Despite being passed down from generation to generation, some of our rudest national surnames are now in danger of dying out thanks to a thoroughly modern British sensibility. Cocks have fallen by 75 percent and Balls by more than 50 per cent according to a new study comparing the country’s most popular monikers with those of more than a century ago.
Now an endangered breed, the popularity of surnames including Smellie, Shufflebottom, Nutter and Piggs has also shown a marked decline. The reason behind the changing face of British surnames? Sheer embarrassment.
Jamie Jackson, Chief Executive of deed poll firm The Legal Deed Service changes thousands of names each year. He said, “I am not surprised by the fall in embarrassing surnames. We often deal with clients who have been subjected to teasing or bullying because of their name and decide to pay for a name change in order to distance themselves from the problem. In most cases, the client will decide to take a partner’s name or use an older family name in order to maintain some kind of link with their heritage without having to suffer the blushes caused by a rude surname.”
The London-based company guides its clients through the deed poll process, changing a legal name or title from that stated on the individual’s birth certificate to the chosen alternative. Mr Jackson added: “Companies often rebrand so why shouldn’t individuals?”
While some are happy to make the most of their embarrassing name, others see a name change as an easy way to spare themselves or their child from being the target of school ground torment and ridicule. With our surnames on everything from our passports to our bus passes, an embarrassing handle can be a social hindrance. But, if our naughty names are being swept under the carpet, what are they being replaced with?
Mr Jackson said, “The most common surnames we deal with include Taylor, Brown, Thornton and Williams. These are traditional names that have always been popular because they leave little room for teasing and embarrassment. I think there’s also the perception of their being safety in numbers so common surnames will always appeal to these wanting to change from a more unusual family name.”
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