Coming from a line of “Bergers” and “Bargers” and growing up hearing every schoolyard insult variation on that name, I can empathize with life carrying an odd last name. So, if you’ve ever stumbled upon an ancestor named “Smellie,” “Bottom,” or, like my middle school band teacher, “Weiner,” you’re not alone. Strange and even unfortunate surnames are a genuine part of genealogical research – and they’re more common than you might think. But where do these names come from, and what can they tell us about our family histories?
The truth is, many of these odd last names weren’t always considered “ridiculous.” Most were perfectly respectable descriptors, occupational titles, or location-based identifiers that, over centuries, took on new (and sometimes embarrassing) meanings in modern English.
The Origins of Unfortunate Surnames
When it comes down to it, most surnames fall into a few main categories:
- Occupational: like Baker or Butcher
- Descriptive: like Short or Armstrong
- Locational: like York or Atwood
- Patronymic: like Johnson or O’Brien
But every so often, you’ll find one that defies polite expectations. Take the name “Hooker,” for example, which was originally an English occupational name for someone who made or used hooks. Not a terribly common profession now. Or “Daft,” once a Yorkshire term for someone gentle or meek, not someone foolish.
Words change – and surnames go along for the ride.
Innocence and Etymology
Many of the names with modern offensive meanings weren’t intended to be provocative at all. Time simply shifts their meaning. Looking at first names, it was perfectly common for a man in the 1940s named Richard to go by the nickname “Dick.” Nowadays, you’ll rarely see that.
This transition also extends to surnames. For example:
- Fanny: A perfectly normal nickname for Frances in the 19th century – less so now.
- Cox: A common English surname derived from “cock,” or a rooster, so it was a nickname for someone proud or spirited.
- Slutsky: Comes from Slutsk, a city in Belarus.
- Winterbottom: A geographic surname for someone living in a valley or “bottom” near Winter Hill.
The everyday person making their family tree might find themselves giggling or cringing when encountering these names. But to the original bearers, they were fairly run-of-the-mill.
Paying the Authorities
In parts of Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, families were required to register permanent surnames. Those with money could pay for elegant, honorable, or noble-sounding surnames like Goldberg or Rosenfeld. Conversely, those who didn’t or wouldn’t pay, often ended up with names chosen by clerics of the time. Unfortunately, some clerics assigned insulting or intentionally comical names as a result. In this system, even your name could reflect power, status, or prejudice, and many of those odd or unfortunate names echo that history.
How to Handle an Embarrassing Last Name in Your Family Tree
Returning to my band teacher, Mr. Weiner, it turns out his name had German roots. Weiner was the dialectal form of Wagner, meaning “wagon maker” or “cartwright.” His ancestors were very likely wagon makers, and a simple odd translation later on left him victim to a lot of middle schoolers’ teasing. Because, make no mistake, life with an odd last name can have an impact.
However, even the oddest last names have fascinating etymology. How exciting would it be to find out your name is indicative of a history of craftspeople and builders? Wouldn’t you know it, Mr. Weiner also subbed in our woodshop class.
So, when researching your ancestry, it’s important to remember:
- Context is everything: Understand the original meaning and historical background of the name.
- Spelling evolves: Some offensive-sounding surnames are the result of modern phonetic spellings or anglicizations.
- You’re not alone: Plenty of families share these names, and many wear them with pride.
The Strange but Sincere History Behind Odd Surnames
Embarrassing surnames are part of what makes genealogy so human. They reflect language as a living, changing thing – and the people who carried those names with pride, regardless of how they sound today. So if your great-great-grandmother was a Butts or your 5th cousin once removed was a Grossman, consider it one more colorful thread in your family’s incredible story.
And if you’re wondering about the quality of sources you’re using – whether they’re firsthand documents or later interpretations – this explainer is a great refresher: What is the difference between primary and secondary genealogical sources?
The post Unfortunate Last Names: Where Do They Come From? appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage
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