Page 11 | Unusual surnames.

RuthTopp · 2023-08-04T17:11:16+00:00

For some weird reason I have heard two unusual surnames today , Younghusband and Gotobed . Which ( in a light hearted way ) could be used to formulate a sentence - " Gotobed younghusband ! What unusual ones do you know ?

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 13/08/2023 20:50

There used to be a local radio DJ called Andrew Merry, which always made me smile - as a (preferably spoonerised) combination!

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 13/08/2023 20:58

I once heard of a local man with the name (as he pronounced it) Mr Pryke; but it was spelled 'Prick'.

I also remember, as a child, we knew a family with the surname Boffinger. When we were kids, we used the word 'boff' to mean a fart - so we never found it anything less than hilarious that somebody was actually called (close enough for us) 'Boff in jar' as a surname!

PuttingDownRoots · 13/08/2023 21:05

According to the Forebears site, I'm not only the only person alive with my first name-surname combo, there have only hern two other incidences of it being recorded.

Currently 6000ish people with the surname

PuttingDownRoots · 13/08/2023 21:06

When researching my family tree, I've found Longbottoms!

JudyJulie · 13/08/2023 21:17

BlondeBimboGirl · 05/08/2023 00:20

Worked with a man at my old job whose surname was Tortoiseshell. Always thought it was strange!

Staffordshire?

The only time I've seen the name is on the war memorial in Uttoxeter.

BlondeBimboGirl · 13/08/2023 21:27

@JudyJulie yes!!

BlondeBimboGirl · 13/08/2023 21:27

It wasn’t Uttoxeter though it was Stoke so must have been a relative!

TotallyOutingName · 13/08/2023 21:30

PuttingDownRoots · 13/08/2023 21:05

According to the Forebears site, I'm not only the only person alive with my first name-surname combo, there have only hern two other incidences of it being recorded.

Currently 6000ish people with the surname

How did you search for both names together? Forebears says I don't exist if I type both names into either the forename or surname search!

cocksstrideintheevening · 13/08/2023 22:11

Mine is so rare there is only one other in the old phone books and it's my uncle. It was a spelling mistake on the birth certificate.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 13/08/2023 23:11

I also once encountered somebody with the surname Clutterbuck. The first name was extremely unusual as well, but I won't say that here as could be outing.

Along with all of the highly unusual names - ones that must make everybody you meet take a step back, comment on and/or snigger at - I guess it must be the same when you have a common (or common-ish) surname that really doesn't seem appropriate at all.

Such as when you meet 90+ year-olds called Young, women called Male, men called Toplady, basketball players called Little, vegans called Lamb etc.!

BrindleAbyssinianGuinea2 · 13/08/2023 23:15

Watkivs . I honestly thought it was a misspelling of Watkins when I first saw it

Whapshott

Jerreat (it's Huguenot apparently)

RitzyMcFitzy · 13/08/2023 23:28

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 13/08/2023 23:11

I also once encountered somebody with the surname Clutterbuck. The first name was extremely unusual as well, but I won't say that here as could be outing.

Along with all of the highly unusual names - ones that must make everybody you meet take a step back, comment on and/or snigger at - I guess it must be the same when you have a common (or common-ish) surname that really doesn't seem appropriate at all.

Such as when you meet 90+ year-olds called Young, women called Male, men called Toplady, basketball players called Little, vegans called Lamb etc.!

The actor Andrew Lincoln is really Andrew Clutterbuck. I think his children are being brought up as Clutterbucks.

Not a surname I'd thank my parents for bestowing on me.

SerendipityJane · 14/08/2023 07:27

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 13/08/2023 23:11

I also once encountered somebody with the surname Clutterbuck. The first name was extremely unusual as well, but I won't say that here as could be outing.

Along with all of the highly unusual names - ones that must make everybody you meet take a step back, comment on and/or snigger at - I guess it must be the same when you have a common (or common-ish) surname that really doesn't seem appropriate at all.

Such as when you meet 90+ year-olds called Young, women called Male, men called Toplady, basketball players called Little, vegans called Lamb etc.!

people who went to a certain school, in a certain London borough in the late 70s will not be unfamiliar with the name ... to be fair we must have been very kind as I can't remember any obvious nicknames .....

tuvamoodyson · 14/08/2023 07:30

I am the only one with my name!

BlueMoe · 14/08/2023 07:40

Two German people I know have surnames that when translated are “Lady-shoes” and “Lovely legs”.

I know it’s unreasonable but there should be a family of “Lovely Legs-Lady Shoes”

aplaceinscotland · 14/08/2023 08:12

Through my lifetime, I've known a max of 7 other people with my surname - now my grandparents and father are dead and my Mum remarried it's only 2 others! My DC have their father's name and it could never have been double barrelled.

eurochick · 14/08/2023 09:41

I know a Goodsir. And a fireman whose name is Smoker.

My surname sounds like it should be common but really isn't. Back in the days of the regional phone books all those in the south east were related somehow. Now social media has global reach I've seen one pop up in Devon and a couple in the US. I suspect they are related somehow. I kept my name when I got married and my daughter has it too (double-barrelled with my husband's). I'm an only child and so is my dad - I wanted to keep the name going.