LESP, Part 5
Kendell and I got back last Sunday from a trip to Egypt and Jordan. But why talk about that when there are always plenty more literal English surnames to share?
The more straightforward ones: Bridges [e.g. Lloyd], Fowler, Palm [e.g. Greg, counsel for Goldman Sachs], Stack [e.g. Robert], Wells.
I recently came across the surname of "Legall". It is basically impossible to Google the history of this family -- Google keeps assuming you're misspelling the word "legal" and will find you all kinds of general pages about your legal family, your legal surname, etc.
More exotic: Blackwell [e.g. Elizabeth], Highsmith.
The name "Havelock" seems borderline. ("Havelock, will travel!")
One of my favorites: Wheatstone! That's up there with "Heaviside" in the category of "Best Exotic Literal English Surnames Borne by Famous Scientists". The phrase "Wheatstone bridge" seems particularly lovely to me. Any town should be proud to have their nearest river spanned by a Wheatstone Bridge.
Worst exotic literal English surname ever? "Cockburn" is a candidate...
The more straightforward ones: Bridges [e.g. Lloyd], Fowler, Palm [e.g. Greg, counsel for Goldman Sachs], Stack [e.g. Robert], Wells.
I recently came across the surname of "Legall". It is basically impossible to Google the history of this family -- Google keeps assuming you're misspelling the word "legal" and will find you all kinds of general pages about your legal family, your legal surname, etc.
More exotic: Blackwell [e.g. Elizabeth], Highsmith.
The name "Havelock" seems borderline. ("Havelock, will travel!")
One of my favorites: Wheatstone! That's up there with "Heaviside" in the category of "Best Exotic Literal English Surnames Borne by Famous Scientists". The phrase "Wheatstone bridge" seems particularly lovely to me. Any town should be proud to have their nearest river spanned by a Wheatstone Bridge.
Worst exotic literal English surname ever? "Cockburn" is a candidate...