and grey blue
2 light pigmentation : yellowish blue
3 medium pigmentation : orange greenish
4 dark mixed : light brown
5-7 : dark brown

[Ikiru]

Bertillon iris classification.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Bertillon_-_Identification_anthropom%C3%A9trique_%281893%29_3 71.png

1 No pigmentation : blue and grey blue
2 light pigmentation : yellowish blue
3 medium pigmentation : orange greenish
4 dark mixed : light brown
5-7 : dark brown

Please look at the page 8 of this thread for an explanation on the Bertillon system.

[Supercomputer]

Please look at the page 8 of this thread for an explanation on the Bertillon system.

Do you still plan to continue work on these 1920 records or have you given up?

[Ikiru]

Do you still plan to continue work on these 1920 records or have you given up?

I didn't give up. I'll make an update when I receive Chamla's study which is very soon.

[Ikiru]

Eye color in the department of Allier, Central France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Moulins. (1R933 : matricules 1-500)
http://recherche.archives.allier.fr/ark:/84133/a011528715051m92zoQ/1/1
8 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 492 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 334 ( 68,9 %)
châtains 129
marrons 88
marrons foncés 31
jaunes 22
châtains clairs 18
bruns 16
noirs 12
châtains foncés 11
marrons clairs 5
jaune foncé 1
gris marron 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 158 ( 32,1 %)
bleus 92
gris 36
bleus clairs 12
gris bleus 7
bleus foncés 5
gris verts 2
bleu jaunâtre 1
bleus verts 1
verts 1
gris clairs 1

Inconsistent result.

-----------------------------------------------

Eye color in the department of Puy-de-Dôme, Southern Central France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Riom. (R3676 : matricules 1-500)
http://www.archivesdepartementales.puydedome.fr/ark:/72847/vta75cbf96d956a3484/daogrp/0/layout:table/idsearch:RECH_8d2c73ce24ced5cb0f09dbdafb724731
23 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 477 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 294 ( 61,6 %)
marrons clairs 97
marrons 93
marrons foncés 84
noirs 11
châtains 8
marron verdâtre 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 183 ( 38,4 %)
bleus clairs 78
bleus 32
gris bleu 31
gris verts 15
gris 10
bleus foncés 10
gris clairs 2
gris verdâtre 2
gris foncés 1
gris bleuâtre 1
verts 1

Inconsistent result.

-----------------------------------------------

Eye color in the department of Aveyron, Southern France.
Study of the first 500 military records of the 1920 class (all Frenchmen born in 1900) in the military district of Rodez. (1R1041 : matricules 1-500)
http://archives.aveyron.fr/ark:/11971/vtad5e589818227df08/daoloc/0/layout:table/idsearch:RECH_5974e9638d350ebce4450ecac379c544#id: 62906147?gallery=true&brightness=100.00&contrast=100.00&center=995,-1442
11 records were incomplete and didn't display the eye color or they were missing. The other 489 records were complete.

DARK (Black to yellow eyes) – 161 ( 32,9 %)
marrons 92
châtains 22
noirs 11
marrons clairs 7
gris marrons 7
bruns 6
gris noirs 5
châtains foncés 5
marrons foncés 3
châtains clairs 1
châtains marrons 1
marrons bleutés 1

LIGHT AND LIGHT MIXED (Blue, grey and green eyes) – 328 ( 67,1 %)
gris 123
bleus 99
gris bleus 60
gris foncés 16
gris verdâtre 10
bleus clairs 6
bleus foncés 4
gris clairs 4
bleus clairs 3
gris jaunâtre 1
gris pâle 1
gris bleus clairs 1

Inconsistent result.

-----------------------------------------------

Map updated: 89323

I paused the research because I was getting too many inconsistencies. Finally I've decided to post them anyway and to draw the right conclusions.
The examination of France's military matricules isn't an accurate means of determining the proportion of light eyes. Although the results seem pretty consistent in the Northern half of France, in the Southern part the vague term grey eyes led to the very disjointed results you see on the map. It most likely explains the inconsistencies in Chamla's results too (1880 and 1940). Too bad so much time has been wasted on nothing.

[Supercomputer]

Eye color in the department of Allier, Central France.


Map updated: 89323

I paused the research because I was getting too many inconsistencies. Finally I've decided to post them anyway and to draw the right conclusions.
The examination of France's military matricules isn't an accurate means of determining the proportion of light eyes. Although the results seem pretty consistent in the Northern half of France, in the Southern part the vague term grey eyes led to the very disjointed results you see on the map. It most likely explains the inconsistencies in Chamla's results too (1880 and 1940). Too bad so much time has been wasted on nothing.

That explains the strange numbers in your map, however Chamla's map from 1940 does not seem to have those incistancies. Perhaps she took additional measures to somehow control for them, being an actual scientific rather than an amateur study and all.

[Ikiru]

That explains the strange numbers in your map, however Chamla's map from 1940 does not seem to have those incistancies. Perhaps she took additional measures to somehow control for them, being an actual scientific rather than an amateur study and all.

10-20 % drop in the same department between 1880 and 1940 is what I call an inconsistency. I don't think there exist "additional measures" one could take to somehow control for them aside from enlarging the sample which I did.

[Supercomputer]

10-20 % drop in the same department between 1880 and 1940 is what I call an inconsistency. I don't think there exist "additional measures" one could take to somehow control for them aside from enlarging the sample which I did.

I'm not talking about comparing it to 1880 data. Perhaps 1880 data has issues but 1940 data has not. The 1940 map has a smooth transition from North to South with no unrealistic huge drops among neighboring departments.

[dududud]

Bertillon iris classification.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Bertillon_-_Identification_anthropom%C3%A9trique_%281893%29_3 71.png

1 No pigmentation : blue and grey blue
2 light pigmentation : yellowish blue
3 medium pigmentation : orange greenish
4 dark mixed : light brown
5-7 : dark brown

Je dois avoir les yeux châtains selon cette classification (intéressante, car elle intègre des nuances), de type L:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/370x282q90/922/6Ratjw.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/720x412q90/921/Ou00D2.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/2438/HBElwT.png

[Supercomputer]

I'm not talking about comparing it to 1880 data. Perhaps 1880 data has issues but 1940 data has not. The 1940 map has a smooth transition from North to South with no unrealistic huge drops among neighboring departments.

Also there could have been movement of people between 1880 and 1940 with urbanization.

[Septentrion]

Just less than half of the French people have light eyes.

French coach Corinne Diacre (France female football team) is a very good example.
https://cdn-s-www.leprogres.fr/images/54E42FD8-6BD6-4D4D-A6F9-494E6A9AB799/LPR_v1_02/corinne-diacre-se-donne-un-temps-de-reflexion-pour-finaliser-son-onze-de-depart-photo-d-archives-progres-richard-mouillaud-1559817118.jpg

[Septentrion]

And it is slightly lighter than Belgium. I didn't mean the percentage should be lower, just that you said you expected it to be higher. In original Chamla study of 100 people no departma has more than 64% and despite the low sample size.

Vanderkindere studied 608.698 Belgians in 1879. I can't find the original study online (it would be great if some of the French speakers tried, maybe they will have more luck) but it's quoted by Virchow in study of Germany.

It is about the same as the Belgian mean (60%), but isn’t lighter than northern Belgium ( Flanders) which has areas which are above the 60% mark line for light eye color.

[aherne]

It is from Chamla 1966 article. It isn't problem with this table, because on his maps we see this too.


https://i.postimg.cc/bwLgzytf/chamla.png

Figures for 1880, when over 96% of France population had no immigrant origin (there were some Italians already, but no more than 1-2 mil) should be taken as benchmark for ethnic French (who were then probably 93% of population, 3% being Bretons, Corsicans, Catalans, Basques, Flemings). Imagine a France with an overwhelmingly French population :D

[Supercomputer]

It is about the same as the Belgian mean (60%), but isn’t lighter than northern Belgium ( Flanders) which has areas which are above the 60% mark line for light eye color.

Did a study on Belgian parliament to find out what criteria Vanderkindere used when he found 60,9% lights in 1879. The results came back inconclusive.
https://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?358332-Belgian-eye-colour-(Parliament-study)