# What kinda name is "Dorko"? And what are the worst last names youve heard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 29, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485 "2007-10-29T19:29:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/1 "2007-10-29T19:29:22Z")
Damn. [Wounded officer highest-ranking to be injured in Iraq - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/10/29/iraq.main/index.html) That must have been tough growing up with that last name. Guess it worked out alright for him though seeing as he’s a General now and all. My last name is “Little” and I thought that was bad as a boy. Dorko is a tougher one. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/2 "2007-10-29T19:31:20Z")
Probably poor little Max who was unable to enroll in a Catholic school because his last name is [Hell](http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/07/09/1183833431752.html). ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/3 "2007-10-29T19:32:22Z")
A friend’s last name is **Bonk**. I couldn’t stop giggling the first time I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/4 "2007-10-29T19:34:52Z")
The minister at my parents’ church, back in the '70’s, was named Rev. Smutsky. My grandmother would say, “What an _unfortunate_ name”. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/5 "2007-10-29T19:36:10Z")
I have a friend who went to school with a girl whose last name was Raper. To make matters worse, her parents named her Nita. (I still wonder if he was just BSing me and my other friends when he told us this.) ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/6 "2007-10-29T19:38:32Z")
The **Dorko** surname appears to be of [Hungarian origin.](http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Dorko-places-origin.ashx) One of the most unfortunately-named people ever has to have been [Toppie Smellie.](http://louminatti.blogspot.com/2006/05/toppie-smellie.html) ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/7 "2007-10-29T19:39:09Z")
Phonetically so she will not find it here on a search someday, I once talked to Dor-kas Kweer-ass. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/8 "2007-10-29T19:41:40Z")
[QUOTE=Lucky 13] I have a friend who went to school with a girl whose last name was Raper. To make matters worse, her parents named her Nita. (I still wonder if he was just BSing me and my other friends when he told us this.) [/QUOTE] I went to school with a girl named Raper as well. (Her first name wasn’t quite so unfortunate. It was very, very common for our age group though.) I didn’t even know why it was so bad until years later. There’s a real estate agent in my town named [Pistol Tingen](http://pistoltingen.com/tingenteam/tingenteam.html). When I first saw his name on a “For Sale” sign I thought it was a joke. Then I saw the television ads… :eek: The wife of one of my former classmates works for the neonatal unit at the local hospital. Once she attended the birth of **Luscious Cox**. I wish I was making that up. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/9 "2007-10-29T19:42:16Z")
[QUOTE=Lionne] A friend’s last name is **Bonk**. I couldn’t stop giggling the first time I heard it. [/QUOTE] I know a guy named **Bonk** , too! He’s an artist and a juggler/performer so I think the name suits him well. I guess he “embraced” his last name 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/10 "2007-10-29T19:45:17Z")
There was a guy at my high school whose last name was Vroom. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/11 "2007-10-29T19:50:26Z")
I had an M. Smellie in early grade school. Yes, we were every bit as merciless as second graders were wont to be. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/12 "2007-10-29T19:55:04Z")
I went to school with one Charlie Butt. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/13 "2007-10-29T20:00:44Z")
In the course of my job I’ve come across one Ulick Sweeney. Say it out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/14 "2007-10-29T20:03:25Z")
Zass. I don’t remember the first name. [QUOTE=Mindfield] I had an M. Smellie in early grade school. Yes, we were every bit as merciless as second graders were wont to be. ]One of the most unfortunately-named people ever has to have been. [/QUOTE] There’s a University of South Carolina quarterback named Chris Smelley. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/15 "2007-10-29T20:12:07Z")
A former co-worker of mine know a family named Turdo. Can’t imagine all the kids didn’t chage their names upon moving out, but she said they didn’t. Slutsky and Slutsker are not uncommon last names; Russian, I think. I knew a girl named Slutsker in college who wasn’t slutsker or even slutskest, she was quite demure. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/16 "2007-10-29T20:27:42Z")
There are many people with the last name “Lipschitz”. At least one had the first name of Harold which led to the unfortunate combination of Harry Lipschitz. If you say it fast like a New Yorker it does sound terrible. Actually it sounds pretty bad, no matter what. It is apparently an old Jewish name, but I would think it does make it very hard to live in an English speaking country. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/17 "2007-10-29T20:31:27Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] There are many people with the last name “Lipschitz”. At least one had the first name of Harold which led to the unfortunate combination of Harry Lipschitz. If you say it fast like a New Yorker it does sound terrible. Actually it sounds pretty bad, no matter what. It is apparently an old Jewish name, but I would think it does make it very hard to live in an English speaking country. Jim [/QUOTE] Ah, yes, Lipschitz. Who among us has not crank-called a Lipschitz with the time-honored “Hey! If you lip shits, what does your asshole do?” My little sister’s second grade teacher was Mrs. Dump. She was very insulted when our dad called her Mrs. Durr (his favorite term for a moron). I’d rather be Mrs. Durr. ---
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/18 "2007-10-29T20:34:52Z")
Worst I’ve run across is Perdukaker (which translates as something like ‘fart-shitter’ in Russian). No idea as to the origin. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/19 "2007-10-29T20:38:00Z")
It would be hard to top baseball player Rusty Kuntz. He claimed it was pronounced “Koontz.” But you know that ain’t how it reads. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485/20 "2007-10-29T20:40:08Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] There are many people with the last name “Lipschitz”…It is apparently an old Jewish name, but I would think it does make it very hard to live in an English speaking country. [/QUOTE] It make it hard for those with embarrassing names to live in a different century from when the names originated as well. Changes in the English language over time have left many names as ludicrous to our ears today. A guest speaker recently at my historical society’s meeting told us about British surnames which time has not treated well. Some of those he described: Raper - originally a rope maker Large - originally meant generous (as in largesse) Spittle - apparently a shortening of “hospital” Crap - a cropper, someone who grew crops Stiff - tough, obstinate person Death, Virgin - characters in Middle Ages plays And the classic Bottom (Longbottom, Sidebottom) - just another term for valley, as in someone who lived there [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kinda-name-is-dorko-and-what-are-the-worst-last-names-youve-heard/424485.md?page=2)