The Phillips DNA Project News

An interesting view of the United States based on the distribution of common last names reflects centuries of history and echoes some of America's great immigration sagas.  To compile this data, geographers at University College London used phone books to find the predominant surnames in each state.  The probable provenances of the 181 names that emerged were then identified.  You can see the printed map in the February Edition of National Geographic or click here to view it online.  I found the name Phillips in what looks like northern Alabama, but it is a little bit like finding Nemo to spot a name on this map.