My name's Wales- like the Prince...
For years I have been saying that about my name, or the more common: "Wales- like the Outlaw Josey Wales." I say these things because although easy to spell and short, it is rather uncommon and most of the time people assume it it a different name. The assumptions go from names such as Wells (sounds like my name if you say Wells with a good Texas drawl- as in: "I'm a rich Teksus awl rancher and I got me two hunnert awl Wayells.") and Walls (more common after reading the name once and forgetting it). The most irksome is when someone isn't really paying attention and thinks that I said "Williams." Now, I realize that there are similarities: it starts with W, has L in the middle, and ends with an S, but clearly it is a different name. Much more common as well.
I try not to be bothered by it, but then, it is my name, and I like it.
Often I am asked if there is any relation to either of these characters. Well, since Josey is a fictional character, I guess not. But the Prince? Most people don't even think of the royal family as having a surname. And if they know already, they would know that it is Windsor or Mountbatten-Windsor (for those descended from HRM Queen Elizabeth II).
But I digress.
I used to think that the "officialy" surname was the same as mine, due to an erroneous article I read in the paper. As it turns out, the name was changed in 1917 so that the surname and the family name would be the same and also sound more British, as it was the height of the first World War and the name had been "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha"- a name that prompted writer H.G. Wells (not Wales) to complain about Britain's "alien and uninspiring court," prompting HRM King George V's famous remark, "I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm alien."
But that is not the point to my ramblings today either, but rather that I read something today that referred to one of the princes as "Wales." And it was a pretty funny story too.
I try not to be bothered by it, but then, it is my name, and I like it.
Often I am asked if there is any relation to either of these characters. Well, since Josey is a fictional character, I guess not. But the Prince? Most people don't even think of the royal family as having a surname. And if they know already, they would know that it is Windsor or Mountbatten-Windsor (for those descended from HRM Queen Elizabeth II).
But I digress.
I used to think that the "officialy" surname was the same as mine, due to an erroneous article I read in the paper. As it turns out, the name was changed in 1917 so that the surname and the family name would be the same and also sound more British, as it was the height of the first World War and the name had been "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha"- a name that prompted writer H.G. Wells (not Wales) to complain about Britain's "alien and uninspiring court," prompting HRM King George V's famous remark, "I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm alien."
But that is not the point to my ramblings today either, but rather that I read something today that referred to one of the princes as "Wales." And it was a pretty funny story too.
posted by The Doctor at jeudi, octobre 27, 2005
17 Comments:
y, I am not sure if you mean me, but though I was invited to come down for the game, i did not end up going to Houston. Of course I would have paid tribute to HRM had I been there (which is by the way the only place that I have seen HRM Elizabeth II). But on the other hand, what makes you think that a "normal" queen lives in Montrose?
um, how did a threading technique of egyptian origin keep you from being over six feet tall with a 5 o'clock shadow?
that makes me chuckle. Like the Pilsbury doughboy, even...
I recently spoke up in a deposition:
Mr. Garza, my name's Steven Wales.
Plaintiff's attorney: What?
Wales: "Wales"
PC: "Wells?"
Wales: "No, Wales."
PC: "Wayland?"
Wales: "No, Wales--like the Prince."
This was greeted by an uproar from the crowd of 30-plus attorneys, most of whom have known me and my suddenly presumptious name for two years.
It was funny. I told them on the record that I didn't mean anything by that....
Dunno if y'all read the article i linked to (I suppose not everyone does, though some always will), but I found out why the officer referred to the prince as Cadet Wales: seems that officially he ought to be referred to as Cadet His Royal Highness Henry the Prince of Wales, but after the initial formality, thereafter he can be called simply Cadet Wales, though it is not his surname. The royals, it seems, do not normally use surnames, though they technically have them.
And Steven, sorry that they don't see your more princely qualities (as opposed to Prince-like)...
dennis - hope you don't mind but i linked you on my blog
good read here man, keep it up
I agree, using "Montrose queens" and normal in the same sentence is sort of oxymoronic.
But as for your name, you should try living with my maiden name! It was a relief to change it when I married and simply have to just spell it every single time I am introduced. I even encouraged the use of my nickname because so few could correctly pronounce my given name.
Names matter. But I'm not sure how much. Maybe we get too caught up in them sometimes. There's only one Name that really counts when its all said and done.
Wells? Whales? Wails...all I hear is MUMBLING!
Most of the Queens I've seen have not been normal, rather average and sub-par.
i'd really like to have some sympathy for you here...but i gotta say i don't think anyone who writes or reads your blog can even begin to imagine the drama that surrounds the process of conveying my name to people. it's nearly indescribable, as the good doctor can attest.
Touché, Dovie. I suppose I am used to introducing myself or explaining my name like I mentioned, or simply: "Wales- w-a-l-e-s," but even when you spell your name out for people they look at you funny- "Kept-wha?"
and as for mama's maiden name, well, that's just a little too much information to publish out here on the internet, now isn't it?
suffice to say that it is not common. not even in Germany, where it is from.
J- glad to hear you like the blog. join the fun. By the way- you have an easy name.
e- you have a name that is pretty e-z to remember too.
and well, if we're going to talk about Queens, why don't we just go to New York and have a look. I haven't been to Queens in a long time.
oh- i don't know if she would be offended at all, but since you asked, I just thought I'd put it out there because it is one of those internet security things. that's all. part of the whole identity theft prevention plan. if she were offended, she would let it go anyway. she's cool like that.
Hi, Erika Hughes! I enjoy your commnents on Dennis's blog and am impressed that you read his stuff so diligently! My maiden name is
Gauger. Dare you to pronounce it correctly on the first try!
I don't take identity theft threats lightly, as even poorfolks like me can get in a horrid mess if it happens to us. But I don't think my maiden name is a secret if anyone wants to know it. I appreciate Dennis's being careful about it, though, and hope all of you know he is a really special guy, as even Sploosh will attest!!!
Mama (Kathy)
No one has ever said "Whales" before? I'm sad to hear that. I take great delight in names, but more to the point, I take great delight in making spoonerisms of names. It is a fun way to help remember someone you have just met. Wennis Dales, etc...
My favorite was a girl I knew some years back. Spoonerizing her name gave me tremendous pleasure, although I never did it in front of her (just on public internet sites). Her name, adjusted, was Wiffany Tinkles. Ha! I still get a chuckle from that.
Well, Harter Carkins, there was this one kid down the street who tried to convince my brother and I that the address sign that had our name on it was misspelled, as it was obviously missing the letter 'h'. So, though we could not persuade him with our smooth-talking rhetoric, somehow or other he was forced out of the neighborhood. Voluntarily, I'm sure. I think someone made his father an offer he couldn't refuse.
I tried to spooonerize his name but it wasn't really very funny : Tommy Temple. Now Thirley Semple would be funnier, but well, the only other name that would have been better might be Paul Temple. Spoonerize that for a Taugh or Loo.
Kathy (mama)- thanks for your kind words... I knew I could count on you to keep reading this silliness.
as for the rest of you- don't think for a minute that I'm going to post my SSN or visa numbers...
I used to get "Whales" over and over and over. That's rare because so few people pronounce the "h" in any word that follows w. I do. ("'Wh' is pronounced 'Hw'," I used to tell my classes.) Anyway, I finally corrected the offender.
What was worse was finally telling Joe Hugghins that I was 'Steven,' not Dennis. Poor guys' so old, turned so red, I thought he was going to have some cardiac infarction and sue me for failing to render aid--still arguing I was Dennis even as he gasped his final breaths.
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