The United States of Surnames

Surname distribution in the US (Credit: National Geographic) - use the links below to view the full-size original

A new interactive map, released by National Geographic, shows the distribution of common surnames across the United States – and where those names came on.

Geographers at University College London compiled the data with phone directories, finding the most common surname in each region and then tracing them on the map. British names, displayed in light blue, are by far the most common, although many others can be seen too.

Is your surname in there somewhere? You can view the full interactive map here.