Re: Dutch surnames (scatological warning!)

--- On Mon, 4/6/09, andrew <hobbit@...> wrote:
>
> <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:
(snips)
I've heard/read that too, and I guess Christophe's reply supports it too.

My next-door neighbor's last name is Bont; he told me it was originally Bontekoe
(spotted cow)..........Will have to check my Holland MI phone book to see if any
others turn up ;-)