# Telephone directory help – genealogical query

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telephone-directory-help-genealogical-query/173859>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 8, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telephone-directory-help-genealogical-query/173859 "2003-05-08T06:45:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ferris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ferris/32/11573_2.png) [@Ferris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferris)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telephone-directory-help-genealogical-query/173859/1 "2003-05-08T06:45:29Z")

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I wanted to estimate the total number of people with a particular surname within each State or Territory in the U.S and Canada, so I checked out the search functions of a few on-line telephone directories.

For the more populous states, all the directories I tried (sorry – never thought to note them – my bad) had a cut-off of about 250 entries, so all I know is that there are more than 250 people with that surname in that State.

Does anyone know of a directory or other resource which would help me get round this problem?