I’m about to go for lunch with a woman with a double-barreled surname. I know five people with double-barreled surnames. Of those, one is about to take me out for lunch. Another is 5 years old and has a double-barreled surname because her parents couldn’t come to a consensus over which surname she should take. Another only has a double-barreled surname because his grandfather decided that he’d quite like a double-barreled surname, and just slung a hyphen between his middle name and his surname.

Which reminds me of that fantastic story that I’ve probably mentioned more than once on this journal before, about former deputy leader of the Labour party, George Brown. He wanted to be known as Lord George Brown, but the rules dictated that he’d have to be known as Lord Brown. So, to get around his, he changed his surname by deed poll to George-Brown. In the weeks between him changing his name and receiving his peerage, the Daily Telegraph took great delight in persistently referring to him as Mr George George-Brown. I also note from the Wikipedia entry referenced above that he was “unable to cope with the pressures of high office without excessive drinking,” which surely has to be applauded.

Anyway, if anyone has marvellous examples of double-barreled surnames, please do advise. Maybe you yourself have a double-barreled surname? In fact, I think I’ll start collecting them. I’ll start with my 5:

Bowes-Romanelli
McCandless-Desmond
Welford-Turpin
Blinston-Jones
Fulford-Jones

There’s probably some marvellous ones on Danny Baker’s exotic register. I’m off to have a look.