A number of individuals could be linked to unclaimed estates across the UK, according to a recent study. London, Surrey and the West Midlands have been identified as the top three regions in the UK with the highest number of unclaimed estates, with up to 265 untouched inheritances revealed by new research.

The study, carried out by casino.org, explored unclaimed estates dating back to 1974, highlighting the UK regions and surnames with the most unclaimed inheritance. London topped the list with a whopping 1,756 unclaimed estates, reflecting its status as a major hub attracting people from all over the UK and elsewhere across the world.

The Government’s unclaimed estates list was used to determine the number of unclaimed estates by UK county between 1974 and 2024. In addition to the capital, Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city, also attracts people from across the British Isles, the Commonwealth, and elsewhere. Because of this, it can be hard to find relatives and heirs, resulting in some estates being unclaimed.

The research also aimed to identify which surnames are most commonly linked to unclaimed estates. Smith emerged as the surname associated with the most unclaimed estates, with 100 estates available. This was followed by Jones with 65 and Brown with 46, reports Birmingham Live.