According to this site http://www.publicprofiler.org/worldnames/Main.aspx , a lookup of my last name (“Hellewell”, in case you weren’t paying attention), shows that my surname is most common worldwide in the Yorkshire and Himberside area of the United Kingdom. The site claims 19 Hellewell’s per million (‘HPM’, I guess).

There’s a few in New Zealand, also, about 11.8 HPM. In the US, a bit over 1 HPM.

That area of the UK sort of corresponds to family lore about the origin of my surname. The theory is that our ancestors lived near a “Holy Well” in the UK. Although it was never explained how “Holy” became “Helle”.

Insert your theory here (in the comments). Interesting site, however. Good for a few minutes of wasted time.