LYONEL THE SECOND
February 11, 2012 12:15 AM Subscribe
Tollemache, Ralph William Lyonel Tollemache- (1826–1895), Church of England clergyman and bestower of eccentric names.
No Moon Unit? No Denephew? No Humperdinck? No Apple? No Shaquillia? Piker.
I was nevertheless reminded of "Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q".
But I kind of dig eccentric names: my grade school best friend was dubbed "Krishna" by her parents -- who were NOT hippies, and were NOT Hindu (they'd seen the name in an article about sled dogs and thought it sounded pretty). Her brother was named "Theoden" - yes, after the King of Rohan. Also - my paternal grandfather was named "Revilo Oliver [Callipygos]". He hated it and went by his initials (I didn't learn his actual name until I was about eleven).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:42 AM on February 11, 2012
I was nevertheless reminded of "Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q".
But I kind of dig eccentric names: my grade school best friend was dubbed "Krishna" by her parents -- who were NOT hippies, and were NOT Hindu (they'd seen the name in an article about sled dogs and thought it sounded pretty). Her brother was named "Theoden" - yes, after the King of Rohan. Also - my paternal grandfather was named "Revilo Oliver [Callipygos]". He hated it and went by his initials (I didn't learn his actual name until I was about eleven).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:42 AM on February 11, 2012
these are the greatest names in history
posted by PinkMoose at 1:39 AM on February 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by PinkMoose at 1:39 AM on February 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
For those who don't have a ODNB subscription (thank you Senate House Library!):
Tollemache himself took an additional Tollemache for his own surname in 1876. In 1908 his seventh child and fifth son, Leo de Orellana (1879–1914), ungratefully renounced by deed poll the names of Quintus Tollemache Tollemache Plantagenet.
posted by bebrogued at 1:40 AM on February 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
Tollemache himself took an additional Tollemache for his own surname in 1876. In 1908 his seventh child and fifth son, Leo de Orellana (1879–1914), ungratefully renounced by deed poll the names of Quintus Tollemache Tollemache Plantagenet.
posted by bebrogued at 1:40 AM on February 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don't know where I read this, but I seem to recall that there were two Tollemache families, divided over the pronunciation of their lastname. The distant Tolmash and Tolmak kin were never reconciled.
posted by Jehan at 2:09 AM on February 11, 2012
posted by Jehan at 2:09 AM on February 11, 2012
As I remember from The Book of Heroic Failures (which, with The Book of Lists, were what my generation had instead of the internet. And encyclopaedias, I guess), the most unsuccessful name is Abishag, which (the Bible apart) even the Victorians only managed to bestow once.
Personally I've thought that a good job for my declining years would be to be registrar of births in some backwater or other where I'd be less likely to get caught, and try to convince people to call their daughters things like Anaglypta or Urethra or their sons Lanolin or Macro.
posted by Grangousier at 2:41 AM on February 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
Personally I've thought that a good job for my declining years would be to be registrar of births in some backwater or other where I'd be less likely to get caught, and try to convince people to call their daughters things like Anaglypta or Urethra or their sons Lanolin or Macro.
posted by Grangousier at 2:41 AM on February 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
I actually live close to where Tollemache came from, but only found out about this recently. They don't seem to make much of it but a recently built street is named after him.
He's not the only minor famous Tollemache from the area. A great parliamentarian of the rotten borough variety - years in parliament = loads, contributions = sod all. And for that he's got a statue next to Newton and a now a new(ish) pub named after him!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:42 AM on February 11, 2012
He's not the only minor famous Tollemache from the area. A great parliamentarian of the rotten borough variety - years in parliament = loads, contributions = sod all. And for that he's got a statue next to Newton and a now a new(ish) pub named after him!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:42 AM on February 11, 2012
So, no relation to Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel?
posted by Abiezer at 3:11 AM on February 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 3:11 AM on February 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
He's not the only one with a silly name. This bloke is an old ancestor of his, who founded Winchester College.
posted by marienbad at 3:26 AM on February 11, 2012
posted by marienbad at 3:26 AM on February 11, 2012
Abiezer: Perhaps a distant cousin to Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dangle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz-ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer-spelterwasser-kürstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-eine-nürnburger-bratwustle-gerspurten-mit-zweimache-luber-hundsfut-gumberaber-shönendanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-raucher von Hautkopft of Ulm.
posted by usonian at 5:04 AM on February 11, 2012
posted by usonian at 5:04 AM on February 11, 2012
It's actually pronounced Throatwobbler Mangrove.
posted by The White Hat at 6:25 AM on February 11, 2012
posted by The White Hat at 6:25 AM on February 11, 2012
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oh, wait, this isn't an obit post?
bestoyer of eccentric names
No Moon Unit? No Denephew? No Humperdinck? No Apple? No Shaquillia? Piker.
posted by evilmidnightbomberwhatbombsatmidnight at 12:24 AM on February 11, 2012