Family Nicknames

As you have seen on Greg's blogs last year about our Mom, see came from a large family. She was the eldest daughter of 5 girls and the second child of 7. The eldest son is Robert Jr. (this is what Grandmama always called him) the rest of the family calls him Bob (no big surprise there). As mentioned before, Mom being the eldest daughter was called Sister by my grandfather. She also had the nickname of "Hitty" given by Bob when he was little because he couldn't say sister. That stuck throughout her life with all family members (cousins included). Her grandmother couldn't say Muriel (Mom's first name) and called her Mule (which my Dad said applied sometimes). In going through her belongings, I found cards and letters sent to her from Dad and he called her "Dusty" and she called him "Lucky". Never knew that before so didn't have the opportunity to find out why these names. She was also very affectionately called "Muz" by all the grandchildren and us as well, and just about anyone close to her. At her funeral Eric (her eldest grandson) stated he had given her this name but , again, going through her things, I found a card given to her for her birthday by Dad and her signed it "To almost Grandmuzzie". This was just before Lori, her first grandchild was born. I think I remember she told me that Greg gave her the nickname "Muz" when he was little and we lived in Florida.

Next in her family is Opal Lea. She married Don Rost, and for some reason all of us grandchildren have called her Lea-Don for as long and I can remember.

Ruth was the next child and she married Dexter Dunavant. She was called Ruth-Deck. Don't know who started these nicknames but they stuck.

Shirley is next and her nickname for all time will be "Too-too". Again don't know where this came from but she has always very affectionately been called this by all of us. She was married to Frank (who also passed away last summer) and I think some of the younger grandchildren called him Mank.

Elizabeth Ann is the youngest girl and no one knows that is her real name because she has never been called anything but "Pat". I think Mom gave her that name, if I'm not mistaken.

Tom was the last and he was always just Tom or Tommy.

There are 23 of us grandchildren. The first being Bob's eldest son Robert , known only to us a "Butch". Then his sister Diana Gail. She is called Dee-dee, which is short for Dee-dee Bop (don't know where that came from). Her youngest brother is David (a few days younger than I). I don't remember him having a nickname.

Next comes the four of us (actually Alan and myself were born before David). Alan, our eldest brother is Alan Dwain. He was known a Dwain until a few years ago. When I was little Mom said I called him Dane. As I got older her became "Bubba". In high school he got the name "Frenchie" and we have all guessed as to the origin of that. He has been "Frenchie" for most of his adult life and it has been very hard to call him Alan, but I'm getting there.

I'm next and stated before I have been known as Cis or Cisy all my life. To the point that many of my cousins friends don't know I have any other name.

Greg is next. He was very affectionately called "Bimbo" by our grandfather. He followed "Bozo" (our grandfather's name to all us grandchildren) everywhere and sang a little song - "Bimbo, Bimbo where you going to go-li-o. Bimbo, Bimbo, what you going to do-li-o...." This was taught to him by Bozo and he would sing it to him all the time. As the nieces and nephews came along, he acquired other nicknames, none of which stuck. Eric called him "Gork" at one time. When Tara was a baby, she called him "Egg" and Janice, "Jam". For a little one, I can see how she would get that out of Greg and Jan. Mostly he was called Bim by Mom and family.

Rex, we have already discussed. He is now called "Uncle Beeps" by nieces and nephews.

Other cousins: There is Olivia, known as "Da-da", given by me (she is not quite 2 yrs younger than I). Mom said when I saw her for the first time I said, "My Da-da" meaning babydoll. Her brother was Anthony. He was born the day the Russians lauched there first Sputnik rocket, therefore his nickname was "Sputnik". These are Shirley's children.

Lea's girls are Gail and Layne. They didn't have family nicknames as far as I know. The cousins always called them by these names.

Ruth's children are Dru better know and Drusy Lou, Dexter - Monkey and David ( not the one mentioned above). Don't know why Monkey, he is by the way Dr. Dunavant now.

Pat's children are Scott, Trisha and Chad. Scott was the only one with a nickname and it was Googer because that is what he called dogs.

Tom's girls are Cindy and Andrea. Their full names are Cynthia Elizabeth and Andrea Lee. My aunt Betsy said she didn't want them to have nicknames, so we called them Cindy Beth and Andy Lee I think just to hack her off.

So there you have it. Interesting names somewhat. Oh, My girls are Tara Elaine and Teri Diane. Tara has been know as Tata all her life and Teri was called "Touchdown" for awhile (because of her initials). She is now very lovingly called Aunt T or just "T" by all (given to her by Haley). Haley is known by me as Haleybug and by her grandfather as "Hamburger" (again because of her initials - HB- Haley Brook). Hannah is Hannah Marie and before she was born we called her Nanna Pudding so Mike now calls her "Pudding" or as she says "Puddining".

Now you know all our little secret names with as much history as I know as to why we carry them. Have fun and brothers - forgive (although I think your nicknames are really cute). Love ya.