01.17.06
Geographical Profile Of The “Western” Surname
There’s an interesting article featured over on the BBC today regarding the mapping between surname and geographical location (in the UK). Or just go straight to the spatial-literacy.org website (although at the time of writing that link is currently down, probably overloaded as a result of being featured on the beeb website). Fortunately I saved the findings of my surname earlier today, and the results seem surprisingly accurate!
First, here’s an image depicting the spread of Western’s by county in the year 1881.
And here’s an image depicting the same information, but in the year 1998.
Oh yeah… I suppose a key would make that information a bit more useful. I think the order was as follows (from “most occurences” down to “least”): purple, red, orange, yellow, green.
So that puts the highest concentration down in the South-West of England, which just happens to be where my father’s side of the family originates!
The survey also provides some more statistics concerning ethnicity and geographical spread to go with the maps (I was having issues inserting HTML tables directly into this entry, hence the reason for the link).
Too tired to write more now. G’night.
Mum said,
January 19, 2006 at 4:18 am
Grandpa ( Western) would have been very impressed! I’m going to try Jones and see what happens.
Ben said,
January 26, 2006 at 12:35 am
Cheers for reminding me mate, I’d forgotten about that site. You even inspired me to write my own entry on the subject.
By the way, it goes “… yellow, pale yellow, white” :p
Hesam said,
January 29, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Funny - I put in my surname and there were no matches found. I wonder why?!
Laura said,
January 30, 2006 at 8:31 pm
Nice, apparently my family is from Carlisle. Sadly I cannot confirm this, as I have not been any further north than Leicester. Although possibly I have, whilst on a plane.
Hope you are OK and yes I agree, the last photo was pretty dodgy!! Take care