Adults with embarrasing surnames

[Dr Jekyll]

I read that embarrassing surnames such as Shufflebottom are on the decline, the report said it was due to people changing their names rather than not passing their name on due to getting dates. But how much of an issue is it for an adult? Is it really worth the trouble once you have qualifications etc in the embarrassing name?

Ed Balls, not a person easily embarrassed, has given his children their mothers surname apparently because his schooldays were horrific, but the name doesn't do him any harm now.

[Jonboy_t]

Why would anyone outside of the school playground give a monkeys about their surname being embarrassing?! If I knew someone called Tarquin FrontBottom and he was a nice bloke, I'd probably like to spend time with him. Would be exactly the same if his name was Max Ninja.

[0000]

Dr Jekyll said:

Ed Balls, not a person easily embarrassed, has given his children their mothers surname apparently because his schooldays were horrific, but the name doesn't do him any harm now.

Isn't that just because his actions are more embarrassing than his name? Perhaps because of his name.

[Dr Jekyll]

Well exactly. Perhaps such names are dying out because of women's reluctance to become Mrs Frontbottom rather than due to name changes.

[FredAstaire]

Ed Balls.

[MarshPhantom]

There was a lad with the surname Butt at school. He has since changed to Beaumont.

[CypherP]

I changed my surname when I was a teenager after my parents divorced.

Having the surname Burke in secondary school wasn't particularly great. And before you ask, yes my mother's maiden name which I changed to is far better.

[Dr Jekyll]

An exceptional case
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Patrick_Stua...

[eltax91]

I know a Mr Kok. He's very happy with it, gives him the individuality apparently

[Se7enheaven]

Worked with a lad called Randy Dick some time ago

[thebraketester]

I know a guy, his lastname is "Kunz"

[Nardiola]

I used to work in a bank many years ago, when the mood took myself and colleagues we would look up funny names. Two that stuck out Mr A wka, and Mr Robert Swipe, I'm sure there were others too but they were the best.

[Pixel Pusher]

Is Hansen an embarrassing surname?

[Gargamel]

One of my sons teachers is Miss Dick

I also laugh probably too much at anyone with the surname Ramdass

[brrapp]

I worked with a guy called Tom Watt. He quite consciously signed his name ttT.

He was one though.

[Doofus]

Gargamel said:

One of my sons teachers is Miss Dick

What kind? Does she do magic or read palms?

[downthepub]

There's a bloke in our address book at work with the name Frank wke. That's definitely NOT funny. Or Amit wkhede (username wka0). NOT funny.

[mrtwisty]

It's not just the Surname in isolation that can be the problem, but when it's coupled with a badly chosen Forename.

I used to know a nice white-haired old lady called Pat Mycock.

[The Moose]

I can understand why adults change their surname.

If they were constantly bullied through school it can be a reminder. They may not want to pass the same fate onto their kids so use the mums name and then change theirs so they all have the same name. Could just bother them.

[brrapp]

I knew a guy with the surname McCracken, I never knew his real first name, everyone just called him Phil.