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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: rainbowbright on Friday 10 October 08 16:18 BST (UK)

Title: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Friday 10 October 08 16:18 BST (UK)
Hi Does anyone know what the name 'Bunty' is short for?
Thanks

Rainbowbright
 :)
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Ecneps on Friday 10 October 08 16:29 BST (UK)
Hi Rainbowbright

Welcome to Rootschat  :)

From what I can find, the girl's name Bunty is of English origin,  pet name for a little lamb, from the verb to "bunt", meaning "to butt gently". Nickname and occasional baptismal name.

Kind regards,
Barbara
 :)
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Friday 10 October 08 16:38 BST (UK)
Hi Barbara

Thank your for your welcome!

I wasn't sure if Bunty was a proper name or a nickname.  Do you have any idea what it may be the nickname for?

Regards
Rainbowbright
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Ecneps on Friday 10 October 08 16:49 BST (UK)
Hi,

It looks as if it could be both.  Hopefully someone else will be able to give you more information.

Barbara  :)
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Necromancer on Friday 10 October 08 16:55 BST (UK)
I dont think its a dimunitive* as such - so its a nickname that just 'fitted' in most respects perhaps. Barbara is right about it being a name in its own right.


*Like Polly etc
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Friday 10 October 08 16:56 BST (UK)
Hi

Thanks Barbara

 :)
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: sillgen on Friday 10 October 08 16:59 BST (UK)
In my book of First Name Variants it only gives Bunty - not any others.  About the only name in there that does not have them!  Maybe it is a "proper" name.  I always associate it with jolly hockey sticks and fun in the dormitory - all those books I used to read as a child!   Very few showing up on FreeBMD and nearly all in the 1920s.
Andrea
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Friday 10 October 08 17:00 BST (UK)
Hi

So the person I am looking for could be baptised Bunty.  I will try another search to see if I can find anything.

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Old Mother Reilly on Friday 10 October 08 17:01 BST (UK)
I had an "Aunty Bunty" and didn't know until she died that her real name was Margaret ... "Aunt Margaret" wouldn't have suited her at all!  

I think Barbara has it right in that it was more usually a nick-name and occasionally a given name.  

Rachel
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: genjen on Friday 10 October 08 17:02 BST (UK)
I'm glad someone has mentioned Margaret as a possibility. In the depths of my mind, I am sure I have heard this before but didn't want to be the one who suggested it because it sounds so unlikely.

Jen
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Friday 10 October 08 17:03 BST (UK)
Hi

I will try Margaret.  I had it in my head it could be Isobel - don't know why!
Like Andrea I just remember the name from the comic and annual!
 ;D
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Friday 10 October 08 17:06 BST (UK)
Thanks Everyone!

I have enjoyed my 'first post'!

 :D
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Ecneps on Friday 10 October 08 17:09 BST (UK)
Hope you enjoy your future ones!

Would you like to tell us who you're looking for, name, dates etc ?

Barbara  :)


p.s. lots of Buntys in Scotland
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Friday 10 October 08 17:16 BST (UK)
Hi Barbara

I don't have much info yet.
She is the daughter of Alexander McDonald c1884 and Janet Johnston Thomson c 1886.
She was born  c1908 and died in glasgow.
She had siblings Elspeth, Lindsay, Davie.
Thats it really.

Rainbowbright  :)
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: GeoffE on Friday 10 October 08 17:18 BST (UK)
Does anyone remember Bunty James on the kids' TV programme "How"?  http://tinyurl.com/3lukm5
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: MarieC on Saturday 11 October 08 11:48 BST (UK)
I had a school friend named Marilyn who was always known by the nickname of Bunty.  No idea why!!  ??? ???  If it is a nickname in the case of your Bunty, the real name could be anything really...  ::)

MarieC
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Saturday 11 October 08 12:04 BST (UK)
Hi MarieC

I think this family believed in not letting others know their real names.  Bunty's sister was Lindsay but she was known as Babs!? ???

R
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: MarieC on Saturday 11 October 08 12:11 BST (UK)
Oh gosh!  :(

You'll have fun and games finding "Bunty" then, rainbow!

MarieC
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: rainbowbright on Saturday 11 October 08 13:51 BST (UK)
If I ever find out the real name I will let you know.
I will laugh if it is actually Bunty!!! ;D
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Gillg on Saturday 11 October 08 14:14 BST (UK)
I also have a Margaret who was always called Bunty as a child, however, if you look for births of Buntys in FreeBMD, you will find that the first birth registered with that name was not until 1912.  Between then and 1960 there appear to have been around 25 Buntys and one Buntie registered in England & Wales.  Could it be a Scottish name in origin, perhaps?

Gillg
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: chris_49 on Sunday 12 October 08 15:03 BST (UK)
I have a Bunty in my family who was christened Elizabeth. She too was Scottish. My theory is Beth>>Betty>>Bunty.

Also a Cissie who was an Elizabeth but she was Irish. Also found Lilian (similar to Lilibet) and I believe Elsie is meant to be short for Elspeth which is just another form. Chris

PS Googling "Bunty James" gives no clue to her real name.
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Arranroots on Sunday 12 October 08 15:06 BST (UK)
I knew a Bunty, born c 1965 and her real name was Susan.

I wonder if she kept it when she grew up?

I asked whether it was connected with the comic but she appeared to be more interested in ponies than comics at the time!

Hi Bunty if you're out there!

 :D
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: genjen on Sunday 12 October 08 16:14 BST (UK)
.

Also a Cissie who was an Elizabeth



My grandmother, Amelia Alice was always known as Cissy. I assumed it was that she was the only girl in the family and that the brothers simply called her "Sis".

I also have family members known as Pansy and Tootie, though their real names bore no resemblance to these nick-names. Who knows why? I mean, who would want to be called Tootie, for heaven's sake?
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: eadaoin on Sunday 12 October 08 17:39 BST (UK)
we have (on two different sides of the family ) BEESIE and BAWSIE
- I think Beesie is a common nickname for Bridget in Mayo/Sligo IRL ..
- Bawsie was also Bridget !!

eadaoin
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: sillgen on Monday 13 October 08 08:43 BST (UK)
We seem to have got away from the original question somewhat!  Anyone any clues as to how to find a daughter for Alexander and Janet McDonald in 1908?   I do not know much about Scottish records.    Would her death record give date and place of birth?
Andrea
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: genjen on Monday 13 October 08 09:36 BST (UK)
No, just her age plus parents' full names and occupations.
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Thameslass on Thursday 06 September 18 17:47 BST (UK)
Coming very late to this discussion, but this article is interesting and explains that the nickname Bunty doesn't refer to any one particular name:
http://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2012/09/bunty.html

Janice
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: River Tyne Lass on Thursday 06 September 18 19:29 BST (UK)
My cousin was always referred to as Bunty growing up - but her real name was Bernardette.
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Friday 07 September 18 15:36 BST (UK)
I'd thought it came from  "Bye, Baby Bunting
                                      Daddy's gone a-hunting
                                      Gone to get a rabbit skin
                                      To wrap a baby Bunting in"
A sort of nursery rhyme I recall.
Delighted to find that my family weren't the only lot with - mostly in the 1920s - daft nicknames : "Wadda" for Florence, "Mimi" for Mildred, "Madge" for Sarah, etc.... I think there must've been a craze for it among the "Bright young things" and flappers
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Girl Guide on Saturday 08 September 18 12:53 BST (UK)
Have you looked for the family on the 1911 census?  The parents married on 26 November 1907 in district of Gorbals, burgh of Glasgow.

Alexander is aged 23 and a cabman, Janet is 21 and a biscuit factory worker.

Are you assuming that 'Bunty' is the eldest child?
Title: Re: Bunty
Post by: Girl Guide on Sunday 09 September 18 10:12 BST (UK)
Just realised that this was originally  posted in 2008, ten years ago.  I see the poster was last active in January of this year, so hopefully will have received notification of new posts.