Weird last names

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 03:23 AM

The previous head teacher at the local secondary school was Alan Key.

My dad had a nasty habit of putting his initials on his suitcases... W A N C.

My great grandmother's sister married a farmworker in North Yorkshire who had the surname, as listed in the 1881 census, as Minger. It was earlier recorded as Minge! (A lot would depend on how the family pronounced the name)

Pity all young boys with the surname Bates. That's if they adhere to the practice of referring to them as "Master" still.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: s&r
Date: 02 Jul 07 - 03:01 AM

Had a pal called Cecil Thistlethwaite - nothing wrong till you try to say it

Stu

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dickey
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 11:58 PM

Lucy Titz

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 12:11 AM

My last name is Coward -- I am fine with it but lots of others eeem to have issues with it -- I used to introduce myself as Coward, like Noel but after many blank looks I now say, Coward, like being afraid.......

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Zhenya
Date: 30 Jun 07 - 11:31 PM

Think I mentioned this on a similar Mudcat thread some years ago, but it fits right in here -

I used to work with a woman named Dorothy Toto. I seem to recall she was married, so perhaps the Toto was acquired later in life. I don't recall if she was a Wizard of Oz fan.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Adrianel
Date: 30 Jun 07 - 07:52 PM

My second grade teacher was Olive Branch.
My grandmother, when she married, became Lydia May Leek. She must have loved my grandfather very much.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: nickp
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 07:20 AM

A friend's mother often used to relate that she was at school with a girl called Ophelia Bottom.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 07:02 AM

I worked with Alan Peter Ness on his office door was A P Ness!

I also worked with an Engineer Mike Hunt. We were on a project together which required us to have radios for communication. A female engineer wanted him so she shouted out on the radio "has anyone seen Mike Hunt"

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Surreysinger
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 06:55 AM

Liz - your post of 26th June "I know a tax inspector called Battcock... " - if his name is Nick, so do I... or at least so did I, as we did our Inspector's training together on the same course back in the 1980's!

My sister used to be a professional genealogist, and so came across many odd surnames. I have to say that my favourite of the ones she regurgitated was Hogtrough... imagine going through life with that!

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 05:57 AM

My late mother had friends called Ira Tempest and Florrie Snowball, and she was also acquainted with a young girl called Iona Barr.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 05:40 AM

During my time in HM Forces I had a brief stopover at the Royal Armoured Corps Depot at Bovington in Dorset, I worked in the Army Emergency Reserve Office and discovered documents for one [ I kid you not ] Second Lieutenant W Frankenstein.

eric

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: SharonA
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 02:34 PM

This is no lie:

Down the street from my home is the office of Randy Beaver.

Randy's specialty: Home improvement.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 10:47 PM

Steve Shaw -- THE Jean Shrimpton??

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 08:06 PM

knew a Harry Savage at school.
And there was also a Harry Dyck.

I knew a Czech lady whose name in Czech meant.. 'it no longer smells'

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: GUEST,North South Annie
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 07:48 PM

I met a surgeon called Mr. Payne once.
Bubblyrat did you know that our miniscule mutual friend did name his daughter Amanda Lynne!

Annie

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Don Firth
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 06:16 PM

A divinity student named Fiddle
Refused to accept a degree.
    He said, "Being 'Fiddle'
    Is quite bad enough,
Without being 'Fiddle, D.D.'"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Anne Lister
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 06:02 PM

There was a lad in one class I taught whose name was Lee Rozee, which of course in the register became Rozee Lee ... on the same list I had a Mudd, and a Codd, and a West Indian boy called Oral. He was, unfortunately, all mouth! Then there was a Turkish boy whose surname was God (and I had to work very hard not to make his reports full of jokes on this), another called Genghis and yet another called Ferid, which when called out sounded like a rodent. We were told off by a passer-by once when walking the kids back from a swimming lesson - "you shouldn't call the children names like that, you know".
But I'm afraid my all-time favourite was the American teacher of something New Agey who came out to work at Atsitsa in Greece with me ("holistic holidays", for the uninitiated) who had found her name in a vision. She was, unforgettably, Treelight Green. She didn't appreciate abbreviations, either.

Anne

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Grimmy
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 12:30 PM

During my genealogy days I came across many exotic names. The two surnames which stuck in my mind were:

Bigadick

and the intriguing

Twiceaday

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: goatfell
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 12:26 PM

my father worked with a man who lives in Largs Scotland called JImmy Riddle, and one of my friends who lives in Saltcoats Scotland is called James Bond

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Rog Peek
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 12:12 PM

"My knickers are coming down" said Lucy Lastic.
Remember that from primary school.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 12:03 PM

Someone mentioned a Rosie Dick...

I have a friend whose maiden name was Rosie Cock.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: HouseCat
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 11:27 AM

My rheumatologist is Dr. Slaughter.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Michael
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 11:11 AM

Mikey191- Isn't that Oddly Normal?

Mike

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 10:47 AM

There was a film actor called Harry Carey jr.

eric

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: The Hiker
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 10:43 AM

I know a guy ,surname Carey who insisted on giving his son the moniker Harrison.You just know that it is going to be shortened to Harry Carey (Hari Kari)

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 10:41 AM

Who can forget that wnderful scene in the film Porkys where they get the waitress to call out ' has anyone seen Mike Hunt '

eric

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: GUEST,ruler
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 08:51 AM

On the subject of solicitors there's always "Wright Hassall"

click here

Steve

link fixed by
el joe clone

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Mickey191
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 08:45 AM

Chiropractor near me: Dr. Strange

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 07:00 AM

Two well known rugby player: Englands Danny Grewcock, and the great French player Condom [ forgot his first name ]

eric

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: JennyO
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 05:57 AM

Then in Ireland, in Sligo, there's the old firm of solicitors - Argue and Phibbs .

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: bubblyrat
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 05:12 AM

And as I too ,have posted before :- One of the top-scoring American fighter "aces" in the Korean War was Everet J. Raspberry, Jr. He was no fool, though !!

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Michael
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 04:39 AM

And as I'm sure I've posted somewhere before: In Hull UK there was a Funeral Director called Boddy's (Now T Annison and R Boddy - Mr Annison is getting posessive)

Mike

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 03:07 AM

In Bath, Maine, you can go to a Doctor Toothaker if she's still there. However, she's a podiatrist....

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Michael
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 02:28 AM

I had a great(in many ways)aunt called Ida who married a Mr Down, so I suppose they were always warm in bed.

Mike

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: JennyO
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:54 PM

There used to be a doctor on the Central Coast here called Dr Fee. It was mentioned in the local paper at the time when a new system of payments at doctors' surgeries was just being brought in. There was supposed to be a basic payment known as the "common fee", so they asked if Dr Fee was one of the common Fees.

A few years ago I went to a dentist at Chatswood - his name was Dr Pang.

I didn't much like my initials when I was a kid - JOR. At least it was before the days of all the shark movies.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: bubblyrat
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 08:25 PM

My mother was going to call my sister Amanda-Lynne at one point !! ( Really !! )

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 08:16 PM

The Chanda Lear thing is true. I went to school with her. The poppa was the Lear Jet magnate. Wichita, Kansas.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: John Hardly
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 08:14 PM

An older friend of the family is named Rosie Dick.

What could be more embarrassing to a pastor (my brother-in-law) than having to introduce the visiting family friend, Rosie, to his congregation?

...adding insult to injury by introducing her as "Rosie Peters".

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: bubblyrat
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 07:21 PM

A retired British diplomat has published a book of names of real people that he encountered on his travels. My favourite is the West Indian shipping-clerk called Euclides Von Pussberger De Jesus Maisonette   !!!

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 07:02 PM

My biology teacher in high school was Mr. Blood

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: GRex
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:56 PM

My father's christian names were John Wiliam, he was known as John Willie.

Had a customer named Pine-Coffin, she was proud of her name.

In a hospital waiting room today,saw a surgeon Doctor Hakit listed.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:39 PM

Limpit was very nearly Phoebe Olivia but that would have made her initials POD. Now I just hope she doesn't marry anyone whose surname begins with S or T... her initials are PM....

LTS

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:37 PM

I was a teacher in London for 13 years. In that time I taught Jean Shrimpton, Teresa Green and Terri Bull. I hope none of those fine young ladies is reading this!

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:30 PM

I know a tax inspector called Battcock... a dentist named I Savage, there's a Doctor Lazarus just up the road and I once went out with an Andrew Simon Smith. He never used his initials.

LTS

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Mickey191
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 04:48 PM

Bill D. had a good thought about ambiguous names that might cause confusion as to the owner's sex. Here at Mudcat I've been referred to as a male. I've been Mickey since age 2-alot better then Margaret Mary.

Course a Gwendolyn Or Jonathon might never be confusing- Though I have heard of two Females named Michael.

I always think of my wonderful gay cousin, Richard,
when I see a post by "Countess Richard." (Nothing bad intended) My cuz does have a very long boa!

Mickey191-F.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 04:37 PM

BillD reminded me of a girl I went to school with called April Beaver..

And Don, my name is Rebecca Ellen Morse...or R.E.Morse I like to use it when addressing mail. hehe

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 03:57 PM

In the very long-running comic strip Gasoline Alley, Skeezix Wallet and his wife, Nina (whose full maiden name, by the way, was "Nina Clock") had a baby. Picking out names for the new little boy, they came with "Michael Thomas." Walt Wallet, Skeezix's adoptive father, came up with the suggestion that they might want to rethink that.

"Look at the initials he'll have," said Walt. "M. T. Wallet!"

A cautionary tale for all new parents!

Don Firth

P. S. I recall a news story some years ago about an overly sports-minded couple who were avid fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks. They named their firstborn son "Ray Zorback."

Too damned bad we don't do public floggings anymore!

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 02:54 PM

Two girls in a class I taught as a graduate student many years ago were: Linda Samples and Kathy Beaver...they were friends and sat together. I wish I'd dared to ask them how many bad jokes they had to field.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Ythanside
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 02:06 PM

Knew a guy once whose name was Seymour Waterfall.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Bert
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 02:04 PM

I used to work with a guy named Grocock.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 01:22 PM

A few come to mind. There is a very successful writer of Children's books named Wanda Gag. No thanks, if it's all the same to you. There was a family named Katz in my home town who named their two kids Tom and Kitty. Eccchhh!

As for weird last names (coupled with an unusual first one) my favorite was a kid I knew in college named Romer Klebesaddle.

Jerry Rasmussen(not a weird last name... honest..)

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 12:37 PM

I recall reading an article some years back on unusual names. That was where I first heard that there was a lady named Ima Hogg living somewhere in the Southwest.

But my favorite among those mentioned in the article was Clarence Clapsaddle.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: HouseCat
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:48 AM

I know a guy named Boozer Down III. He has a bad attitude, wonder why? Imagine going through school with that name? Same for another fellow called Hensucker. Mad at the world.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 11:37 AM

Fredrick G. Wolfschegelsteinhausenbergerdorf

used to be the longest name in the NYC phone book.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: mack/misophist
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:58 AM

Boston's Old North Churchyard is said to contain the grave of John Praisegod Smallbehinds.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:56 AM

...My Fathers Grandmother was called Fanny Papps!

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: The PA
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:35 AM

I had a teacher named Agatha Sidebottom !

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:34 AM

I also used to know a local amateur footballer called Fred Hough, once when a referee asked for his name he replied F. Hough, so the ref sent him off.

This is true.

eric

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:13 AM

In French school, there was a kid named Duri (du riz = some rice). All the kids called him Oncle Ben's (Uncle Ben's). It had to be explained to me, even though I was the American, because we'd never had Uncle Ben's rice...

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:11 AM

I was a Polakow - In 1960-odd my parents changed it by deed poll. Could have been Polson or Poldark but 'Shaw' seemed much more good Lancashire name hence my moniker:-) We are the only ones in England so you don't get much odder. There are some unrelated ones on the US. I have emailed a couple but never had a response.

Cheers

dave

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Scoville
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:06 AM

Ima Hogg (daughter of an early Texas governor). No kidding. Know affectionately as Miss Ima. Contrary to legend, she did not have a sister named Ura.


I had a great-great-something grandmother named Mrs. Grace. First name Grace. They called her "Gracie".

I also had an Uncle Bigelow who married a woman with a "normal" name who happened to be very short, thus they were Uncle Big and Aunt Tiny.


Had a client once named Cinnamon Barley. I thought it was the dog's name but one of the other vet techs knew her personally (as a friend) and it turns out, it was the owner's name.


And a Dr. Eaton runs a weight-loss clinic up the road from my house.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Mickey191
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:04 AM

A neighbor last name is Byrd. Her first: Jale

How stupid is that?

A local's last name: Oxhandler.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: dwditty
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 09:45 AM

My daughter has a classmate named Harry Bahls....believe it or not, it is actually Harry Bahls, Jr. Man, Sr. should be arrested for child abuse.

dw

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 09:43 AM

There was a neighbor on the street I grew up on called Dick Small.

Also, I went to school with a girl called Iva Head. All the boys used to call her "gimme".

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: ranger1
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 09:33 AM

My sister used to go to a dentist named Dr. Toothaker.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 04:29 AM

I once worked with a young man called Richard Head, he didn't like being called ' Dick '

eric

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: goatfell
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 04:10 AM

I feel sorry for the children now because of their stupid parents giving them really daft names, so that when they go to school they will get bullied because of their names.

I mean how would they feel being called Apple I mean they are human beings not bloody fruit or vegetables are they.

I mean what happened to the Tom's, the William's and the James, and other proper names intead of these daft bloody names.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: The Walrus
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 03:48 AM

"...My mom knew a family who's last name was Lear. When they had their daughter,they thought it would be a hoot to name their daughter Chanda.Her name is Chanda Lear... "
They could have called her "Goneril", "Regan" or "Cordelia" - not funny, just a Shakespearian reference.

I knew a couple called 'Palliss' who seriously considered calling their daughter "Crystal" (The reference probably means more to Brits than Americans).

It's not just a matter of names, initials can be a problem.
As an Army cadet, we had an RSM called Frank Kick, there was some amusement when we saw, on 'orders', that his middle iniial was "T" (F.T. Kick)
Also. As a child, I lived in a fairly 'tight' community, although part of London, everyone seemed to be linked by a web of family relationships. A few doors away from us lived my cousin's great-uncle and aunt* and her, an old couple known to most of the kids as "Uncle Bob and Auntie Ginger**".
The unfortunate part was that 'Uncle Bob" (born in a more innocent age, no doubt) was christened "Robert", no problem, except that his surname was 'Sole".

As for me, well, I got my initials before 'hole in the wall machines', but, my initials are ATM and yes, I do get the odd money-machine comment (I'm still yet to hear one that makes me laugh).

Walrus.


* The aunt of my Mother's Brother's wife
** I don't think I ever knew her real name, she was always 'Ginger'

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 03:28 AM

Looking through old church records throws up some amazing ones... especially the Victorian fad for giving children obscure Old Testament names... How would you like to be called 'Hepzibah'?

I did like Hester, who married her sweetheart Eli Pester, making her Hester Pester.

Then there was the delightful Sunecai Genteelai whose parents were William and Jane.

The Reverend Goforth did a lot of good works in Dorset in the 1860's... especially baptisms.

LTS

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 02:43 AM

Went to school with a guy called Eli Mann.......when he became a transvestite he renamed himself Eliza Mann (Eli's a man)

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: JennyO
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 12:12 AM

I had a teacher by the name of Merry (short for Meredith) Chrismas (without a t). What could her parents have been thinking!

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: cookster
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 11:34 PM

Fonda Dix.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 09:48 PM

See also thread ISA SAVAGE (2001). My post back then trumps 'cookster's'; so there.

Subject: RE: Weird last names
From: Don Firth
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 09:40 PM

I knew a couple who were going to name their new-born baby girl "Claire Annette."

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed.

Don Firth

Subject: Weird last names
From: cookster
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 09:35 PM

My mom knew a family who's last name was Lear. When they had their daughter,they thought it would be a hoot to name their daughter Chanda.Her name is Chanda Lear.