> This turned up on a local Ethnic Network list that I watch. I would be
> interested if someone with more knowledge on Dutch nomenclature can
> provide more information, especially if I can feed it back. It is
> interesting if it is true as I recognise the name Zondervan still
> survives as a publishing house.
>
> <quote>Napoleon made it compulsory for the Dutch to list a surname in
> 1811. Some, to protest this imposed requirement (there were surnames
> earlier but they kept changing according to naming conventions), gave
> their surnames which were funny/strange/obscene:
> Suikerbuik (Sugarbelly)
> Uiekruier (Onion-crier)
> Naaktgeboren (Born naked)
> Poepjes (Little shit)
> Schooier (Beggar)
> Scheefnek (Crooked-neck)
> Rotmensen (Rotten people)
> Zeldenthuis (Rarely at home)
> Zondervan (without a surname)
> Borst (breast)
> Piest (to urinate)
> The idea was that this would be something impermanent. But once the
> register started, the names became permanent. There are those like de
> Jong (the young), de Groot (the great), etc. I will love to hear more
> on this from some Dutch person (or another) on this forum who may be
> able to shed more light on this.<unquote>
>
> --
> Andrew Smith -- hobbit@griffler.co.nz --
>
http://hobbit.griffler.co.nz/homepage.html
>
> "If you are gonna rebell you have to wear our uniform."
>