{"id":30475,"date":"2018-04-11T13:02:58","date_gmt":"2018-04-11T17:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=30475"},"modified":"2019-02-07T11:02:54","modified_gmt":"2019-02-07T16:02:54","slug":"genealogy-humor-unusual-funny-names-of-people-part-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-humor-unusual-funny-names-of-people-part-iii.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy Humor: Unusual & Funny Names of People (Part III)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to find more curious or amusing names our ancestors once used. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.<\/em><\/p>\n

When I get bored, I sometimes look to old newspapers. There\u2019s plenty of amusement to be found in their pages, and one activity I particularly like is looking up funny names. Some of you may be familiar with my earlier funny names articles, such as: Genealogy Humor: Unusual & Funny Names of People<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been quite a while since my last humor article \u2013 but in the meantime, I have found many more funny names in newspapers to share with you. Not sure if every example is real, but they sure are amusing.<\/p>\n

Wait-a-While Makepeace<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with a real example. Who among us genealogists has not run across the Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England <\/em>by James Savage? First published in 1860, this book shows three generations of those settlers who came before May 1692.<\/p>\n

This review, published when Savage\u2019s book first came out, notes a number of curious names \u2013 including Wait-a-While, daughter of Thomas Makepeace.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, Massachusetts), 25 July 1860, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bow and Arrow<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1824, when a Mr. Arrow married a Miss Bow, it was noted that Cupid\u2019s bow and arrow was never more properly joined! I tried to locate their given names but was unsuccessful \u2013 so if any readers discover them, please let me know in the comments section.<\/p>\n

Also, there\u2019s this: talk about overcoming pre-marriage jitters! A Mr. Fearing married a woman whose first name was Submit.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Daily National Journal (Washington, D.C.), 24 November 1824, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fishy Undertones<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another wedding notice without given names follows. If you were named Mr. Bass, of course you would hook up with Miss Bait. Or maybe not!<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Lynchburg Press (Lynchburg, Virginia), 9 July 1810, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Dead Match<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Miss Coffin married Mr. Grave, this newspaper article noted it was a \u201cdead match\u201d despite being very much alive!<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Constitutional Telegraph (Boston, Massachusetts), 4 November 1801, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Native Americans<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some Native Americans are given very descriptive and curious names. Some of my favorites from this newspaper article are:<\/p>\n