# Is "Death" ever a surname? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658 "2006-07-23T01:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![smile4me2222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@smile4me2222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smile4me2222)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/21 "2006-07-23T11:04:15Z")
The English-speaking world includes Britain, the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and India. That’s enough people that just about any name you can think of is somebody’s name. I once dated a girl in India whose name was Amrita C\*\*\*sucker ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/22 "2006-07-23T11:16:32Z")
There was, a few months ago, an item in the quirky news lists to the effect that a small-town cemetery association had been embezzled from by its treasurer, who was now under arrest for grand larceny. His surname was Death. Headlines for the story included “Death Steals from Cemetery” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/23 "2006-07-23T11:38:49Z")
I think it was an old Peter Cook and Dudley Moore sketch - Dud walks in to the doctor’s office and sees his name plate, “Good morning doctor _De’ath_.” And Cook replies, “No, it’s pronounced _deth_!” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/24 "2006-07-23T11:55:39Z")
I also know a Doctor Deathe, who’d get upset if you pronounced his name “death”. This alternate spelling seems more popular in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/25 "2006-07-23T20:14:33Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] “De’Eath” is from Terry Pratchett. [/QUOTE] INDEED. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/26 "2006-07-23T20:45:14Z")
[Two in New York State.](http://www.whitepages.com/10866/search/FindPerson?firstname_begins_with=1&firstname=&name=Death&where=New+York) ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/27 "2006-07-23T21:49:34Z")
[QUOTE=Rodd Hill] How about Colonel Richard Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, DSO, MC and Bar, known to his airborne troops as “Wooden Box”? > **[Richard Pine-Coffin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Geoffrey_Pine-Coffin)** > > Colonel Richard Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, DSO & Bar, MC (2 December 1908 – 28 February 1974) was an officer of the British Army who saw service during the Second World War. He commanded the 3rd Parachute Battalion in North Africa and the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion in Normandy, Belgium and Germany. His troops, amused by the unusual applicability of his family name (soldiers were usually buried in simple pine wood coffins), referred to him as "Wooden Box". Born to John Edward Pine-Coffin... [/QUOTE] While in Wikipedia look for “Dr. Death” ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/28 "2006-07-23T21:51:34Z")
[QUOTE=Rodd Hill] How about Colonel Richard Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, DSO, MC and Bar, known to his airborne troops as “Wooden Box”? > **[Richard Pine-Coffin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Geoffrey_Pine-Coffin)** > > Colonel Richard Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, DSO & Bar, MC (2 December 1908 – 28 February 1974) was an officer of the British Army who saw service during the Second World War. He commanded the 3rd Parachute Battalion in North Africa and the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion in Normandy, Belgium and Germany. His troops, amused by the unusual applicability of his family name (soldiers were usually buried in simple pine wood coffins), referred to him as "Wooden Box". Born to John Edward Pine-Coffin... [/QUOTE] While in Wikipedia look for “Dr. Death” Also Dr. Jack Kevorkian AKA Dr. Death ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/29 "2006-07-23T22:48:29Z")
When I was younger there was a GP at my local health centre called Dr De’Ath. Pronounced “duh-ATH”. I stuck with Dr Pearson. Frankly, one little apostrophe ain’t gonna save you from DOCTOR DEATH :eek: ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/30 "2006-07-23T23:00:13Z")
[QUOTE=Vagus] There was a Dr. Death (Deeth) at the local hospital here as well. [/QUOTE] Little bit off topic, but Jay Leno’s Headlines will often include an advertisement for **“Dr. Killu”** ---
**Author:** ![xiix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d6d6ee/32.png) [@xiix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xiix)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/31 "2006-07-24T01:01:38Z")
For all your crankcalling needs: Death, A more info Goodfare Hythe, AB (780) 356-2631 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on A Death 41 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, A more info 32 Skylark Rd ON (705) 361-2964 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on A Death 42 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, A more info 47 Falling Brook Dr Barrie, ON L4N 7E9 (705) 721-8709 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on A Death 43 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, A more info 18 Coach Hill Dr Kitchener, ON N2E 1P4 (519) 585-1816 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on A Death 44 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, Alan M more info 61 Colonial Cres Oakville, ON L6J 4K8 (905) 337-3283 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on Alan Death 45 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, B more info 55 Carlton Dr Orangeville, ON L9W 2X8 (519) 941-1154 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on B Death 46 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, B more info 73 Thompson Southampton, ON N0H 2L0 (519) 422-1681 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on B Death 47 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, B more info 27 Woburn Ave Toronto, ON M5M 1K5 (416) 322-3648 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on B Death 48 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, Betty more info 1431 McIntosh St Regina, SK S4T 5C4 (306) 775-1099 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on Betty Death 49 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, Beverley W more info 2523 Lower Base Line Milton, ON L9T 2X5 (905) 878-4819 Death, C more info 42 Albert St Coboconk, ON K0M 1K0 (705) 454-8413 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in Coboconk ON 51 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, C more info 89 Kingsmill Ave Guelph, ON N1E 5W1 (519) 780-1789 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in Guelph ON 52 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, C R more info 121 Charles St, # 4 Hamilton, ON L8P 3E4 (905) 296-0113 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in Hamilton ON 53 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, D more info AB (780) 436-1781 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in AB 54 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, D & S more info 9506 81 Ave Peace River, AB T8S 1E8 (780) 624-2261 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in Peace River AB 55 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, D more info 590 Lolita Gdns ON (905) 272-6933 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in ON 56 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, D more info 627 Commonwealth Cres Kitchener, ON N2E 4J9 (519) 743-1557 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in Kitchener ON 57 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, D more info 96 Mill St Orangeville, ON L9W 2M7 (519) 941-5268 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in Orangeville ON 58 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, D & S more info 4715 38 St Lloydminster, SK S9V 0A9 (306) 825-7405 Automate Repetitive Searching Search School Yearbooks in Lloydminster SK 59 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, Dennis more info 15 Parker Pl Guelph, ON N1E 7A7 (519) 826-5954 Death, E more info 92 Borland E ON (705) 326-7941 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on E Death 61 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, Gary more info 506 Richmond St E Toronto, ON M5A 1R3 (416) 944-3842 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on Gary Death 62 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, H more info 136 Wilson Ave Kitchener, ON N2C 1H1 (519) 896-1038 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on H Death 63 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, Helen more info 1000 Copper Leaf Cres Kitchener, ON N2E 3W3 (519) 578-2196 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on Helen Death 64 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, J more info 116 Dawson Cres Sherwood Park, AB T8H 1Y6 (780) 416-6002 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on J Death 65 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, J M more info 130 Livingston Ave, # 28 Grimsby, ON L3M 4W5 (905) 945-4605 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on J Death 66 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, J more info 165 Green Valley Dr, Th 30 Kitchener, ON N2P 1K3 (519) 894-1062 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on J Death 67 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, J & D more info 49 Brookhurst Cres SS 1 Waterdown, ON L0R 2H3 (905) 690-2282 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on J Death 68 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, James S more info 36 Pettet Dr Port Perry, ON L9L 1B4 (905) 985-2703 Automate Repetitive Searching Find High School Info on James Death 69 of 95 E-mail Listing to Friends Death, Jason more info 4121 Theresa Ave Hanmer, ON P3P 1N7 (705) 969-1935 ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/32 "2006-07-25T11:31:51Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] The Social Security Death Index has 51 people with the surname “Death”: Albert Death (1908-1981), Anne Death (1906-1971), Athaline J. Death (1920-2000), Betty Death (1920-2004), Betty Death (1895-1993), Calvin Death (1899-1994), etc. And a Harley D’Eath (1911-1982). The 1930 U.S. Census has 173 people with the surname “Death”. [/QUOTE] and they are all dead. Coincidence or what! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658/33 "2006-07-25T11:51:30Z")
[QUOTE=xiix] For all your crankcalling needs: [/quote] While I assume you’re making light, let’s not suggest crankcalling. Thanks. **samclem** Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-death-ever-a-surname/365658.md?page=1)