The most famous person from the Isle of Wight has been revealed, according to a new interactive map.

Mapbox researcher and geographer Topi Tjukanov developed the insightful map which reveals the birthplaces of the most 'notable people' around the world.

The data is based on a study published in June this year from researchers at the University of Paris. 

A person's significance was calculated based on information scraped from Wikipedia and Wikidata. 


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The data accounts for a series of factors including the number of Wikipedia entries, their average length, the average number of views from 2015-18 as well as the total number of external links.

"The data contains a rank value and a notability "sum value" these are used to determine which names are shown and how big they are," Mr Tjukanov explained to users on Twitter.

You can explore the map and view the noteworthy people from hometowns all over the world in four different categories:

  • Culture
  • Discovery & Science
  • Leadership
  • Sports & Games

Who is the most famous person from the Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight County Press: The interactive map replaces place names with the names of the most notable people. Picture: Mapbox/Topi TjukanovThe interactive map replaces place names with the names of the most notable people. Picture: Mapbox/Topi Tjukanov

The interactive map reveals Robert Hooke as the Isle of Wight's most notable person.

The polymath, using a microscope, was the first person to visualise a micro-organism.

Born in Freshwater in 1635, his father John Hooke was an Anglican priest and curate of Freshwater's Church of All Saints.

Perhaps more recognisable people to appear on the list include actor and activist Jeremy Irons from Cowes and Academy Award winning director Anthony Minghella, born in Ryde.

More notable people can be discovered by zooming into the map. See how many you recognise!

Beyond the Island, Charles Dickens is credited with being the most notable person from the South East, comic Charlie Chaplin the most significant person from London and for England as a whole, Winston Churchill comes out on top.