I would bet a large amount of money that you opened this blog post with a very inquisitive mind as to what was going to be within it!!! Well, I hope it won’t disappoint. However, it is not about the idiomatic expression and euphemism of the English language…. sorry! It is actually about further ludicrous names in the genealogical records of England and Wales.
Blackbird…. a first name used by the Noble and Baggott families of the Gateshead and Newcastle areas. Why? What is the connection? Right now, we have no idea but the only other reference to anyone called Blackbird is Blackbird Maud Bird who was born (and also died) in 1889. That’s a crazy name!
F
irst names of Crane, Starling and Raven are more common than you might think, but Albatross? Yes, Albatross Louisa Kingston born in 1891 in Cookham Registration District (RD)…. Albatross travelled to Canada and married in Toronto in 1915 (see left) – now that is clearly not a transcription error.
Clearly, 1891 was the year for eccentric birth names – Cuckoo Hope Shipperson was born in Barnet RD in June quarter 1891. No other records are evident for this character…. perhaps that’s for the best?
Parrot …. ‘who’s a pretty boy then?‘ …. not so many but a few more than a handful! Johnson, Jackson, Cooper, Dean and Fenton surnames feature in the associated BMDs for Parrots of the Victorian era and no later. And, would you believe it, Pelicano Gilbert was hatched in Peterborough way back in 1843….
Quite frankly, I am staggered by the names which were registered in yesteryear. There was even a Wasp. Just one. Wasp Spencer who was born in June quarter 1876 (Halifax RD), married in March quarter 1899 (Halifax RD) and died in September quarter 1959 (Halifax RD). Thank heaven, he didn’t pass on his name to his children! Be thankful for small mercies, Spencer children!!!
