7 Last Names That Used To Be Insults
Long before surnames became fixed family identifiers, they were simply descriptive labels, often based on a person’s trade (Smith, Miller); residence or nearby topographical features (York, Wood); father’s name (Donaldson, Johnson); or personal characteristics (Little, Short, Swift). Eventually, these descriptors became surnames, many of which still exist today.
But not all of these monikers were benign or flattering. Some were assigned by uncaring neighbors, tax collectors, or local officials who needed a way to tell people apart — and the names they chose were not always kind. Nonetheless, the labels calcified into family names, passed down from parent to child. Over the centuries, the surnames lost their original meaning and any unfavorable significance was largely forgotten. Which brings us to today — and the millions of people who carry surnames that were once less than flattering, possibly without realizing the original meaning.
Campbell
Campbell is one of the most widespread Scottish surnames, carried by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. It began, however, as a rather unkind physical observation. The name derives from the Gaelic word cam (meaning “crooked” or “deformed”) and beul (“mouth”) — used as a nickname for a person with a bent or misshapen mouth. According to the Clan Campbell Society in North America, the nickname may have first been applied to Dugald of Lochawe in the 12th century, as he apparently talked out of one side of his mouth (perhaps due to a medical condition known as torticollis). Dugald was held in high regard, so his ancestors took his nickname as their clan surname, which was then passed down through history until the present day.
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Cameron
Cameron is another common Scottish surname that spread across the globe despite its less-than-flattering origin. According to one theory, the name comes from the Gaelic cam — the same as Campbell — and shron (“nose”), together meaning “crooked nose.” The nickname would have been given to someone with a bent or hooked nose — the sort of observation that a small, tight-knit community would seize on as a distinguishing label. The nickname camshron later morphed into Cameron, eventually becoming one of Scotland’s most recognized surnames.
Barrett
Barrett is a relatively common English and Irish surname of Norman origin. It was likely a nickname for a quarrelsome person, derived from the Old French barat, variously meaning “trouble,” “distress,” or “strife.” It was originally applied to cantankerous or dishonest individuals — people known in their communities for causing difficulties or being untrustworthy. Around 100,000 people have the surname Barrett in the United States, but it’s safe to say that not all Barretts inherited the temperamental nature of their forebears.
Foley
Foley is a common Irish surname that made its way across the world, with more than 50,000 Foleys now living in the U.S. It’s a shortened and anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Foghladha, referring to the descendant of a pirate, plunderer, or marauder — in other words, not exactly the most trustworthy of lineages. Somewhere in the Foley family tree there must have been at least one ancestor who either was literally a raider or at least had a reputation for aggressive, acquisitive, or lawless behavior — enough to earn them, and their descendants, a lifelong label of ill-repute.
Kennedy
Kennedy is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin. It’s an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Ceannéidigh or Mac Cinnèidigh (descendant/son of Ceannéidigh) — a word that comes from ceann (“head”) and éidigh (“ugly”). So, Kennedy could have been applied to someone with an ugly head, meaning an unattractive person. Etymologists have also suggested it could mean something more like “grim-headed,” referring to someone of a stern or fearsome aspect. Another interpretation is “helmet-headed,” perhaps in reference to a warrior who was typically seen wearing a helmet.
Purcell
The surname Purcell, of Norman origin, is found historically in England, Wales, and Ireland — with some 22,000 Purcells now living in the U.S. The name derives from the Old French pourcel, meaning “little pig.” This may originally have referred to the occupation of swineherd. It’s also possible that it was used as a nickname for someone with a piglike appearance, as an insult or perhaps in an affectionate manner. Either way, it became a popular surname in Ireland in the 12th century, before the descendants of the “little pig” went global.
Moody
Today, calling someone “moody” is generally taken as an insult — or at least a criticism — suggesting that the person has unpredictable mood changes or is frequently gloomy or ill-tempered. As a surname, it has a different meaning, going back to the Old English and Middle English mody and mōdig, respectively. Both words carry a range of possible meanings, from the generally positive “fierce,” “bold,” and “brave” to the potentially negative “proud,” “haughty,” “angry,” and “rash.” The more insult-oriented meanings better fit the traits we associate with the modern sense of moody — but any Moodys reading this might prefer the brave and bold definitions.
