On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

I am currently reading the genealogical charts of the Hatfield and McCoy clans. As I sit here giggling at some of the names, I realize that my own Appalachian Mountains family tree has some interesting names too. I can boast that I have an Uncle Frog and an Aunt Michael. Anyone else wish to share unusual family names?

Yes, Aunt Hertha, Aunt Carmi, Uncle Gelimer, Uncle Eldon, Uncle Alaric, Uncle Pug.

I have a cousin named Flossie

My cousin is named Robin. While that isn't an unusual name, her mother named her that because she reminded her of a baby bird looking for food. I always loved that story.

Aunt Peaky.

Aunt Monkey. Her real name is Chalice Marie, but she hates that and prefers her childhood nickname. Go figure!

Diane, that’s funny you should say that. I’ve got a second cousin named Monkey— although her real name is Virginia, she’s hated that and preferred Monkey her whole life too. My grandmomma had friends named Dovey and Tootsie that I knew growing up. One of my grandaddy’s good friends, his given name was Early Easter.

These are nicknames but still kind of cute: Bootsie, Tootsie, Frassie, Nonnie (two, one of either side of the family), and Punkin. These are all aunts.

have a cousin named FLOSSIE

I have an Aunt Shug, Uncle Jones (first name), Arvil (male), Argriffa (female), Aunt Michael, and lots of others I can't think of at the moment...

Also had a Dovie (female) as a neighbor, growing up.

I love the name Aunt Shug. Wonder where that came from. maybe short for sugar?

My grandfathers name was Saint Clair. To make matters worse, his son bore the same name. I am told that my grandfather was actually named Sinclair but someone made a mistake on his birth certificate. Instead of changing the name on the certificate, his family went along with calling him Saint Clair, Saint for short:-)

I have seen Permelia (a woman's name) in my husband's family - from Georgia - Arkansas - Oklahoma - Texas. She's not the only person I've seen with that name in my research. And the modern day indexers often get the name wrong.

My paternal grandmother's family, from western NC, always used the nickname of the middle name to call the child. My father John Richard was Dick and my uncle Robert Stephen was Steve. But my aunt, their sister, was always called Judy - she was Judith Ann.

My grandfather's name was Joseph Forrest. He wanted a boy. 1st child was a girl: Mary (my mother); 2nd child was a girl: Jewel; when the 3rd child was a girl he decided the only way to have a child named for him was to name a girl child for him: Forrestene. 4th child a girl also named for him: Jo Ann.

My father's name was James. First child, girl, was named for him and my mother: Mary Jamelia (I've never seen another Jamelia). I didn't have to be named for anyone, so just got the cool name: Melody.

Looking through the old family Bible I see my paternal great-grandfather was named General Lee Jones.
Couldn't help laughing a little.

Katherine wrote: "I have seen Permelia (a woman's name) in my husband's family - from Georgia - Arkansas - Oklahoma - Texas. She's not the only person I've seen with that name in my research. And the modern day inde..."

I went to high school with a woman named Permilla. She was from Sweden.

So many to choose from!

My grandmother's given name was Ora. I had great aunts Zala Elma, Ruby Nell and Loma Lee (all sisters). A great-grandmother was Tippie. A great-great grandmother was Amanda Melvina. A great-great aunt was named Isa, and she had the misfortune to marry Mr. Pigg.

My father had a cousin whose full name at birth was Betty Black Leaver. (Black was her mother's maiden name). She was always called "Betty Black", just like people might call someone Sue Ellen or Betty Jo. On first hearing, people often assumed her surname was Black, not Leaver, and it only got more complicated when she married!

For the men, I had a great uncle whose nickname was Hek-most people didn't know his real given name. There's also several generations of the family with the given names James K.--just an initial, not a full middle name. Had a great-uncle named Alonzo aka Uncle Lon.

I'm sure there are more, but those are what I can recall at the moment.

J wrote: "These are nicknames but still kind of cute: Bootsie, Tootsie, Frassie, Nonnie (two, one of either side of the family), and Punkin. These are all aunts."

I had a set of cousins that were all siblings - their names rhymed. Donnie, Dottie, Debbie, Sissie, Hattie, Bobby, Danny, and Guy (obviously the black sheep of the family).

Letha Mae and Martha Jay were sisters of my daddy, Luna Mayo.
Happy Jack was my daddy's cousin.

Doah and Auntie Pud are my husband's grandmother and aunt.

It seems to be a southern thing to use first and middle names together. And not just old-timey, I have a friend whose 9 year old daughter is named Lily Belle, and her son is Davis Lee.

My great-grandfather x2 in eastern Tenn in the late 1800s named one of his 17 children (2 wives) King David. I always thought that was rather bold. King David himself had about 10 children. Some of the old names are quite interesting.

Hubby's family and friends in Mississippi:
Uncle Shot
Aunt Tick
Cousin Bones
Dude Partridge
Biff Partridge
Stump
Limo

Aunt Hertha, Aunt Cumi

Enjoying all of these different names!

I'm not listing the funny names in my family tree ... I use them as passwords!

My sister had in-laws named Peaches & Dimples.

My grandfather is from a line of Williams and has continued the name. But it's not like regal English William, it's country William.

So my uncle is known as Butch.
His son is known as Billy.
His younger brother is Beau, and I think that's somehow also a William.

This has made me proud for years!

In my husband's family they pass down the names of Larkin (his middle name) and Windsor (his father's name, and my husband's sister gave it as a middle name to her first son.)

My great-uncle was Robert Roberts, my mom’s side was Welsh on her mother’s side and Irish on her dad’s. Uncle Bob’s wife was named Nonga.

My grandmother's name was Minna. I've never known or heard of anyone else with that name.