# Odd Family names? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 28, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612 "2005-04-28T20:36:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/61 "2005-05-10T01:07:19Z")
I once met a Frankenstein. No, she didn’t pronounce it FrAAHk-en-steen. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/62 "2005-05-10T01:16:25Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > What about the RV dealer in Richmond, Indiana advertised on billboards throughout the state … **Raper** , I think. [Save today Tom Raper’s way!](http://www.tomraper.com/) I remember reading a newspaper article about a man named Harry Rape who always corrected people who called him “Mr. Rah-pay”. “It’s pronounced rape”, he’d say. On the other hand, there was a Miss Loser on the staff of the junior high school I attended, but she pronounced her surname “loe-zer”. There was also an administrator named Mr. Kraps in the system. I don’t know if she’s the **Dickensheets** mentioned by **Daithi Lacha** , but Tara Dickensheets was a fine basketball player for Ohio’s Capital University a few years ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few PA announcers or radio commentators had to stifle giggles when they mentioned her exploits. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/63 "2005-05-10T01:57:05Z")
> [@mr bus guy](#): > > Somewhere out there she insists was a Kotex family. I knew a guy whose last name was Kotek–not quite the same, but I bet he got teased a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/64 "2005-05-10T02:04:48Z")
> [@The Sausage Creature](#): > > I just remembered the surname of a much beloved substitute teacher from middle school: Stoner. Reminds me of when I substituted for Miss Smoker. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/65 "2005-05-10T02:08:34Z")
Oh, and I’ve posted this before, but there was a Wimpy family on the main street to my house. The father had a painting service and “Chester Wimpy” was on the side of the truck in large letters. Then there were the Greenslits. They had a script style name painted on the mailbox, and it was almost impossible to NOT mentally combine the L and the I to make HI. I had to walk up to the box to get it right. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/66 "2005-05-10T09:41:42Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > The word _bleie_ means “diaper” (or “nappy” if you prefer). Most Norwegian last names come from place names, either farms or villages, and sure enough several of the people interviewed on the TV news the following day were named Bleie. In spite of this, they appeared to have survived junior high school… Similarly I once worked with a man called Diaper. He insisted the name referred to diamond or a diamond weave pattern in cloth, from whence the Americans derive diaper=nappy. > [@seosamh](#): > > My sister-in-law teaches in a school in Staffordshire. Apparently, the name ANKER is quite common in those parts and indeed there are several in her school. The poor unfortunate one in her class is called Wayne. So, he’s: My sister, also a teacher, insists all Waynes are at best wankers, so I guess she’d feel he’s he’s well named. On a food theme, I’ve worked with a Ms Custard and read a paper by a Dr Cherry Pancake. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/67 "2005-05-10T09:50:56Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] **Lynch**? [QUOTE] I wouldn’t have thought of this as unusual at all - there’s David Lynch, and I’m guessing that Merill Lynch was or is a person as well as a company. Regarding Raper - the family name [crops up](http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.c/qx/raper-coat-arms.htm) in England well before the use of the verb in its [current form](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rape). ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/68 "2005-05-10T11:28:14Z")
There is a realtor (estate agent to you brits) named **Upthegrove** and a local writer here with the name of **Laughinghouse.** I once ran into a woman whose married name was **Bolongna**. Her maiden name? **Malarky** How.fucking.cool.is.that? I ask you. There is a congressman whose last name is **Damphouse.** which is pronounced, Damphis. I love odd names. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/69 "2005-05-10T11:36:42Z")
From one of my old threads of names I collected whilst on my German Vacation: \*\*Grimmsman Heimlick Hoinke ( hoi-na-key, I think, or possibly Honkie.) Adolf Hoops Kock Lurking Micklitz Mock Rydzy Schimmel-Pfenning Schweden Smotrickaja Zens Damm Futterer Frauenstein Kukla Schadau Schmurdy Schoo Schwolow \*\*( I haven’t a clue about this pronunciation. SchVolov?) \*\*Wunderschutz Wutnenow \*\* Sounds like What Now \*\*Bonko Christ Czudnochowski Klan Schlumm Schlummbohm Schmal Schmeller Schmuck Schmurdy-Vogelfanger Wins Boy Dick Flohr Habakuk \*\* Habakuk for Humanity anyone?) Hieronymous (cool last name. First name Henry) Knoblich **Which is pronounced, I beleive, Ka-nob-leech.** Lala Last Maruhn Piro Rupprecht\*\* The Monkey Boy!\*\* Schreiner Schwanz Schwarm Suckel **This would be perfect if the first name was Ivanna.** Wrensch Zysk Rammo Schnorr Some of the Absolutely Best Names I found were: \*\* Drahomira Spirius. \*\*Is that cool or what? sounds like a spell from Harry Potter. \*\*Thea Knaack \*\*A most excellent name and Band. My Sharona! \*\*Other Names I have found Elsewhere and have been saving for your Dining And Dancing Pleasure \*\* Rhys Summer-Hayes **Think about the last name. Rather Amusing.** Bracegirdle \*\*Which is also a character in Horatio Hornblower. \*\*Wakatutu \*\* A dance? A tiki bar? No! a last name somewhere in Ontario. \*\*Fauntleroy \*\*I bet this person got teased alot. \*\*Pansy Pillow Wilma Alldread\*\* **And This Just In Fresh from The Obits:** Wiley Nunn ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/70 "2005-05-10T11:47:54Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > \*\*Bracegirdle \*\*Which is also a character in Horatio Hornblower. Also a tribe of Hobbits. Whaddaya mean, “They’re not real?” ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/71 "2005-05-10T19:54:50Z")
I knew a girl with the last name Schwalow. And she definitely got teased about it all through high school, but she was kind of a bitch. I don’t know if it was a cause-and-effect thing either way. I also knew a girl with the last name Bloodgood. I thought that was pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/72 "2005-05-10T20:31:25Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > I wouldn’t have thought of this as unusual at all - there’s David Lynch, and I’m guessing that Merill Lynch was or is a person as well as a company. Actually, there was a Charles Merrill, as well as an Eduard Lynch, involved in the formation of the company whose full name is (or at least once was) [Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated](http://www.eh.net/bookreviews/library/0221.shtml). The confusion arises from the fact that there is no comma between **Merrill** and **Lynch** – see [this old certificate](http://us.st3.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/scripophily_1841_320299333) for the firm’s official representation of its identifier. The verb _to lynch_ is an _eponym_ (word derived from a proper name), as stated in the second entry on [this page:](http://www.onestopenglish.com/english_grammar/words.htm) > [@](#): > > The word ‘lynch’, meaning ‘to execute without trial’, derives from a certain William Lynch, a 19th century American planter, who set up unofficial courts to try suspected criminals. The unfortunate victims of these courts were usually sentenced to death and summarily executed and “Lynch’s law” soon passed into the language as the verb ‘to lynch’. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/73 "2005-05-10T20:48:43Z")
My colleagues in Geneva told me that in the south of France there are a lof of people with names that are downright embarassing (in French) but it doesn’t seem to bother them at all. Can any of our francophones confirm this? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/74 "2005-05-10T21:02:38Z")
In college I knew a guy with the last name of **Handwerker** , who was teased mercilessly about it. but then in law school I knew a girl who with the last name **Handwerger** and the most she ever suffered was a few chuckles. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/75 "2005-05-11T01:40:20Z")
The Indiana Pacers apparently have a Slovenian-Italian player named [Gregor Fucka](http://www.interbasket.net/players/fucka.htm). (Pronounced “Foochka,” of course.) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/76 "2005-05-18T23:36:08Z")
A slight bump of this thread, because I thought this was worth adding: [Diaper Poultry](http://www.diaperpoultry.co.uk/) ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/77 "2005-05-19T03:02:27Z")
I now work with a guy with the last name of **Littlejohn**. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/78 "2005-05-19T04:15:34Z")
> [@Aangelica](#): > > Although she’s not as unfortunately named as my cousin Richard Lust. Your cousin isn’t Canadian, is he? I used to work with a Richard Lust, who was actually a Richard Lust, Jr. – and named _his_ son Richard Lust. The youngest Lust opted to embrace “Dick Lust” rather than go by “Richard Lust III.” ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/79 "2005-05-19T04:37:02Z")
I went to junior high with a girl whose last name was Dick. Her father’s name, I kid you not, was Harold. Harry to his friends. I knew another girl whose last name was Rape. A lady in my church growing up was Mrs. Notgrass. Also knew a famlies named Stringfellow, Rainwater and Hardcastle. Actually my maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Hardcastle. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612/80 "2005-05-19T04:46:07Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > There’s a Blood who works here. I’ve always been vaguely disappointed that he’s a civilian, so he can never be promoted to Captain. Well, he could capture a Spanish ship and promote himself to Captain as did Sabatini’s hero. My sister worked with a guy whose name was Woody Raper. There was a guy in my home town named Harry Rears. Nickname - Fuzzbutt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-family-names/301612.md?page=5)