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Author Topic: Unfortunate surnames of the past #1  (Read 79921 times)

Offline M.T.H

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Unfortunate surnames of the past #1
« on: Sunday 29 August 04 14:11 BST (UK) »
When I search through the census returns I'm always on the lookout for names that might not be too  appropriate today, so far I have been able to find the Stench family :(
There was also the Vile family and I've even found a family of Poose but I think the most unfortunate souls of all were the Minger family :-\ I kid you not!!

Has anyone found any other names that theyre glad they didnt marry into?

Seriously though,if you are a Stench,Vile,Poose or heaven forbid a Minger :-[ I'm not poking fun at you but you do have a rather unfortunate Surname :)

One final note,Whilst in a local parish church doing some research I happened to look in the visitors book and someone had written
"I'm visiting from Australia,my ancestors were the Vile family who lived locally although we have now changed our name to Vale"
                                    Enough said :) Mick ;)
Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk.

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Offline suey

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Re: Unfortunate surnames of the past
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 29 August 04 15:07 BST (UK) »

Well, I still think poor Ellen Cooper got a bu* deal when she married Sidney Snoswell in 1851   ;D

Suey
All census lookups are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Sussex - Knapp. Nailard. Potten. Coleman. Pomfrey. Carter. Picknell
Greenwich/Woolwich. - Clowting. Davis. Kitts. Ferguson. Lowther. Carvalho. Pressman. Redknap. Argent.
Hertfordshire - Sturgeon. Bird. Rule. Claxton. Taylor. Braggins

Offline Annahannah

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Re: Unfortunate surnames of the past
« Reply #2 on: Monday 30 August 04 07:58 BST (UK) »

Why just the past?  In a political campaign a few years ago two of the candidates had interesting names.

A pair of bumper stickers, one for each man, gave the interesting order "Obey Crooks".

Anna
Tharratt, Smith - London
Canham, Harvey, Ship - Suffolk
Higgins. Bowden, Ayres/Eyre - Buckingham
McDonald - Scotland, Africa, Canada, USA

Offline Anjo

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Re: Unfortunate surnames of the past
« Reply #3 on: Monday 30 August 04 08:03 BST (UK) »
Its not just surnames what about the unfortunate first names Like Primrose Smith for a Man or Anguish Lake. Both who I have found in my studies.

Offline Fitty

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Re: Unfortunate surnames of the past
« Reply #4 on: Monday 30 August 04 08:43 BST (UK) »
Longbottoms and Sidebottoms, we've all heard of those.  I,m just glad i,m not researching them or the other one i saw this week....

" Can anyone help me, I'm looking for a Thickbottom in Lancashire"  :-X
---------------------------------------                    <br />                    (  @ @  )<br />-----------oOOo-(_)-oOOo---------<br /><br />       Any one seen any BAXENDALES?<br /><br />--------oooO---------------Oooo-------<br />           (    )                    (    )<br />            \\\\  (                      )  /<br />             \\\\_)                    (_/<br /><br />Brighouse:  Smith<br />Lambeth: Clisby<br />Leeds: Baxendale,Baxter, Beales,Bowe

Offline Anjo

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Re: Unfortunate surnames of the past
« Reply #5 on: Monday 30 August 04 15:00 BST (UK) »
How about Mary Gotabed  she married my G-G-G grandfather.

Offline 7igerby7he7ail

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Re: Unfortunate surnames of the past
« Reply #6 on: Monday 30 August 04 17:24 BST (UK) »
In the course of my research I came across PONGWELL, SMELLIE and CRAPP all in the same family group!,none of them related  to me [thank heavens]

A friend of mine lives and works in Germany his surname is MIST, which causes much amusment for his German friends and neighbours. It is German for dung [for want of a better word].

There are some funny, rude, and vulgar surnames especially in the US, have a look at the 1880 US census.

Tom
Tree
GAUNT N Staffordshire,GAUNT Manchester.GUY,Shropshire, BARTLEY,Salford, Lancs, NEVILLE,Salford. PHILLIPS,Staffs, MAYER,Staffs,COSSAR,Berwick, E and Mid Lothian and Argyll. HIGGINS,Glasgowand Dunoon,Argyll.GALLAGHER,Argyll,IRISH,Herts.

Offline suey

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Re: Unfortunate surnames of the past
« Reply #7 on: Friday 03 September 04 23:19 BST (UK) »

My Mum once had a neighbour called Rhoda Daley ........
All census lookups are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Sussex - Knapp. Nailard. Potten. Coleman. Pomfrey. Carter. Picknell
Greenwich/Woolwich. - Clowting. Davis. Kitts. Ferguson. Lowther. Carvalho. Pressman. Redknap. Argent.
Hertfordshire - Sturgeon. Bird. Rule. Claxton. Taylor. Braggins

Offline Bee

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Re: Unfortunate surnames of the past
« Reply #8 on: Friday 03 September 04 23:34 BST (UK) »
I think i've just found some Pratts in my family :)
Dinsdale, Ellis, Gee, Goldsmith,Green,Hawks,Holmes,  Lacey, Longhorn, Pickersgill, Quantrill,Tuthill, Tuttle & Walker,  in E & W Yorks, Lincs, Norfolk & Suffolk. Census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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