Table of Contents
Can I change the pronunciation of my last name?
You and your family can pronounce it as you wish. Of course. You get first choice.
How do Brits pronounce Ralph?
The man’s name “Ralph” is pronounced “Ralf” in American English, but often one hears “Rafe” in British English.
How is Cholmondeley pronounced?
Okay, but how do you really pronounce Cholmondeley? Although it looks like it should be pronounced “Chol-mon-delay”, it is in fact pronounced “Chumley.”
How do locals pronounce Cirencester?
In Anglo-Saxon times the name of the town was written Cirrenceastre or Cyrneceastre (the Saxon ‘c’ was pronounced like the ‘ch’ in change). The Normans mispronounced the ‘ch’ sound as [ts], resulting in the modern name Cirencester /ˈsaɪərənsɛstər/.
How did surnames change over the years?
Initially, surnames were fluid and changed from generation to generation, or even as a person changed his job – “John Blacksmith” may have become “John Farrier” as his trade developed. But by 1400, surnames in England and lowland Scotland had mostly settled down and become hereditary.
When did surnames become hereditary in England?
But by 1400, surnames in England and lowland Scotland had mostly settled down and become hereditary. What that means is that traditional English and lowland Scottish surnames predominantly reflect society as it was in the mid to late Middle Ages. Common surnames such as Smith, Wright, Cook, Taylor and Turner are all based on a person’s trade
Do places with the same name have different pronunciations in the UK?
Places that have the same name in somewhere like the USA or Australia, will be pronounced completely different in the UK. We posted a handy chart for London pronunciations a few weeks ago and it was very popular, so we thought we’d create one for the rest of the UK.
Do surnames reflect society as a whole?
What that means is that traditional English and lowland Scottish surnames predominantly reflect society as it was in the mid to late Middle Ages.