What’s in a Name?
Well supposedly quite a bit, especially for the residents of Shitterton in Dorset – that’s right people I did say Shitterton!
Shitterton made the news last week due to the fact that its local residents are considering rebranding their community - an idea I find quite interesting. Shitterton is the not the first of its kind either the UK is sprinkled with towns, villages, streets and cul-de-sacs all with incredibly awkward names – all originating from our unknowing and often innocent ancestors, who liked to name things with no foresight as to what that name might mean in future years (how inconsiderate).
So, on one side there are members of the shitterton community that would like to see it rebranded to Sitterton, a name that rolls more graciously off the tongue. Social acceptability seems to be key for local estate agents and people moving into the town. However on the other side there seems to be some pretty confused longer standing residents who are either proud of their town, heritage and its name or those that are indifferent about the rebranding.
Either way the changing of a community name is sure to change the very dynamics that under pin it. As older residents lament, how the town used to have no shame in its name, however recently the balance has shifted and both local councils and residents want it updated. It is true that town names have been evolving throughout history, and it was the Victorians that first raised the idea to modify Shittertons name. It is undeniable that if the name changes so does a large piece of the town’s identity and history – for good or bad, it’s hard to say as it is not me that’s living in a town that’s name is constructed from a swearword.
Anyone else live somewhere that makes them blush when announcing it? It would be great to hear more, we know you’re out there – residents of Shittlehope, Shitling Crags and Cockington!
Photo by LouisDavid over on Flickr.
2 Responses to “What’s in a Name?”
Aleksandra J. says:
June 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
My town has actually changed its name, which is common in my country. It used to be Svetozarevo, after a Marxist writer and it is now back to the old name - Jagodina, meaning a Strawberry town. The funny thing is that the writer wasn’t even famous enough to deserve a whole town (even if only 30.000 strong) named after him. In any case, the residents of Jagodina can now sleep peacefully and forget all about the Communist era, while those of us who live abroad have to explain why different documents state different towns as our places of birth!
My street has also had its name changed, from one unknown hero’s name to another. So it always feels like something is happening/changing when in fact everything is exactly the same as it always has been.
Helen says:
June 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
That ’s a really interesting view point, the idea that you can get carried away in the meaning of a name when the place it’s self will never changed at all, regardless of it’s name.
That must be crazy to live at the same place and yet the address has changed so many times over, both street name and town name.
I like strawberry town - great name!