SUSSEX residents with these surnames could be owed millions in unclaimed estates, says new research.

A new study has revealed the counties with the most unclaimed inheritance in the country.

According to the research by Investing Reviews, East Sussex has the third most unclaimed estates in the UK per 100,000 people.

The surname Smith, with 129 unclaimed estates, was found to be the name sitting on the most unclaimed fortune, followed by Jones, with 86 unclaimed estates, and Taylor with 54.

Other surnames that made the list are Brown, Williams, Wilson, Davies, Johnson, Thomas, Kelly, King, Ryan, Harris, White, Martin, Morris, Clark, Walsh, O'Brien and Phillips.

The company also found over £77m worth of inheritance is still left unclaimed in UK estates.

Figures obtained from the UK government’s treasury solicitor shows 7,090 estates remain unclaimed, and according to data from the Office for National Statistics, the median amount of inheritance received by individuals is £11,000.

This puts the potential amount of unclaimed inheritance in the UK at over £77,000,000.

The Argus: East Sussex has the 3rd most unclaimed estates in the UK per 100,000 people.

The ten areas with the most unclaimed fortunes per 100,000 people:

  1. Surrey has 362 unclaimed estates with a population of 1,189,934 meaning there are 30.42 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.
  2. Greater London has 2,355 unclaimed estates and with a population of 8,899,375 there are 26.46 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.
  3. East Sussex has 190 unclaimed estates and with a population of 844,985 there are 22.49 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people
  4. Bristol has 78 unclaimed estates and with a population of 465,866 there are 16.74 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.
  5. Gwynedd has 30 unclaimed estates and with a population of 187,400 there are 16.01 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.
  6. West Yorkshire has 337 unclaimed estates and with a population of 2,320,214 there are 14.52 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.
  7. Hertfordshire has 167 unclaimed estates and with a population of 1,184,365 there are 14.10 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.
  8. South Glamorgan has 58 unclaimed estates and with a population of 445,000 there are 13.03 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.
  9. Kent has 240 unclaimed estates and with a population of 1,846,478 there are 13.00 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.
  10. Essex has 238 unclaimed estates and with a population of 1,832,752 there are 12.99 unclaimed estates per 100,000 people.

Further findings from the study revealed deaths in 1995 saw the highest number of unclaimed inheritances with 292, followed by 1999 with 285, and 1993 with 283.

Greater London is the county with by far the largest number of unclaimed estates at 2,355, but when compared to population size it comes in second place.

You can view the full research here: https://investingreviews.co.uk/77m-unclaimed-inheritance-in-uk/