Dave, I have often wonerded whether this "[Surname] the [Occupation]" is just a South Wales thing. I have lived in part of North Wales for 21 years this time round and have rarely come across it.

There are lots of associations but the usual ones in this area work along the lines of "[Firstname] [Assocaition]". Occupations are used e.g. Dei Plumber, place names e.g. Davey Bangor, House names eg I am still known as Jon Skerryvore, Other things e.g. I am most commonly known as Jon Banjo.... The only person I can thing of with a "the" in it at the moment is Pete the Box - one of the local undertakers.

Jon