Still laughing. Most of our ancestors fetched water or chopped wood. The rest served the lord of the manor in the fields. Even those whose names sounded "exalted" were saddled with mocking nicknames like Peacock, Duke, Prince and King. I think Barbara would agree. Gary Radcliffe [email protected]

> Still laughing. Most of our ancestors fetched water or chopped wood. > The rest served the lord of the manor in the fields. Even those whose > names sounded "exalted" were saddled with mocking nicknames like > Peacock, Duke, Prince and King. I think Barbara would agree. > > Gary Radcliffe > Oh, absolutely!!! <G> I've run across many a name that meant something such as "Big Head With Wart On Nose" but it sure sounded and looked good in todays language! Once found one that originally meant "a foundling under a tree". It was a perfectly honorable and nice name. But by the time it made it into the nineteenth century it had been twisted around to sound something like "Snicklefritz" (can't remember the exact name) and meant something totally different today than it did in the 11th century. I can sympathize with people who would like their names to mean something important or exotic, though. My own maiden name is one of two exceedingly mundane ones, depending upon whether I use my father's adopted name of SHEPARD or his natural father's name of English. Also, my given name boils down to the Greek meaning of "Babble"! Now, ain't THAT an EXOTIC ONE THOUGH?!!? <G> Babble Sheepherder-Englishperson From the Estate of Chance (sure glad I don't have to sign THAT on a check! I'd never make it! <LOL>)