Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Unusual surnames.

267 replies

RuthTopp · 04/08/2023 18:11

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 ?

OP posts:
LuluOrangeNotLemon · 04/08/2023 21:29

English football player Drinkwater. Like what is that? When I saw it first time I had to look more than once to make sure I read that right.

Sheruns · 04/08/2023 21:29

professionally I've worked with a Mr toogood.

I was once taught by a Mrs puddyphat too. She was a witch. We used to call her Mrs pussycat

SoShallINever · 04/08/2023 21:29

My ancestors were Abbs.

HappyCatty · 04/08/2023 21:30

PerspiringElizabeth · 04/08/2023 19:00

There was a girl at school with the surname Cockburn which she insisted was pronounced co-burn… don’t blame her!
And a Higginbottom which we had to pronounce -botham apparently.

I like Popadec and Pendergast but not sure how unusual they are!

There was a girl at school with the surname Cockburn which she insisted was pronounced co-burn… don’t blame her!

That would be because that's the way it IS pronounced! 🤔

fizzyfood · 04/08/2023 21:31

I worked with someone called Mr Frisbee

Tanaria · 04/08/2023 21:33

I once met a Dr Butcher. Wouldn't have been great in itself, but he was a gynaecologist.

TitoMojito · 04/08/2023 21:54

I knew an Appleyard and a Wanker (supposedly pronounced like Wonker but he was fooling nobody)

Mojodojocasahaus · 04/08/2023 21:58

I met someone the other day with the surname waghorn!

BurntOrange · 04/08/2023 21:59

Worst surname I've come across? Wanklin 😱

OnedayIwillfeelfree · 04/08/2023 22:06

I have worked with : Hiscock, Inkpen, Newborn, a Jade Green, Chubby,and my dads good friend was Geoff Dickman…

fitofthegiggles · 04/08/2023 22:07

@Keykaty Also Dan Saladino on Radio 4's "Food Programme". Again. Very apt!

ReadtheReviews · 04/08/2023 22:08

I know of Tickle and Backholer.

ReadtheReviews · 04/08/2023 22:11

Oh and a Dolphin who, suitably for MN dolphin-haters was a total cowbag.

itsmylife7 · 04/08/2023 22:12

TotallyOutingName · 04/08/2023 18:48

Mine. There's only 3 people in the world with my name.

How is this possible do you know ?

Unless it's a strange made up name 😄

Whattheflipflap · 04/08/2023 22:16

my surname tips two spectacularly normal names double barrelled and thus unusual.

i have a friend who’s maiden name is bottoms.

TotallyOutingName · 04/08/2023 22:16

itsmylife7 · 04/08/2023 22:12

How is this possible do you know ?

Unless it's a strange made up name 😄

Show quote history

I know this precisely because it's a made up name.

BinkyBeaufort · 04/08/2023 22:17

I was at school with Glenda Bedworthy and Mary Waggot, otherwise known as the Wary Maggot.

BinkyBeaufort · 04/08/2023 22:18

Oh and we had a teacher called Miss Cakebread, which I loved

ThreeRingCircus · 04/08/2023 22:18

I've lost the PP but Bob Flowerdew is still very much going. He's a regular contributor to Gardner's World magazine and Gardener's Question Time.

fitofthegiggles · 04/08/2023 22:20

I've known a Hayhoe, a Goodfellow and a builder whose name was Bottoms.

SemperIdem · 04/08/2023 22:23

HappyCatty · 04/08/2023 21:30

There was a girl at school with the surname Cockburn which she insisted was pronounced co-burn… don’t blame her!

That would be because that's the way it IS pronounced! 🤔

Show quote history

But why? There is no other word in the English language that possesses a silent ck?

TitoMojito · 04/08/2023 22:24

But why? There is no other word in the English language that possesses a silent ck?

Because it's Scottish

SemperIdem · 04/08/2023 22:28

TitoMojito · 04/08/2023 22:24

But why? There is no other word in the English language that possesses a silent ck?

Because it's Scottish

Ok, is a silent ck a feature of Scottish gaelic?

SemperIdem · 04/08/2023 22:29

I have known people with the surnames Bedgood and Hornblow.

Rainbow1901 · 04/08/2023 22:31

In my first job I worked with a girl who's surname was Capper - changed by deed poll from another name by removing a strategic 'r' - bit sh*tty for them!! 🙄