Nice place, shame about the Name

I've often wondered from where my surname derives; never for very long nor with much conscious effort, the possibilities are not actually that flattering and probably better forgotten. There's always the chance that it referred to some particular talent, long-forgotten but remarkable in its day, or a bent towards a particular skill, perhaps of a literary or academic nature. Discovering that I am descended from a long line of lop-sided people, or lazy loiterers wouldn't exactly enhance my CV or self-esteem. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to check out the UCL Surname Profiler which I discovered over at Pete's earlier tonight though.

It's quite compelling. I'd recommend you take a look if you've a spare couple of minutes ( and chances are, if you've got time for this drivel, you're hardly CEO of NASA or B&Q).

Anyway, I now know I am probably named after an English Settlement ( I have made a mental note to seek out my ancestral seat one of these fine days - 'til now I'd assumed it was Pisa). It must be a pretty exclusive place as there are only 3% of the population with a more rural surname than mine. I like that. It appeals to my elitist nature. It's not quite in the top 2% where I am more used to finding myself in league tables, but I'm sufficiently content with it.

I've also learned that the town ( I'd have called it a village) from which my father ( and John Harrison, inventor of the chronometer and general good bloke for the British maritime and empire-building industry) hail, is the top place in Britain to find our rare, fine pedigree, has been since 1881 and there is a 3245% greater chance of finding one or other of my relatives there ( and most of them are married to each other - cousins - easily recognised, the ones with the webbed feet and shoulder humps) than anywhere else in the country. The only other stronghold appearing to be New Zealand.

What I am more puzzled about is the Social Demographic profiling of our genus. Rustbelt Resilience! What type of category is that, for goodness sake? Rustbelt Resilience? It might be suitable for your common or garden rose bush, but not your Specimen Cherry.

It doesn't stop there. It then tells me that 93% of the population have a more high-status name. Well, they are welcome to them, cramped together in their New Urban Colonies and Dinky Developments Caring For their Elders. I won't be downtrodden, I shall not tarnish and wither under their scorn. This Cherrypie of Pisa stands proud, just ever so slightly to the left, may occasionally threaten to wobble to the right a bit, but resolutely proud to bear the name of her forefathers.