diff --git a/src/atom.cpp b/src/atom.cpp
index 47857f97db..832385871f 100644
--- a/src/atom.cpp
+++ b/src/atom.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "force.h"
 #include "group.h"
 #include "input.h"
+#include "label_map.h"
 #include "math_const.h"
 #include "memory.h"
 #include "modify.h"
@@ -83,8 +84,6 @@ Atom::Atom(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pointers(lmp)
   ntypes = 0;
   nellipsoids = nlines = ntris = nbodies = 0;
   nbondtypes = nangletypes = ndihedraltypes = nimpropertypes = 0;
-  atomtypelabel = bondtypelabel = angletypelabel = NULL;
-  dihedraltypelabel = impropertypelabel = NULL;
   nbonds = nangles = ndihedrals = nimpropers = 0;
 
   firstgroupname = nullptr;
@@ -203,6 +202,10 @@ Atom::Atom(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pointers(lmp)
   nmolecule = 0;
   molecules = nullptr;
 
+  // type labels
+
+  lmap = nullptr;
+
   // custom atom arrays
 
   nivector = ndvector = 0;
@@ -309,18 +312,8 @@ Atom::~Atom()
   for (int i = 0; i < nmolecule; i++) delete molecules[i];
   memory->sfree(molecules);
 
-  // delete type labels
-
-  for (int i = 0; i < ntypes; i++) delete atomtypelabel[i];
-  memory->sfree(atomtypelabel);
-  for (int i = 0; i < nbondtypes; i++) delete bondtypelabel[i];
-  memory->sfree(bondtypelabel);
-  for (int i = 0; i < nangletypes; i++) delete angletypelabel[i];
-  memory->sfree(angletypelabel);
-  for (int i = 0; i < ndihedraltypes; i++) delete dihedraltypelabel[i];
-  memory->sfree(dihedraltypelabel);
-  for (int i = 0; i < nimpropertypes; i++) delete impropertypelabel[i];
-  memory->sfree(impropertypelabel);
+  // delete label map
+  delete lmap;
 
   // delete per-type arrays
 
@@ -1707,80 +1700,6 @@ void Atom::allocate_type_arrays()
   }
 }
 
-/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-   allocate character-based type arrays (labels) of length ntypes
-   always allocated (for both numeric and character-based type modes)
-   initialize label with (a string of) its numeric counterpart
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-
-void Atom::allocate_type_labels()
-{
-  char *char_type = new char[256];
-
-  atomtypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(atomtypelabel,
-                 ntypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:atomtypelabel");
-  for (int i = 0; i < ntypes; i++) {
-    sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
-    int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
-    atom->atomtypelabel[i] = new char[n];
-    strcpy(atom->atomtypelabel[i],char_type);
-  }
-  if (force->bond) {
-    bondtypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(bondtypelabel,
-                              nbondtypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:bondtypelabel");
-    for (int i = 0; i < nbondtypes; i++) {
-      sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
-      int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
-      atom->bondtypelabel[i] = new char[n];
-      strcpy(atom->bondtypelabel[i],char_type);
-    }
-  }
-  if (force->angle) {
-    angletypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(angletypelabel,
-                              nangletypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:angletypelabel");
-    for (int i = 0; i < nangletypes; i++) {
-      sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
-      int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
-      atom->angletypelabel[i] = new char[n];
-      strcpy(atom->angletypelabel[i],char_type);
-    }
-  }
-  if (force->dihedral) {
-    dihedraltypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(dihedraltypelabel,
-                              ndihedraltypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:dihedraltypelabel");
-    for (int i = 0; i < ndihedraltypes; i++) {
-      sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
-      int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
-      atom->dihedraltypelabel[i] = new char[n];
-      strcpy(atom->dihedraltypelabel[i],char_type);
-    }
-  }
-  if (force->improper) {
-    impropertypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(impropertypelabel,
-                              nimpropertypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:impropertypelabel");
-    for (int i = 0; i < nimpropertypes; i++) {
-      sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
-      int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
-      atom->impropertypelabel[i] = new char[n];
-      strcpy(atom->impropertypelabel[i],char_type);
-    }
-  }
-  delete [] char_type;
-}
-
-/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-   find integer type given a type label
-   return -1 if type not yet defined
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-
-int Atom::find_type(char *typelabel, char **typelabelarray, int num_types)
-{
-  for (int i = 0; i < num_types; i++) {
-    if (typelabelarray[i] && strcmp(typelabel,typelabelarray[i]) == 0) return i+1;
-  }
-  return -1;
-}
-
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    set a mass and flag it as set
    called from reading of data file
@@ -2056,6 +1975,21 @@ void Atom::add_molecule_atom(Molecule *onemol, int iatom,
   }
 }
 
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   allocate space for type label map
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void Atom::add_label_map()
+{
+  lmap = new LabelMap(lmp);
+  lmap->natomtypes = ntypes;
+  lmap->nbondtypes = nbondtypes;
+  lmap->nangletypes = nangletypes;
+  lmap->ndihedraltypes = ndihedraltypes;
+  lmap->nimpropertypes = nimpropertypes;
+  lmap->allocate_type_labels();
+}
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    reorder owned atoms so those in firstgroup appear first
    called by comm->exchange() if atom_modify first group is set
diff --git a/src/atom.h b/src/atom.h
index 852a74850e..c418bba705 100644
--- a/src/atom.h
+++ b/src/atom.h
@@ -52,8 +52,6 @@ class Atom : protected Pointers {
 
   bigint nbonds,nangles,ndihedrals,nimpropers;
   int ntypes,nbondtypes,nangletypes,ndihedraltypes,nimpropertypes;
-  char **atomtypelabel,**bondtypelabel,**angletypelabel;
-  char **dihedraltypelabel,**impropertypelabel;
   int bond_per_atom,angle_per_atom,dihedral_per_atom,improper_per_atom;
   int extra_bond_per_atom,extra_angle_per_atom;
   int extra_dihedral_per_atom,extra_improper_per_atom;
@@ -230,6 +228,10 @@ class Atom : protected Pointers {
   int nmolecule;
   class Molecule **molecules;
 
+  // type labels
+
+  class LabelMap *lmap;
+
   // extra peratom info in restart file destined for fix & diag
 
   double **extra;
@@ -310,8 +312,6 @@ class Atom : protected Pointers {
   void data_fix_compute_variable(int, int);
 
   virtual void allocate_type_arrays();
-  void allocate_type_labels();
-  int find_type(char *, char **, int);
   void set_mass(const char *, int, const char *, int);
   void set_mass(const char *, int, int, double);
   void set_mass(const char *, int, int, char **);
@@ -325,6 +325,8 @@ class Atom : protected Pointers {
   int find_molecule(char *);
   void add_molecule_atom(class Molecule *, int, int, tagint);
 
+  void add_label_map();
+
   void first_reorder();
   virtual void sort();
 
diff --git a/src/label_map.cpp b/src/label_map.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..792d625ab2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/label_map.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   LAMMPS - Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator
+   https://lammps.sandia.gov/, Sandia National Laboratories
+   Steve Plimpton, sjplimp@sandia.gov
+
+   Copyright (2003) Sandia Corporation.  Under the terms of Contract
+   DE-AC04-94AL85000 with Sandia Corporation, the U.S. Government retains
+   certain rights in this software.  This software is distributed under
+   the GNU General Public License.
+
+   See the README file in the top-level LAMMPS directory.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+#include "label_map.h"
+
+#include "force.h"
+#include "memory.h"
+
+#include <cstring>
+
+using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+LabelMap::LabelMap(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pointers(lmp)
+{
+  natomtypes = nbondtypes = nangletypes = 0;
+  ndihedraltypes = nimpropertypes = 0;
+
+  typelabel = btypelabel = atypelabel = NULL;
+  dtypelabel = itypelabel = NULL;
+}
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+LabelMap::~LabelMap()
+{
+  // delete type labels
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < natomtypes; i++) delete typelabel[i];
+  memory->sfree(typelabel);
+  for (int i = 0; i < nbondtypes; i++) delete btypelabel[i];
+  memory->sfree(btypelabel);
+  for (int i = 0; i < nangletypes; i++) delete atypelabel[i];
+  memory->sfree(atypelabel);
+  for (int i = 0; i < ndihedraltypes; i++) delete dtypelabel[i];
+  memory->sfree(dtypelabel);
+  for (int i = 0; i < nimpropertypes; i++) delete itypelabel[i];
+  memory->sfree(itypelabel);
+}
+
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   allocate character-based type arrays (labels) of length ntypes
+   always allocated (for both numeric and character-based type modes)
+   initialize label with (a string of) its numeric counterpart
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void LabelMap::allocate_type_labels()
+{
+  char *char_type = new char[256];
+
+  typelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(typelabel,
+             natomtypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:typelabel");
+  for (int i = 0; i < natomtypes; i++) {
+    sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
+    int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
+    typelabel[i] = new char[n];
+    strcpy(typelabel[i],char_type);
+  }
+  if (force->bond) {
+    btypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(btypelabel,
+                nbondtypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:btypelabel");
+    for (int i = 0; i < nbondtypes; i++) {
+      sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
+      int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
+      btypelabel[i] = new char[n];
+      strcpy(btypelabel[i],char_type);
+    }
+  }
+  if (force->angle) {
+    atypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(atypelabel,
+                nangletypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:atypelabel");
+    for (int i = 0; i < nangletypes; i++) {
+      sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
+      int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
+      atypelabel[i] = new char[n];
+      strcpy(atypelabel[i],char_type);
+    }
+  }
+  if (force->dihedral) {
+    dtypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(dtypelabel,
+                ndihedraltypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:dtypelabel");
+    for (int i = 0; i < ndihedraltypes; i++) {
+      sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
+      int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
+      dtypelabel[i] = new char[n];
+      strcpy(dtypelabel[i],char_type);
+    }
+  }
+  if (force->improper) {
+    itypelabel = (char **) memory->srealloc(itypelabel,
+                nimpropertypes*sizeof(char *),"atom:itypelabel");
+    for (int i = 0; i < nimpropertypes; i++) {
+      sprintf(char_type,"%d",i+1);
+      int n = strlen(char_type) + 1;
+      itypelabel[i] = new char[n];
+      strcpy(itypelabel[i],char_type);
+    }
+  }
+  delete [] char_type;
+}
+
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   find integer type given a type label
+   return -1 if type not yet defined
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+int LabelMap::find_type(char *mytypelabel, char **typelabelarray, int num_types)
+{
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_types; i++) {
+    if (typelabelarray[i] && strcmp(mytypelabel,typelabelarray[i]) == 0) return i+1;
+  }
+  return -1;
+}
diff --git a/src/label_map.h b/src/label_map.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2f705c451b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/label_map.h
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/* -*- c++ -*- ----------------------------------------------------------
+   LAMMPS - Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator
+   http://lammps.sandia.gov, Sandia National Laboratories
+   Steve Plimpton, sjplimp@sandia.gov
+
+   Copyright (2003) Sandia Corporation.  Under the terms of Contract
+   DE-AC04-94AL85000 with Sandia Corporation, the U.S. Government retains
+   certain rights in this software.  This software is distributed under
+   the GNU General Public License.
+
+   See the README file in the top-level LAMMPS directory.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+#ifndef LMP_LABEL_MAP_H
+#define LMP_LABEL_MAP_H
+
+#include "pointers.h"  // IWYU pragma: export
+
+namespace LAMMPS_NS {
+
+class LabelMap : protected Pointers {
+ public:
+   int natomtypes,nbondtypes,nangletypes;
+   int ndihedraltypes,nimpropertypes;
+   char **typelabel,**btypelabel,**atypelabel;
+   char **dtypelabel,**itypelabel;
+
+   LabelMap(LAMMPS *lmp);
+   ~LabelMap();
+
+   void allocate_type_labels();
+   int find_type(char *, char **, int);
+
+ protected:
+};
+
+}
+
+#endif
+
+/* ERROR/WARNING messages:
+
+
+*/
diff --git a/src/read_data.cpp b/src/read_data.cpp
index 3245c4fa1e..caf280b278 100644
--- a/src/read_data.cpp
+++ b/src/read_data.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "group.h"
 #include "improper.h"
 #include "irregular.h"
+#include "label_map.h"
 #include "memory.h"
 #include "modify.h"
 #include "molecule.h"
@@ -440,7 +441,7 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
       else n = static_cast<int> (LB_FACTOR * atom->natoms / comm->nprocs);
 
       atom->allocate_type_arrays();
-      atom->allocate_type_labels();
+      atom->add_label_map();
       atom->deallocate_topology();
 
       // allocate atom arrays to N, rounded up by AtomVec->DELTA
@@ -714,27 +715,27 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
         else skip_lines(nimpropertypes);
 
       } else if (strcmp(keyword,"Atom Type Labels") == 0) {
-        if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->atomtypelabel,ntypes);
+        if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->lmap->typelabel,ntypes);
         else skip_lines(ntypes);
 
       } else if (strcmp(keyword,"Bond Type Labels") == 0) {
         if (nbondtypes)
-          if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->bondtypelabel,nbondtypes);
+          if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->lmap->btypelabel,nbondtypes);
           else skip_lines(nbondtypes);
 
       } else if (strcmp(keyword,"Angle Type Labels") == 0) {
         if (nangletypes)
-          if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->angletypelabel,nangletypes);
+          if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->lmap->atypelabel,nangletypes);
           else skip_lines(nangletypes);
 
       } else if (strcmp(keyword,"Dihedral Type Labels") == 0) {
         if (ndihedraltypes)
-          if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->dihedraltypelabel,ndihedraltypes);
+          if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->lmap->dtypelabel,ndihedraltypes);
           else skip_lines(ndihedraltypes);
 
       } else if (strcmp(keyword,"Improper Type Labels") == 0) {
         if (nimpropertypes)
-          if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->impropertypelabel,nimpropertypes);
+          if (firstpass) typelabels(atom->lmap->itypelabel,nimpropertypes);
           else skip_lines(nimpropertypes);
 
       } else error->all(FLERR,fmt::format("Unknown identifier in data file: {}",