WHAT'S IN A NAME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 412, 22 December 1932, Page 2

WHAT'S IN A NAME

QUITE A LOT unwieldy list of 17 handicaps one officer UNUSUAL NOMENCLATURE The Browns, Smith, and Thompsons should be thankful for their names. How would they like to sign themselves Maggott or, Woodenhead — two -surnames which are still common? In Bardsley's "Dictionary of Surnames" are mentioned such unfortunate names as Beervault, Scoundrel, Twaddle, Swine, Gatherveil, Drinkdregs, Littlebeast, Silley and Ginman. Sometimes insolvency has been attributed to names. In a list of bankrupts one finds a baker named Shortweight, a fishmonger named Rottenherring", a hutcher with the name of Katzmeat, and a doctor bearing the ominous surname of Gravestone. In England persons possessing queer surnames formed an association recently presumably for mutual sympathy and support. It is known as the Funinames Club. In the county of Sussex there are several old families which bear the. embarrassing surname of Halfnaked. The name has existed since Norman times, when the first of the line was Baron Walter de Halfnaked. His manor and estate, which still exist, are. called Halnaker. It seems almost incredible that persons bearing such a name have not undertaken the simple formality of changing it. Among long names almost everybody has heard of PraiseGod Barehones, one of Cromwell's parliamentarians. He lived in the 17th century, wh'en religious fervour was introduced into all phases of life. It is reported that his surname was, in fact, spelt Barbone. He had two brothers bearing even more remarkable names. One had been christened Christ-Came-Into-The-World-To-Save Barbones, and the other, Had-Not-Died-Thousands-Hadst-Been-Damned Barbone. The Puritan practice of giving children Biblical texts for Christian names was fairly comman among the early settlers in America. It is officially recorded that a sea captain at that time bore thc name of We-Enter-Into-The-Kingdom-Of-Hea-ven Clapp. In the 19th century an eccentric man named William Harris was so successful as a sausage-maker that he was known as the Sausage King. The honour must have turnod his head, for he named his three sons, William I., William II. and William III., and his three daughters Elizabeth I., Elizabeth II., and Elizabeth III. During the Great War one of the British casualty lists recorded the death of Captain L. S. D. O. F. F. T.-T. de O. P. Tollemache-Tolle-mache. This offieer was a member of a family of nine brothers and sisters remarkable for their long, unwieldy names. The captain was a son of the Rev. Ralph Tollemacbe, and his full name was Leone Sextus Denys Oswolf Fraudati Filius TollemacheTollemache de Orellana Plantagene Tollemache-Tollemache. One of his brothers gloried in sixteen Christian names — Ydwallo Odin Nestor Egbert Lyonel Toedmag Hugh Erchen Wyne Saxon Esa Cromwell Orma Nevill Dysart Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache. His eldest sister signed herself Mabee Helingham Huntingtower Beatrice Blazonberrie Evangeline Vise de Lou Orellana Plantagenet Saxon Toedmag Tollemache-Tollemache. One brotber, who was christened with only seven names, had them shortened later to plain Leo de Orellana Tollemache. A A solicitor in Victoria, w'ho died a few years ago, was named Pelling Hugh Gough Pigott Stainsby Conant.