Posted on 07/26/2017 1:13:44 PM PDT by sodpoodle
Did you know that surnames can go extinct just like species do? Think about it: do you know anyone these days named Chaucer?
One historical reason for surnames becoming extinct was World War I. Often, men who were friends and neighbors served together; when there were mass casualties, a village or town might lose a whole generation of their men. Because names at that time were often specific to an area, a name could be almost completely eliminated.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.ancestry.com ...
Many British families died out in the male line, but one of the daughters’ children took the family name and got the family fortune, so it looks like the family line was unbroken.
Many early surnames died out at the time of the Black Death in the mid 14th century, when their use was still not universal. By the start of the 15th century most English people had fixed hereditary surnames, although they spread more slowly in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Cue Frank Sinatra.
“Anybody know anyone named “Hitler”?”
from IMBD: “Meet the Hitlers” is a feature documentary that examines the relationship between names and identity, by exploring the lives of people who are linked by the name ‘Hitler.’ The film raises important questions about the meaning of names, and explores complex issues like immigration, racism, and tolerance. Yet it’s ultimately a character-driven story, offering an intimate portrait of its subjects, whose reactions to their name span the spectrum of human experience, from tragedy to comedy, and heartbreak to hope.
“IMBD” = “IMDb” - danmed dylsexia!
I thought I told you NOT TO MENTION THE WAR!
No, nobody with that unfortunate surname, but there was the Dick family, quite prosperous, ran a chain of funeral homes. And then you have the very prominent Cocke family of Virginia. A lot of their linear descendants changed their name to Cox.
There are several other names. Dinsea, Doannoe, and Ainherd just to mention three.
I once worked with a British gentleman whose last name was Hogg. Here in Florida it’s pretty hot in the summer and I remember several of us were walking from the car to the office and one of our party commented that he was sweating like a hog. The perp was embarrassed. Mr. Hogg was used to it.
Yes, the famous country music singer Patsy Cline married a Dick.
From Mel Brooks.
Really? I thought Hitler was adopted -— ending a family name over an adopted child???
What about Schickelgruber?
“Latrine” - reminds me of a scene from “Top Secret”:
Du Quois:
“This is Chevalier, Montage, Detente, Avant Garde, and Deja Vu.
Deja Vu:
“Haven’t we met before?
Nick Rivers:
“I don’t think so.
Du Quois:
“Over there, Croissant, Souffle, Escargot, and Chocolate Mousse.”
It’s pronounced “Throatwobbler Mangrove” but it’s spelled “Raymond Luxury Yacht”
He was not adopted.
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