The widget can also guess where couples met, by analysing their surnames – and the experts claim they get it right most of the timeJoe Lycett has a legit Brummie surname(Image: Birmingham City Council)

There are surnames and then there are Brummie surnames.

Sure, you might have the address, you probably have the accent, but does your ancestry lead back to Birmingham?

Well, you can find out! There is a tool that allows you to bump in your surname and it will tell you how local it is.

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Despite centuries of migration, it appears many clans and their surnames have stayed rooted to the same spots for ages, say University College London researchers.

Surnames such as Kaur, Taylor, Singh, Whitehouse, and Jordan are topping the charts around Brum.

We tried out some famous Brummie surnames:

  • Ozzy Osbourne’s surname seems to be popular in the Peterborough area.
  • Grealish is more common near Hull and Bournemouth.
  • Alison Hammond’s surname is more common in Ipswich.
  • Joe Lycett is a proper Midlander – loads of them near Birmingham.

A screen grab from the Named widgetA screen grab from the Named widget

These popular monikers were pinpointed from recent electoral roll compilations featuring registered voters’ details.

This clever widget doesn’t stop there – it’s even having a punt at guessing where partners might’ve crossed paths based on their last names, and more often than not, it’s bang on target.

Professor Paul Longley, the brains of the operation, reckoned: “With all the current focus on migration, it is remarkable to see that most individuals and families stay put throughout the generations. Names are still often strong indicators of kinship and regional identity.

“Most Anglo Saxon family names came into common usage between the 12th and 14th centuries, and were first coined in particular parts of the country.”