Good morning folks; A dreind sent me this web site- http://www.glorecords.blm.gov it is The Official Federal Land Patent Records site. You can search for surnames by state and counties . I found that if you ask for the surname only it will give you a list of that name such as -Perkins in Ohio ,where I'm from I found 3 1/2 pages of Perkins. My connection to Perkins is myGGGgarandmothers mother was Dorcus Perkins married to Moses Dawson. GGGgandmother was Cindarella Dawson who married Christian Eby in Hocking Co. Ohio, she was from Ross Co. Chillicothe, Ohio Good luck on your searches in various states, Lewis Eby, Jr.