I suppose based on the sexting (after all, isn't a picture worth a thousand words?), Weiner was clearly proud of his family name (as well as the family jewels) and wanted to 'uphold' the brand, so to speak.
I have always gotten a big kick out of the last names you come across in Italy. In Italy, up until very very recently, and I'm quite certain in most city offices it's still not allowed, you couldn't change your name if you were armed with a Papal decree to do so. While I've almost never come across truly embarrassing last names (the Italians clearly since time began have always kept in check their Bella Figura), you still happen upon names that never fail to put a smile on your face.
My coworkers and I used to keep a running list whenever we met a client that had one of those. What I wouldn't give to have it now.
Buongiorno
Mangiapane Mr. Eatbread
Bevilacqua Mrs. Drinkwater
Bugiardini Little liars
Poverelli Poor little souls
Malinconico Melancholic
Malinconico Melancholic
Inganno Trickster
Tagliabue Ox-cutter
Quattrocchi Four-eyes
Quattrocchi Four-eyes
Culetto Little ass
Bastardo
Amore
Scopacasa Sweep house
Amore
Scopacasa Sweep house
You also come across cities that give you a chuckle, like Bastardo (Umbria) or Scopa (Screw or Sweep, near Milan), or Malpensa (Ill-thought) - one place in which I for one wouldn't want to live...
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| What are they putting in the drinking water in this town?A friend was tickled pink to come across this doorbell listing: Frega = Rip-Off | Felici = Happy | Troiani = Trojans or Whores [so now we know why condoms are named Trojans] |
You can find another enjoyable listing here, replete with photos (just click on 'listing here') but in any case, feel free to add to mine in the comments below!
More on Italian last names - Click here
7 comments:
Francesca:
Brisebois= Breakwood, Ovid Boileau= Empty Bone Drink Water.
One of my best friends has the very English name of Kent Turnipseed. BTW Google him. It's interesting. He's my guru.
Davide
I still get tickled pink over the fact that England's Minister of Agriculture was once a Mr. Hogg...
2 Italians that I know have the last names Chiappetti and Panebianco. Then there's the famous Italian-American weatherman Joe Bastardi. Of course, he's a huge guy with massive muscles. I'm life taught him quickly to get to the gym!
What's Chiappetti? Little buns or small cheeks?
Alessando Il Grande was a student of mine. The first day of lessons I asked if he had a sister Caterina. His answer, no but my uncle is Federico. Diociauita is another name. All the vowels scared me the first time I saw it written. Then I realized what it spelled out.
Panebianco = Whitebread
Diociaiuto = God help us
And today I met a Ficcadenti = Toothpick or, something stuck between your teeth :)
Mine is LECCHI
In Sicily you can easily find CARNEMOLLA o MEZZASALMA.
We're so used to them, we don't even notice! I even got fond of mine!
:)
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