The problem is in Ireland the stonemasons charge the same for four consonants as they do for one vowel. I gather the it’s something similar for the fellas that make the signs for the towns in Wales..
When I was growing up my parents had friends with the surname Onion who used to insist it was pronounced ‘on yon’ because it was French.
Digressing further, I once work somewhere that employed two brothers who used different pronunciations of their surname.
As an apprentice in the workshop, I worked with George Turner (who worked a milling machine) and Brian Mills (who operated a lathe). Did suggest they should swap jobs.
The charge hand was called Gordon Bennet, not nominative determinism, but so nearly uttered when I presented work to him.
Many years ago, one of my clients was Dr Donald Duck from Mallaig in the Scottish highlands. He used to point out that he was here before Walt created his version.
There was a Dr William Shakespeare in Aylesbury, and not all that long ago. (Well, still alive in the 1970s. ) If his name didn’t draw enough attention, he was also achondroplastic.
I am known in many circles by the name Dave the Train, or even just Train. (One of my jazzier friends thinks it is spelt ‘Trane, bless). I acquired this nickname 18 years before I started working on the railway. Needless to say, it is not my nickname at work.
One of my friends is called Dick Whittington. His father and grandfather were also named Dick Whittington. A family tradition, apparently.
A guy I used to know in my much younger days was named Harry Barry. In the days when policemen could do such things, he got a clip round the ear from one who asked him his name and thought he was being cheeked.
Frank Zappa’s drummer from 1981 to when he gave up touring in 1988 was Chad Wackerman. He later played in guitarist Allan Holdsworth’s band.
His father, Chuck Wackerman, was a drummer and music teacher. Chad has two younger brothers, John Wackerman and Brooks Wackerman, who also play drums.
When I moved to London my GP was Dr Thick, before that in Liverpool I was assigned Dr Smellie
There’s a top urologist in the UK called Dr Nick Burns-Cox.
When I was at school, we had a PE teacher called Mr. Atkinson who introduced himself by saying “that’s spelled B, A, S, T….”
The names I enjoy most are De’Ath and O’Nions.
…similarly, I was a bit sorry to discover that the surname ‘Murdaugh’ is pronounced ‘Murdock’. Especially in this context:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_of_Alex_Murdaugh
Similar state of affairs in Ireland where Naughton is pronounced Knock-ton, while
Connaughton is pronounced Conna-ton
The problem is in Ireland the stonemasons charge the same for four consonants as they do for one vowel. I gather the it’s something similar for the fellas that make the signs for the towns in Wales..
When I was growing up my parents had friends with the surname Onion who used to insist it was pronounced ‘on yon’ because it was French.
Digressing further, I once work somewhere that employed two brothers who used different pronunciations of their surname.
Duke Ellington’s. piano teacher was a certain Marietta Clinkscales.
My headmaster was Mr Mussell.
He wasn’t anything like Arnie, althought he was a bit fishy.
I had a Dentist called Dr Stretch too! Woking area?
There were dentists in Guildford called Pullan and Paine.
Yes in Scotland Bridge Road in Woodham. 🙂
Crikey! It’s the same guy! Small world.
Forgotten who else is a Woking boy here but someone is. I lived in Scotland bridge road and went to West Byfleet primary and Woking grammar. You?
Lived in New Haw, Horsell and Woking. Went to school in Chertsey, though. St Thomas the Apostle and Salesians.
One of my hometown’s dentists when I was growing up was a Mr Mallet, which I presume had nothing to do with his extraction techniques.
However a few doors down was the local GPO, run by a Mr Stamp.
As an apprentice in the workshop, I worked with George Turner (who worked a milling machine) and Brian Mills (who operated a lathe). Did suggest they should swap jobs.
The charge hand was called Gordon Bennet, not nominative determinism, but so nearly uttered when I presented work to him.
After I’d left working in a school the new headmaster employed was a Mr Bulley when I went back to visit I found out he was.
My mum and dad had a greengrocer shop. So what? The Greens.
My late father was a church organist and for a while played at a church in Chester overseen by the Reverend Virtue.
There was of course this dental surgeon in Hammersmith.
The regular spokesperson for Birdwatch Ireland is Niall Hatch.
Bob Flowerdew was a Gardeners World regular.
Plus Pippa Greenwood and on Gardeners Question Time Clay Jones and Bill Sowerbutts.
The president of the RHS is Keith Weed.
We had a new bathroom fitted a few years ago. The lad who tiled it was called Tyler.
Two from Cornwall when I lived there a few years back.
One of the consultants I saw at the hospital was a Mr Andrew Pothecary.
A chap who ran an owl sanctuary was a Mr Screech.
Local mobile tyre fitting business is run by John Tyres.
Many years ago, one of my clients was Dr Donald Duck from Mallaig in the Scottish highlands. He used to point out that he was here before Walt created his version.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4105265.stm
There was a Dr William Shakespeare in Aylesbury, and not all that long ago. (Well, still alive in the 1970s. ) If his name didn’t draw enough attention, he was also achondroplastic.
‘is this a scalpel which I see before me?’
There is a Canadian golfer with the glorious name of Dave Bunker
We had to deal with a conveyancing solicitor called Wright Hassall. Our experience made the name very apt.
There’s a cyclist currently riding for the XDS Astana team named Max Kanter. He is of course a sprint specialist.
I am known in many circles by the name Dave the Train, or even just Train. (One of my jazzier friends thinks it is spelt ‘Trane, bless). I acquired this nickname 18 years before I started working on the railway. Needless to say, it is not my nickname at work.
Colin Bass plays bass
One of my friends is called Dick Whittington. His father and grandfather were also named Dick Whittington. A family tradition, apparently.
A guy I used to know in my much younger days was named Harry Barry. In the days when policemen could do such things, he got a clip round the ear from one who asked him his name and thought he was being cheeked.
Frank Zappa’s drummer from 1981 to when he gave up touring in 1988 was Chad Wackerman. He later played in guitarist Allan Holdsworth’s band.
His father, Chuck Wackerman, was a drummer and music teacher. Chad has two younger brothers, John Wackerman and Brooks Wackerman, who also play drums.
Pan American Airways was founded by Juan Trippe.
The tympanist in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is Neil Hitt…
Correction my chiropodist was called Marian not Miriam and guess what she’s still going
https://footandgaitclinic.co.uk/team/marian-barnacle/
Many years ago, I had a counsellor called Andrea Brain. She was very good.
Not nominative determinism this one, but I was flicking through an internal staff directory one time and happened across a Tony Arm.
Toe Knee Arm.
It tickled me at the time.