A group at University College, London has put together a surname map for the entire UK based on 1881 and 1998 data: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/06011801 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4620786.stm Don't bother entering "WHITNEY", because I've already done it for you: http://cetl2.geog.ucl.ac.uk/uclnames/Map.aspx? name=WHITNEY&year=1881&altyear=1998&country=GB&type=name http://cetl2.geog.ucl.ac.uk/uclnames/Map.aspx? name=WHITNEY&year=1998&altyear=1881&country=GB&type=name Note that the name is common in Northamptonshire for both dates, but has moved away from Herefordshire to Chester and Birmingham (?) over the 20th century. I entered some of the names of the in-laws of John and Elinor's sons. Neither TARBELL nor TARBALL showed up at all, and COLDAM only after adding an H: COLDHAM. The name WITNEY maps somewhat differently. So do many patronymics of the same given name; compare David, Davis, Davies, Davison and Davidson, or Johnson, John and Jones. Cheers, Ron Kyser