diff --git a/src/atom.cpp b/src/atom.cpp
index 8a5bacc645..8e8c1a2bb8 100755
--- a/src/atom.cpp
+++ b/src/atom.cpp
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ Atom::Atom(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pointers(lmp)
 
   // type labels
 
-  lmap = nullptr;
+  lmaps = nullptr;
 
   // custom atom arrays
 
@@ -312,9 +312,10 @@ Atom::~Atom()
   for (int i = 0; i < nmolecule; i++) delete molecules[i];
   memory->sfree(molecules);
 
-  // delete label map
+  // delete label maps
 
-  delete lmap;
+  for (int i = 0; i < nlmap; i++) delete lmaps[i];
+  memory->sfree(lmaps);
 
   // delete per-type arrays
 
@@ -1989,16 +1990,35 @@ void Atom::add_molecule_atom(Molecule *onemol, int iatom,
    allocate space for type label map
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-void Atom::add_label_map()
+void Atom::add_label_map(char *mapID)
 {
   labelmapflag = 1;
-  lmap = new LabelMap(lmp);
-  lmap->natomtypes = ntypes;
-  lmap->nbondtypes = nbondtypes;
-  lmap->nangletypes = nangletypes;
-  lmap->ndihedraltypes = ndihedraltypes;
-  lmap->nimpropertypes = nimpropertypes;
-  lmap->allocate_type_labels();
+  lmaps = (LabelMap **)
+    memory->srealloc(lmaps,(nlmap+1)*sizeof(LabelMap *),
+                     "atom::lmaps");
+  lmaps[nlmap] = new LabelMap(lmp);
+  lmaps[nlmap]->id = mapID;
+  lmaps[nlmap]->natomtypes = ntypes;
+  lmaps[nlmap]->nbondtypes = nbondtypes;
+  lmaps[nlmap]->nangletypes = nangletypes;
+  lmaps[nlmap]->ndihedraltypes = ndihedraltypes;
+  lmaps[nlmap]->nimpropertypes = nimpropertypes;
+  lmaps[nlmap]->allocate_type_labels();
+  nlmap++;
+}
+
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   find label, first parsing prefix for label map-ID
+   return -1 if does not exist
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+int Atom::find_label(std::string label, int mode)
+{
+  // find label map ... in progress
+  int ilmap;
+  ilmap = 0;
+
+  return lmaps[ilmap]->find(label,mode);
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/atom.h b/src/atom.h
index 9947f5aea4..94741261b0 100755
--- a/src/atom.h
+++ b/src/atom.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class Atom : protected Pointers {
   enum{DOUBLE,INT,BIGINT};
   enum{GROW=0,RESTART=1,BORDER=2};
   enum{ATOMIC=0,MOLECULAR=1,TEMPLATE=2};
+  enum{ATOM=0,BOND=1,ANGLE=2,DIHEDRAL=3,IMPROPER=4};
   enum{MAP_NONE=0,MAP_ARRAY=1,MAP_HASH=2,MAP_YES=3};
 
   // atom counts
@@ -229,9 +230,10 @@ class Atom : protected Pointers {
   int nmolecule;
   class Molecule **molecules;
 
-  // type labels
+  // type label maps
 
-  class LabelMap *lmap;
+  int nlmap;
+  class LabelMap **lmaps;
 
   // extra peratom info in restart file destined for fix & diag
 
@@ -327,7 +329,8 @@ class Atom : protected Pointers {
   int find_molecule(char *);
   void add_molecule_atom(class Molecule *, int, int, tagint);
 
-  void add_label_map();
+  void add_label_map(char *);
+  int find_label(std::string, int);
 
   void first_reorder();
   virtual void sort();
diff --git a/src/input.cpp b/src/input.cpp
index 8129ed47f8..31cd037e8e 100755
--- a/src/input.cpp
+++ b/src/input.cpp
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ void Input::readtype(char *&str, int mode)
   char typechar[256];
 
   labelstr = str;
-  type = atom->lmap->find(labelstr,mode);
+  type = atom->find_label(labelstr,mode);
   if (type == -1) error->all(FLERR,fmt::format("Invalid type {}",str));
   sprintf(typechar,"%d",type);
 
@@ -1332,7 +1332,7 @@ void Input::angle_coeff()
     error->all(FLERR,"Angle_coeff command before angle_style is defined");
   if (atom->avec->angles_allow == 0)
     error->all(FLERR,"Angle_coeff command when no angles allowed");
-  readtype(arg[0],atom->lmap->ANGLE);
+  readtype(arg[0],atom->ANGLE);
   force->angle->coeff(narg,arg);
 }
 
@@ -1374,7 +1374,7 @@ void Input::bond_coeff()
     error->all(FLERR,"Bond_coeff command before bond_style is defined");
   if (atom->avec->bonds_allow == 0)
     error->all(FLERR,"Bond_coeff command when no bonds allowed");
-  readtype(arg[0],atom->lmap->BOND);
+  readtype(arg[0],atom->BOND);
   force->bond->coeff(narg,arg);
 }
 
@@ -1478,7 +1478,7 @@ void Input::dihedral_coeff()
     error->all(FLERR,"Dihedral_coeff command before dihedral_style is defined");
   if (atom->avec->dihedrals_allow == 0)
     error->all(FLERR,"Dihedral_coeff command when no dihedrals allowed");
-  readtype(arg[0],atom->lmap->DIHEDRAL);
+  readtype(arg[0],atom->DIHEDRAL);
   force->dihedral->coeff(narg,arg);
 }
 
@@ -1556,7 +1556,7 @@ void Input::improper_coeff()
     error->all(FLERR,"Improper_coeff command before improper_style is defined");
   if (atom->avec->impropers_allow == 0)
     error->all(FLERR,"Improper_coeff command when no impropers allowed");
-  readtype(arg[0],atom->lmap->IMPROPER);
+  readtype(arg[0],atom->IMPROPER);
   force->improper->coeff(narg,arg);
 }
 
@@ -1593,8 +1593,8 @@ void Input::labelmap()
 {
   if (domain->box_exist == 0)
     error->all(FLERR,"Labelmap command before simulation box is defined");
-  if (!atom->labelmapflag) atom->add_label_map();
-  atom->lmap->modify_lmap(narg,arg);
+  if (!atom->labelmapflag) atom->add_label_map("");
+  atom->lmaps[0]->modify_lmap(narg,arg);
 }
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -1734,8 +1734,8 @@ void Input::pair_coeff()
     error->all(FLERR,"Pair_coeff command before simulation box is defined");
   if (force->pair == nullptr)
     error->all(FLERR,"Pair_coeff command before pair_style is defined");
-  readtype(arg[0],atom->lmap->ATOM);
-  readtype(arg[1],atom->lmap->ATOM);
+  readtype(arg[0],atom->ATOM);
+  readtype(arg[1],atom->ATOM);
   force->pair->coeff(narg,arg);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/label_map.cpp b/src/label_map.cpp
index 8cd15ed64b..e8ce7ecfc7 100755
--- a/src/label_map.cpp
+++ b/src/label_map.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 #include "label_map.h"
 
+#include "atom.h"
 #include "force.h"
 #include "memory.h"
 #include "error.h"
@@ -118,23 +119,23 @@ void LabelMap::modify_lmap(int narg, char **arg)
 
 void LabelMap::merge_lmap(LabelMap *lmap2, int mode)
 {
-  if (mode == ATOM)
+  if (mode == atom->ATOM)
     for (int i = 0; i < lmap2->natomtypes; i++)
       find_or_create(lmap2->typelabel[i],typelabel,natomtypes);
 
-  if (mode == BOND)
+  if (mode == atom->BOND)
     for (int i = 0; i < lmap2->nbondtypes; i++)
       find_or_create(lmap2->btypelabel[i],btypelabel,nbondtypes);
 
-  if (mode == ANGLE)
+  if (mode == atom->ANGLE)
     for (int i = 0; i < lmap2->nangletypes; i++)
       find_or_create(lmap2->atypelabel[i],atypelabel,nangletypes);
 
-  if (mode == DIHEDRAL)
+  if (mode == atom->DIHEDRAL)
     for (int i = 0; i < lmap2->ndihedraltypes; i++)
       find_or_create(lmap2->dtypelabel[i],dtypelabel,ndihedraltypes);
 
-  if (mode == IMPROPER)
+  if (mode == atom->IMPROPER)
     for (int i = 0; i < lmap2->nimpropertypes; i++)
       find_or_create(lmap2->itypelabel[i],itypelabel,nimpropertypes);
 }
@@ -146,27 +147,27 @@ void LabelMap::merge_lmap(LabelMap *lmap2, int mode)
 
 void LabelMap::create_lmap2lmap(LabelMap *lmap2, int mode)
 {
-  if (mode == ATOM)
+  if (mode == atom->ATOM)
     for (int i = 0; i < natomtypes; i++)
       lmap2lmap.atom[i] = search(typelabel[i],lmap2->typelabel,
                                  lmap2->natomtypes);
 
-  if (mode == BOND)
+  if (mode == atom->BOND)
     for (int i = 0; i < nbondtypes; i++)
       lmap2lmap.bond[i] = search(btypelabel[i],lmap2->btypelabel,
                                  lmap2->nbondtypes);
 
-  if (mode == ANGLE)
+  if (mode == atom->ANGLE)
     for (int i = 0; i < nangletypes; i++)
       lmap2lmap.angle[i] = search(atypelabel[i],lmap2->atypelabel,
                                   lmap2->nangletypes);
 
-  if (mode == DIHEDRAL)
+  if (mode == atom->DIHEDRAL)
     for (int i = 0; i < ndihedraltypes; i++)
       lmap2lmap.dihedral[i] = search(dtypelabel[i],lmap2->dtypelabel,
                                      lmap2->ndihedraltypes);
 
-  if (mode == IMPROPER)
+  if (mode == atom->IMPROPER)
     for (int i = 0; i < nimpropertypes; i++)
       lmap2lmap.improper[i] = search(itypelabel[i],lmap2->itypelabel,
                                      lmap2->nimpropertypes);
@@ -205,19 +206,19 @@ int LabelMap::find_or_create(std::string mylabel, std::vector<std::string> &labe
 
 int LabelMap::find(std::string mylabel, int mode)
 {
-  if (mode == ATOM)
+  if (mode == atom->ATOM)
     return search(mylabel,typelabel,natomtypes);
 
-  if (mode == BOND)
+  if (mode == atom->BOND)
     return search(mylabel,btypelabel,nbondtypes);
 
-  if (mode == ANGLE)
+  if (mode == atom->ANGLE)
     return search(mylabel,atypelabel,nangletypes);
 
-  if (mode == DIHEDRAL)
+  if (mode == atom->DIHEDRAL)
     return search(mylabel,dtypelabel,ndihedraltypes);
 
-  if (mode == IMPROPER)
+  if (mode == atom->IMPROPER)
     return search(mylabel,itypelabel,nimpropertypes);
 
   return -1;
diff --git a/src/label_map.h b/src/label_map.h
index 11c3f19443..402fd210f5 100755
--- a/src/label_map.h
+++ b/src/label_map.h
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 
 class LabelMap : protected Pointers {
  public:
-   enum{ATOM,BOND,ANGLE,DIHEDRAL,IMPROPER};
    int natomtypes,nbondtypes,nangletypes;
    int ndihedraltypes,nimpropertypes;
+   std::string id;
    std::vector<std::string> typelabel,btypelabel,atypelabel;
    std::vector<std::string> dtypelabel,itypelabel;
 
diff --git a/src/molecule.cpp b/src/molecule.cpp
index 4c4a3bfba3..0bec25e183 100755
--- a/src/molecule.cpp
+++ b/src/molecule.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 #include "domain.h"
 #include "error.h"
 #include "force.h"
-#include "label_map.h"
 #include "math_extra.h"
 #include "math_eigen.h"
 #include "memory.h"
@@ -729,7 +728,7 @@ void Molecule::types(char *line)
       typestr = values.next_string();
       if (!isdigit(typestr[0])) {
         if (!atom->labelmapflag) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Types section in molecule file");
-        type[iatom] = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->ATOM);
+        type[iatom] = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->ATOM);
         if (type[iatom] == -1) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Types section in molecule file");
       } else type[iatom] = utils::inumeric(FLERR,typestr.c_str(),false,lmp);
       type[iatom] += toffset;
@@ -942,7 +941,7 @@ void Molecule::bonds(int flag, char *line)
       typestr = values.next_string();
       if (!isdigit(typestr[0])) {
         if (!atom->labelmapflag) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Bonds section in molecule file");
-        itype = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->BOND);
+        itype = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->BOND);
         if (itype == -1) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Bonds section in molecule file");
       } else itype = utils::inumeric(FLERR,typestr.c_str(),false,lmp);
       atom1 = values.next_tagint();
@@ -1016,7 +1015,7 @@ void Molecule::angles(int flag, char *line)
       typestr = values.next_string();
       if (!isdigit(typestr[0])) {
         if (!atom->labelmapflag) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Angles section in molecule file");
-        itype = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->ANGLE);
+        itype = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->ANGLE);
         if (itype == -1) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Angles section in molecule file");
       } else itype = utils::inumeric(FLERR,typestr.c_str(),false,lmp);
       atom1 = values.next_tagint();
@@ -1106,7 +1105,7 @@ void Molecule::dihedrals(int flag, char *line)
       typestr = values.next_string();
       if (!isdigit(typestr[0])) {
         if (!atom->labelmapflag) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Dihedrals section in molecule file");
-        itype = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->DIHEDRAL);
+        itype = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->DIHEDRAL);
         if (itype == -1) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Dihedrals section in molecule file");
       } else itype = utils::inumeric(FLERR,typestr.c_str(),false,lmp);
       atom1 = values.next_tagint();
@@ -1211,7 +1210,7 @@ void Molecule::impropers(int flag, char *line)
       typestr = values.next_string();
       if (!isdigit(typestr[0])) {
         if (!atom->labelmapflag) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Impropers section in molecule file");
-        itype = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->IMPROPER);
+        itype = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->IMPROPER);
         if (itype == -1) error->one(FLERR,"Invalid Impropers section in molecule file");
       } else itype = utils::inumeric(FLERR,typestr.c_str(),false,lmp);
       atom1 = values.next_tagint();
diff --git a/src/read_data.cpp b/src/read_data.cpp
index f493be0977..fd60a2b9b2 100755
--- a/src/read_data.cpp
+++ b/src/read_data.cpp
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
         if (firstpass) {
           if (atomflag == 1)
             error->all(FLERR,"Must read Atom Type Labels before Atoms");
-          typelabels(lmap->typelabel,ntypes,lmap->ATOM);
+          typelabels(lmap->typelabel,ntypes,atom->ATOM);
         } else skip_lines(ntypes);
 
       } else if (strcmp(keyword,"Bond Type Labels") == 0) {
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
           if (firstpass) {
             if (bondflag == 1)
               error->all(FLERR,"Must read Bond Type Labels before Bonds");
-            typelabels(lmap->btypelabel,nbondtypes,lmap->BOND);
+            typelabels(lmap->btypelabel,nbondtypes,atom->BOND);
           } else skip_lines(nbondtypes);
         }
 
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
           if (firstpass) {
             if (angleflag == 1)
               error->all(FLERR,"Must read Angle Type Labels before Angles");
-            typelabels(lmap->atypelabel,nangletypes,lmap->ANGLE);
+            typelabels(lmap->atypelabel,nangletypes,atom->ANGLE);
           } else skip_lines(nangletypes);
         }
 
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
           if (firstpass) {
             if (dihedralflag == 1)
               error->all(FLERR,"Must read Dihedral Type Labels before Dihedrals");
-            typelabels(lmap->dtypelabel,ndihedraltypes,lmap->DIHEDRAL);
+            typelabels(lmap->dtypelabel,ndihedraltypes,atom->DIHEDRAL);
           } else skip_lines(ndihedraltypes);
         }
 
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
           if (firstpass) {
             if (improperflag == 1)
               error->all(FLERR,"Must read Improper Type Labels before Impropers");
-            typelabels(lmap->itypelabel,nimpropertypes,lmap->IMPROPER);
+            typelabels(lmap->itypelabel,nimpropertypes,atom->IMPROPER);
           } else skip_lines(nimpropertypes);
         }
 
@@ -1974,7 +1974,7 @@ void ReadData::typelabels(std::vector<std::string> &mytypelabel, int myntypes, i
   char *buf = new char[myntypes*MAXLINE];
 
   labelflag = 1;
-  if (!atom->labelmapflag) atom->add_label_map();
+  if (!atom->labelmapflag) atom->add_label_map("");
 
   int eof = comm->read_lines_from_file(fp,myntypes,MAXLINE,buf);
   if (eof) error->all(FLERR,"Unexpected end of data file");
@@ -1994,8 +1994,8 @@ void ReadData::typelabels(std::vector<std::string> &mytypelabel, int myntypes, i
   // determine mapping to let labels override numeric types
   // valid operations for first or subsequent data files
 
-  atom->lmap->merge_lmap(lmap,mode);
-  lmap->create_lmap2lmap(atom->lmap,mode);
+  atom->lmaps[0]->merge_lmap(lmap,mode);
+  lmap->create_lmap2lmap(atom->lmaps[0],mode);
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/read_restart.cpp b/src/read_restart.cpp
index 89994abab5..d3b3f70b4a 100644
--- a/src/read_restart.cpp
+++ b/src/read_restart.cpp
@@ -932,8 +932,8 @@ void ReadRestart::type_arrays()
 
     } else if (flag == LABELMAP) {
       read_int();
-      atom->add_label_map();
-      atom->lmap->read_restart(fp);
+      atom->add_label_map("");
+      atom->lmaps[0]->read_restart(fp);
 
     } else error->all(FLERR,
                       "Invalid flag in type arrays section of restart file");
diff --git a/src/variable.cpp b/src/variable.cpp
index fdd60de1a0..ddc5365caa 100644
--- a/src/variable.cpp
+++ b/src/variable.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include "info.h"
 #include "input.h"
 #include "lmppython.h"
-#include "label_map.h"
 #include "math_const.h"
 #include "memory.h"
 #include "modify.h"
@@ -4541,19 +4540,19 @@ int Variable::labelmap_function(char *word, char *contents, Tree **tree,
   std::string typestr = contents;
 
   if (strcmp(word,"label") == 0) {
-    value = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->ATOM);
+    value = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->ATOM);
 
   } else if (strcmp(word,"blabel") == 0) {
-    value = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->BOND);
+    value = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->BOND);
 
   } else if (strcmp(word,"alabel") == 0) {
-    value = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->ANGLE);
+    value = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->ANGLE);
 
   } else if (strcmp(word,"dlabel") == 0) {
-    value = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->DIHEDRAL);
+    value = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->DIHEDRAL);
 
   } else if (strcmp(word,"ilabel") == 0) {
-    value = atom->lmap->find(typestr,atom->lmap->IMPROPER);
+    value = atom->find_label(typestr,atom->IMPROPER);
   }
 
   if (value == -1)
diff --git a/src/write_data.cpp b/src/write_data.cpp
index 8088203d5e..4a94f12500 100755
--- a/src/write_data.cpp
+++ b/src/write_data.cpp
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ void WriteData::write(const std::string &file)
 
   if (me == 0) {
     header();
-    if (atom->labelmapflag) atom->lmap->write_data(fp);
+    if (atom->labelmapflag) atom->lmaps[0]->write_data(fp);
     type_arrays();
     if (coeffflag) force_fields();
   }
diff --git a/src/write_restart.cpp b/src/write_restart.cpp
index f97cdcd966..31ac06db1a 100755
--- a/src/write_restart.cpp
+++ b/src/write_restart.cpp
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ void WriteRestart::type_arrays()
   if (atom->mass) write_double_vec(MASS,atom->ntypes,&atom->mass[1]);
   if (atom->labelmapflag) {
     write_int(LABELMAP,atom->labelmapflag);
-    atom->lmap->write_restart(fp);
+    atom->lmaps[0]->write_restart(fp);
   }
 
   // -1 flag signals end of type arrays