Scouse accent is an exception to the Lancashire regional variant of English, it is spoken in Liverpool and to some extent in surrounding towns. Before the Irish Famine of the 1840s the Liverpool accent was not dissimilar to others in Lancashire, being close to Wales there were some pre-existing Northern Welsh inflections. However, Liverpool's 1840s population of around 60,000 was swelled by passage of around 300,000 Irish refugees escaping the famine, as Liverpool was England's main Atlantic port and a popular departure point for people leaving for a new life in America. While many of the Irish refugees moved on to other parts of Britain and further afield, many remained in Liverpool and permanently influenced the local accent. Today, the Scouse accent is completely distinct from others in the area and bears little resemblance to them, in some cases closer to Middlesbrough and Newcastle accents. Many Liverpool families can trace their lineage back to refugees escaping the Irish famine.