def mapNameToNumberLastNames(data):
    countmap = {}
    for [first, last] in data:
        if first in countmap:
            countmap[first] = countmap[first] + 1
        else:
            countmap[first] = 1
    return countmap


namelist = [['Susan', 'Smith'], ['Jackie', 'Long'], ['Mary', 'White'], ['Susan', 'Brandt'], ['Jackie', 'Johnson'], ['Susan', 'Rodger']]
print "namelist is: ", namelist 
print

countmap = mapNameToNumberLastNames(namelist)
print countmap