Sunday, January 7, 2007

More Odd Names in History

As many of you know, I've become a collector of "odd, strange and funny names" of people who have existed in history. I have written several posts from my own research and that of others. So I wasn't too surprised when my CVGS colleague Susi sent along a link to http://f2.org/humour/language/oddnames.html.

I don't know how I missed this page before, but it is absolutely a grand collection of names, some with an explanation. Some of the best IMHO are (from "Remarkable Names of Real People" by John Train (1977):

* Bambina Broccoli, New York City

* Humperdink Fangboner, Lumber Dealer, and Fanny Fangboner, Nurse, Sandusky, Ohio.

* Orange Marmalade Lemon, Wichita, Kansas.

* Anil G. Shitole, Rochester, New York.

* Ginger Screws Casanova, Eureka, California (Eureka Times-Standard).

* If-Jesus-Christ-Had-Not-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned Barebones, London, England [Set up first the fire insurance office in Britain. Changed his name to Nicholas Barbon].

* Pepsi Cola Atom-Bomb Washington, Upper Marlboro, Md [Youngest of twenty-two children].

* Lovey Nookey Good, Texas State Health Department, Austin, Texas.

* Solomon Gemorah, Brooklyn, New York.

* John Hodge Opera House Centennial Gargling Oil Samuel J. Tilden Ten Brook, Olcott, New York [Born in 1876, the centennial year, and named in honour of John Hodge, who owned the Hodge Opera House, manufactured gargling oil, and supported the Presidential candidacy of Samuel J. Tilden. His friends called him "Buck"].

Read them all - an excellent collection!!

My reaction to these odd names is always the same - "what were their parents thinking?"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I don't know how accurate this Web site is, but it has some interesting info about an Isaac Buck, b. 1706!

http://ralphinla.rootsweb.com/buckepep.htm

Jonnie Wilson
San Diego Genealogical Society