Names or "handles"

**Jerry** · 18th October 08, 04:20 AM

Mine is kind of obvious too. I used to use JerMc, but I found when I met fellow Xmarks members, not even I was sure how to pronounce it, so I had Mike1 change it for me. However, if Jerry of Stillwater Kilts ever wants to use it as his screen name, all he has to do is PM me and I'll change it slightly.

**oldfool** · 18th October 08, 04:40 AM

It's descriptive.
It's also a statement that " I know" and you don't have to remind me.

My parents named me Richard Thomas (first and middle for my grandfathers) Swaim in 1939.
I have been told that "Swaim" was made up around 1660 on Staten Island for the English by a Dutchman. It seems the Dutch didn't use surnames and the English required it.
I think of myself as Tom Swaim (once again for my grandfathers, I really admire them) however I am called Richard.

**Ugly Bear** · 18th October 08, 04:41 AM

My case is also obvious. I am horribly ugly, to the point where small children often burst into tears upon seeing me. Grown adults will often stick little wads of money in my hand out of pity, then rush away, shielding their eyes. There is a proposal on the ballot this November to force me to wear a paper bag over my head in New York State (Proposal "UB"); the measure is expected to pass.

Add a bit of body hair to the mix, and you've got yourself a handle.

**Piper** · 18th October 08, 05:31 AM

Another unimaginative one here. I don't belong to many forums (fora ?), and generally try to sign in under the name I go by everyday (Rick). When that's been previously taken, I sign in as Piper, cause I are one. Hopefully I'll never run into a situation where they're both taken. Thinking tends to make my head hurt.

duchessofnc · 18th October 08, 05:35 AM

duchessofnc - this is my nick for Duchess McKinnon though I'm starting to lean to the MacKinnon spelling. When I was a little girl my Dad was very heavily into CB Radios and it was a family thing. They had their various handles. My Dad was Big Ralph (tall and his 1st name) and my sisters had their own. And at a very young age I was extremely fascinated with radio communication and under controlled circumstances my Dad would sit me on his lap and let me talk.

But I needed a handle and so he said, why don't you be princess of something like that. My Dad did try very hard to get into the little girl stories. In one the concept of other royal titles had come up and I can't for the life of me remember the name of it, but, I remember saying, "No. I don't want to be a princess. A duchess has more fun." Thus my lifelong handle. When I got into the Internet, I transferred duchess over. Eventually I couldn't use just duchess.. someone else had the same brilliant idea as me. So I added the ofnc because I'm in North Carolina even though I had chosen McKinnon as a surname because it became my writing name.

The MacKinnon was my grandmother's maiden name. On my Dad's side of the family.

I now have a domain ... duchess-mackinnon.com . No website yet. I only purchased the domain a week ago. It'll be my personal website though. And I have given over the last few years serious thought of legally changing my name to Duchess MacKinnon though if I ever do that's a long ways off.

**Sir William** · 18th October 08, 06:20 AM

Mine is actually a nickname I received while doing 18th century reenacting/living history the last 30 years. I've worn the uniforms of the 77th Montgomery's Highlanders and the 78th Frasers's Highlanders (both French and Indian War), 71st Fraser's Highlanders (American Revolution), and now I'm with the Appin Stewarts (1745 Rebellion) - and have consequently been kilted much of the time - thus an appropriate moniker for a kilt forum.

**Amoskeag** · 18th October 08, 06:45 AM

Amoskeag, good place to fish is the Abenaki name for the falls in Manchester, NH. It was the name given to the huge textile mill complex established there in the 19th C. and became synonymous with Manchester. I am an historical musician specializing in mid 19th C popular music. I am from the area and keeping with tradition I "borrowed" the name to add some class to the enterprise, Amoskeag Music. It is now a very public domain kind of name but back then the trademark and copy write laws were not strictly enforced so folks would just assume all manner of appropriations. Nowadays we've had Amoskeag Bank, Amoskeag Taxi, Amoskeag TV, Amoskeag Diner, etc..

There is a Scottish connection however. Running down the West Side through the complex is McGregor St in honor of the Scottish weavers who were brought in to actually make the wool. Seems that the New England farmers were better at building dams and buildings than fabric making.
Bob

**ChattanCat** · 18th October 08, 08:13 AM

Mine is a conCATtenation (get it cat?) of the first federation of clans, Chattan and the first three letters of me last name. The nickname Cat stuck with my brother but not with me. Guess I should have been a swimmer like him... Anyway ChattanCat was born. Catanach's were part of the Chattan clan. Catanach is now a sept of the MacPherson clan and the Chattan was dropped.

**Livingston** · 18th October 08, 08:59 AM

Very simple. My last name is Livingston.

kiltedwolfman · 18th October 08, 09:18 AM

I've been called "Wolfman" ever since I was a wee thing, my grandad called me it because when I bow hunt I like to get all fours on the ground and track my game. And my in my days as a fire-fighter I had a habit of giving a little howl when I went into a fire. What can I say I'm more animal then fella! ;)