Dr. Hook published a work on the "Changing American Surnames." In that work, he included this section on names from the 1790 United Sates Census which was the first complete census of an English Speaking Nation.
(Hook 64-73)
The Census Bureau compilers, who authored A Century of Population Growth (1909), took a look at some of the strange names they found in 1790 census. Here are some of the unusual or amusing English surnames from their list. I. Household and Domestic Affairs:
A. Food and Eating: Soup, Oyster, Haddock, Pork, Savory, Stew, Duck, Quail, Goose, Gravy, Tripe, Kidney, Liver, Hash, Ham, Eggs, Goodbread, Radish, Butter, Vinegar, Carrot, Squash, Brownice, Waffle, Honey, Pancake, Jam, Fudge, Tea, Diet, Slice, Green, Alspice.
B. Drink: Brandy, Goodrum, Grog, Grapewine, Cider, Freshwater, Booze.
C. Clothing: Dress, Rainment, Gowns, Petticoat, Redsleeves, Feather, Spangle, Shoe, Highshoes. Stockings, Jumpers, Overall, Socks, Cap, Bloomer.
D. Sewing Materials: Linen, Silk, Poplin, Buttons, Needles, Pin, Pattern, Spool, Threadcraft, Patching, Whitecotton.
II. Human Characteristics
A. Kinds of Men: Countryman, Iceman, Sickman, Shortman, Toughman, Tidyman, Weatherman, Houselighter, Woolweaver, Landmiser, Pioneer, Pagan, Pettyfool, Passangers, Biters, Fakes, Equals, Dancer, Drinker, Cusser, Spitter, Booby, Dunce, Boor, Crook, Rascal, Swindle, Madsavage, Hero.
B. Condition: hunger, Thirst, Smell, Taste, Laughter, Reason, Clemency, Care, Wit, Devotion, Goodcourage, Fuss, Flurry, Piety.
C. Appearance or State: Plump, Comely, Sallow,Supple, Boney, Barefoot, Busy, Idle, Careless, Gushing, Dumb, Howling, Daft, Looney, Dowdy, Fickle, Gadding, Sober, Maudlin, Sever, Naughty, Toogood, Prudent, Hasty, Allright, Lazy, Upright, Underhand, Measley, Cacklin.
D. Ailments and Remedies, Fatyouwant, Gout, Fever, Crampeasy, Measles, Swelling, Gripe, Ache, Blackhead, Fits, Quick, Physic, Pill.
E. Parts and Actions of the Body: Brains, Forehead, Ears, Wrists, Hips, Gullets, Heats, Bowles, Voices, Whisper, Murmur, Grunts, Howles, Smack, Caress.
III. Religion, Music, and Literature:
A. Religion: Preacher, Chapel, Steeples, Organ, Pew, Serman, Creed, Binle, Psalms, Psalter, Sinners, Meracle, Hell.
B. Music and Literature: Music, Harmony, Overture, Duett, Harp, Fiddle, Fife, Poet, Rhymes, Juingles, Ballad, Parody.
IV. Property:
A. Kind of House , Building Materials, and Belongings: Lot, Brickhouse, Mahogany, Oldhouse, Halfachre, Laughinghouse, Brickroof, Gutters, Lumber, Scrantling, Cranny, Lockkey, Buttery, Pump.
B. Surroundings: Stable, Trough, Manger, Coolyard, Woodhouse, Milkhouse, Warehouse.
C. Furniture and Tableware: Curtin, Vase, Clocks, Desk, Chairs, Bolster, Bucket, Snuffer, Platter, Newbowl, China, Knife, Forks, Saucer.
D. Merchandise and Commodities: Stove, Auction, Wondersale, Shovel, Poker, Hammock, Tubs, Ax, Nuthammer, Hatchet, Whetstone, Gauge, Oats, Husks, Barley, Camphor, Cowhorn, Cutwork, Dipper, Ivory, Junk, Pincel, Sickle, Silkrags, Smallcorn, Stilts, Turnipseed, Whitehorn, Wigs, Hames, Surrey.
E. Money, Dollar, Milldollar, Thickpenny, Shilling, Nickles.
V. Nature:
A. Colour: Colour, Ruby, Pink, Purple, Seagray, Orange, Lavender, Scarlet.
B. Objects of Nature or Features of a Landscape: Tallhill, Widedale, Woodsides, Bogs, Chestnutwood, Hazelgrove, Woodyfield, Wilderness, Middlebrook, Gully, Taterfield, Longwall, Maypole, Lawbridge, Lowbridge, Drawbridge, Woodendyke, Saltmarsh, Oystermarsh, Sharpstone. C. Trees: Oaks, Greenoak, Chestnut, Willow, Tumbletree, Redwood, Sap, Acorn.
D. Plants and Flowers: Plants, Weeds, Shrubs, Primrose, Ivy, Parsley, Marjoram, Wormwood, Fennal, Caraway, Bramble, Thistle, Barnthistle, Toadbush, Ragbush, Pollen.
E. Weather: Weathers, Dry, Damp, Dismal, Sprinkle, Shower, Simoon, Slush, Blizzard, Coldair.
F. Beasts: Horse, Hoss, Hossies, Mules, Kicks, Ox, Bulls, Cows, Heifer, Redheifer, Cats, Leathercat, Mouser, Pup, Shoat, Sealion, Cub, Leopard, Tiger, Moose, Panther, Flippers, Canter.
G. Birds: Eagle, Canary, Woodpecker, Peacock, Ravin, Seahawk, Buzzard, Spipes, Pheasants, Bantam, Gosling, Birdsong, Birdwhistle.
H. Insects and Creeping Creature: Ant, Beetle, Fly, Hornet, Roach, Locust, Snails, Maggot, Worm, Snake, Turtle, Frog.
VI. The Ocean and Maritime Subjects: Seas, Billows, Breeze, Ship, Sloop, Barge, Bigraft, Anchor, Commodore, Mariner, Shipsboy, Swab.
VII. War: War, Campaign, Fight, Fightmaster, Boom, Guns, Trigger, Pistol, Bugler, Officer, Treason, Prison.
VIII. Death and Violence: Death, Deadman, Hearse, Vaults, Tombs, Moregraves, Murder, Demon, Ghost, Mummy.
IX. Time: Months, Weeks, Shortday, Night, Hour, Midwinter, August, Yesterday, Tuesday, Allday, Allways, Friday, Sunday, Monday, Lunch, Supper, Christmas, Easter, Goodnight.
X. Unusual Combinations of Common Forms: Cathole, Clapsaddle, Clinkscales, Flybaker, Flyover, Goodbit, Goosehorn, Greytracks, Hogmiire, Hungerpealer, Liptrop, Milksack, Moonshine, Spitsnoggle, Stophell, Sunlighter, Sydebottom, Threewits.
XI. Striking or Ludicrous Combinations of Common Forms of Christian Names and Surnames. Joseph Came, Peter Wentup, John Sat, Sarah Simpers, Ruth Shaves, Barbary Staggers, Joseph Rodeback, Christy Forgot, Agreen Crabtree, Snow Frost, Wanton Bump, Adam Hatmaker, Darling Whiteman, Mourning Chestnut, River Jordon, Over Jordon, Boston, Frog, Batchlor Chance, Anguish Lemmon, Unitey Batchlor, Thomas Purify, Noble Gun, Hardy Baptist, Mercy Pepper (Hook 328).
There are several names that occur above that are still in use in tghis area. A couple of those are Dowdy and Roach.
More Odd Names