GalacticCactus Forum

Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Brinestone on October 10, 2005, 02:56:34 PM

Title: Odd
Post by: Brinestone on October 10, 2005, 02:56:34 PM: I just came across the record of someone whose last name is Fischbein--German for "fish leg." Why on earth would someone have adopted that as a family name?
Title: Odd
Post by: Porter on October 10, 2005, 02:58:33 PM: That's frickin' awesome!
Title: Odd
Post by: Lovebot on October 10, 2005, 03:06:19 PM: Depends on whether cod meant to them what it means (will mean?) to Jayne. It could be a very crude boast, of a sort.
Title: Odd
Post by: Porter on October 10, 2005, 03:06:46 PM: :snort:
Title: Odd
Post by: Brinestone on October 10, 2005, 03:16:37 PM: I still don't get where the legs come into it.

No, no. Don't explain.
Title: Odd
Post by: Lovebot on October 10, 2005, 03:16:37 PM: You want some weird names? I got your weird names.

Asman.

Arsht.

Blam.

Bier. Not sure if it's the beverage or the funeral burning goody.

Peckar

Worsencroft

Lifshits

There are plenty more in the just sounds weird variety, but I thought I'd restrict myself to the ones that sort of mean something in English. I know, I'm going to the special hell.
Title: Odd
Post by: Icarus on October 10, 2005, 03:21:01 PM: I taught a boy whose last name was Bonar.
Title: Odd
Post by: Brinestone on October 10, 2005, 03:23:05 PM: The two co-owners of the company I work for are a Ms. Reddy and a Ms. Bona. They thought about making the name of the company their two names (like Larson-Smith Enterprises), but they quickly realized that would be a bit unprofessional.

So they went with Ms. Reddy's mother's maiden name and Ms. Bona's mother's maiden name, ending up with the mouthful, McKinnon-Mulherin. Hm.
Title: Odd
Post by: Teshi on October 10, 2005, 03:41:07 PM: I've known a family with the last name Bogie.
Title: Odd
Post by: Mr. Anderson on October 10, 2005, 05:31:21 PM: Quote
I still don't get where the legs come into it.

No, no. Don't explain.
Maybe they're into Darwinism.
Title: Odd
Post by: Jono on October 10, 2005, 05:42:49 PM: Doesn't bein mean "bone"?
Title: Odd
Post by: rivka on October 10, 2005, 07:58:11 PM: Indeed. The Fischbeins I know sure think it does. (Although why you'd want your last name to be something people choke on, I don't know.)