|
WHERE’S
IN A SURNAME?
Copy
of Press Release
dated: Monday 27 September
1999
It’s official.
There are more Daft people in Nottingham than anywhere else in the UK!
The same is true of Cranks in Crewe, Debs in London, Honeybuns in
Dorchester, Gotobeds in Cambridge, Smokers and Deadmen in Dartford, Onions in
Durham, Squelches in Romford, Sowerbutts in Blackburn, Totty in Chester, Tarts
in Telford, Woofs in Lancaster and Bogies in Kirkaldy. These are just some of
the many curious surnames unearthed by global information company, Experian, in
a survey of over 30,000 last names throughout the British Isles.
It’s official.
“Britain has a great tradition of surnames, many of which date back to the Middle
Ages,” commented Bruno Rost from Experian. “The three main influences –
Norse, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic – have left us with a rich heritage of
fascinating names and hours of amusement for the amateur etymologist!
“Many of our
surnames date back to Medieval nicknames – such as Tatters, Wildgoose, Bodfish
and Biggerstaff - and of course a great number relate to local place names.
Many are also named after animals, particularly fish and birds, and a
significant proportion are derived from traditional old English fruits, berries,
vegetables and flowers.”
Experian has produced
a summary table of some of the more interesting surnames that are particular to
different towns and cities around Britain (see attached table).
Experian is a global
information solutions company, which specialises in helping organisations to
make more informed business decisions. The
company is one of the world’s leading suppliers of information on consumers,
businesses, motor vehicles and property. By
combining its databases with advanced technology and consultancy services,
Experian assists its clients in targeting and acquiring new customers, building
successful customer relationships and managing financial risk.
The company employs
12,000 people in the UK, USA, Continental Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia
Pacific. Annual sales are in excess
of £900 million. The company's
headquarters are in Nottingham, UK, and Orange, California.
Experian is a subsidiary of The Great Universal Stores P.L.C., a UK-based
holding company that includes home shopping, retailing, property investment,
finance and information services.
For
further information please contact Bruno
Rost, Experian, Talbot House, Talbot Street, Nottingham NG1 5HF.
Tel 0115 934 4547. Fax: 0115
934 4535. Email: bruno.rost@experian.com
LOCATION
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SURNAMES
PARTICULAR TO LOCATION
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Aberdeen
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Lovie,
Kindness, Sorrie, Officer
|
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Bath
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Book,
Rabbitts, Uncles, Fear, Treasure
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Birmingham
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Deathridge,
Roadnight, Bodfish, Slim
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Blackburn
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Chopdat,
Sowerbutts, Grime, Nutter
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Bolton
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Blinkhorn,
Scowcroft, Lala, Coop
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Bournemouth
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Clapcott,
Crumpler, Loveys, Joy
|
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Bradford
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Muff,
Hustler, Dad, Din
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Brighton
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Guile,
Prodger, Gambling, Goble
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Bristol
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Flook,
Goodhind, Badman, Cockle
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Bromley
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Streek,
Snazell, Sudds, Inkpen
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Cambridge
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Yardy,
Gotobed, Easy, Binge
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Canterbury
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Fagg,
Scamp, Freelove, Johncock
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Cardiff
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Clash,
Stickler, Mountjoy, Cosslet
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Carlisle
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Twentyman,
Barwise, Ostridge, Story, Strong
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Chelmsford
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Ponder,
Puncher, Whipps, Hedgecock
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Chester
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Dood,
Totty, Woodiwiss, Borrowman
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Cleveland
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Pew,
Clerk, Blott
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Coventry
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Wankling,
Boffin, Barnacle, Willdig
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Crewe
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Proudlove,
Crimes, Eyes, Crank
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Croydon
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Stutter,
Kiss, Purt, Melody
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Darlington
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Mangles,
Blinkinsopp, Younghusband
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Dartford
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Bobby,
Buggs, Smoker, Deadman
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Derby
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Minion,
Wisher, Wildgoose, Blood
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Doncaster
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Penistone,
Smaller, Dunks, Footitt, Bore
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Dorchester
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Tory,
Cake, Honeybun, Freak, Fancy, Squibb, Why
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Dudley
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Bloomer,
Round, Spittle, Cash
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Dumfries
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Cluckie,
Kiltie, Cronie, Pagan
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Dundee
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Singers,
Buick, Tosh, Scroggie, Winks
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Durham
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Cool,
Chicken, Chipcase, Onion
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Edinburgh
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Bald,
Rarity, Brash, Snodgrass
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Enfield
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Gumble,
Ratty, Clampitt, Cheek
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Exeter
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Gist,
Mingo, Trick, Gush
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Falkirk
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Risk,
Scotland, Willing, Meaney
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Galshiels
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Virtue,
Hush, Spouse, Middlemist, Playfair, Gentleman
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Gloucester
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Overthrow,
Cowmeadow, Piff, Organ, Niblett
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Guildford
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Slingo,
Arrow, Gunner, Gaff, Hack
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Halifax
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Lovedaddy,
Fakes, Longbottom, Littleboy
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Harrogate
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Trees,
Dearlove, Sturdy, Verity
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Harrow
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Ghandi,
Jaffer, No, Richman
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Hemel
Hempstead
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Final,
Puddlephatt, Ginger, Bacchus
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Hereford
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Pudge,
Greenhouse, Trumper, Wanklyn, Over
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Huddersfield
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Wimpenny,
Bottom, Bullett, Mate
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Hull
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Daddy,
Longbone, Mainprize, Blowman, Toker
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Ilford
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Insole,
Grizzle, Canny, Huff
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Inverness
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Moonie,
Crish, Riddle
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Ipswich
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Vinyard,
Potkins, Paternoster, Crack, Stiff
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Kilmarnock
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Gaw,
Climie, Clotworthy, Dickie
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Kingston-u-Thames
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Brazil,
Tribe, Martyr
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Kirkaldy
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Bousie,
Peggie, Reekie, Baldie, Bogie
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Kirkwall
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Groundwater,
Work, Poke
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Lancaster
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Woof,
Heavyside, Physick, Goad
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Leeds
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Cust,
Thrush, Oddy, Pickersgill
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Leicester
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Grudgings,
Cank, Grewcock, Winkless, Liquorish
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Lincoln
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Applewhite,
Shucksmith, Footitt, Marrows, Bogg
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Liverpool
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Cringle,
Jellicoe, Wafer, Quirk
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London
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Forecast,
Prosper, Sin, Boom, Beg, Deb, Odd, Mycroft
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Luton
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Currant,
Inwards, Curl, Freckle, Bliss
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Manchester
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Hession,
Corry, Splaine, Slowe
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Medway
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Growns,
Spree, Diddams, Wildish, Bodkin, Dunk
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Milton
Keynes
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Bunker,
Fake, Wildman, Quince, Shotbolt
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Newcastle
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Office,
Swaddle, Weedy, Tulip, Pharoah
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Newport
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Challenger,
Weed, Wildy, Bufton, Looms
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Northampton
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Althorpe,
Tiney, Going, Civil, Muddiman
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Norwich
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Cockaday,
Pleasant, Farkas, Milhench
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Nottingham
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Daft,
Wildgust, Bust, Picker, Pitchfork
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Oxford
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Wastie,
Clinkhard, Goodgame, Sparrowhawk, Lapper
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Perth
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Kettles,
Blues, Doris, Cornfoot, Pennycock
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Peterborough
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Raspberry,
Crunkhorn, Peppercorn, Harrowing
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Plymouth
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Coon,
Lillicrap, Sleep, Screech, Wadge
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Portsmouth
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Flux,
Hookey, Glue, Kill
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Preston
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Bilsborrow,
Lakeland, Dagger, Stringfellow
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Reading
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Flitter,
Eighteen, Lovejoy
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Redhill
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Penticost,
Willie, Bravery, Tidy, Cheeseman
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Romford
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Aldwinckle,
Squelch, Popkin, Hatfull
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Salisbury
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Safe,
Thick, Smallbones, Dimmer
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Sheffield
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Denial,
Dungworth, Crapper, Struggles, Truelove
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Shrewsbury
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Bebb,
Smout, Downward, Yapp, Wildblood
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Slough
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Gumbs,
Try, Thrift, Birdseye
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Southampton
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Tongs,
Bellows, Dumper, Digweed, Spanner
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Southend
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Boosey,
Punt, Bender, Doubtfire
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St Albans
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Humbles,
Hulks, Garnish, Stump
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Staunton
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Trunks,
Kitch, Bellringer, Wile, Kick, Greed
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Stevenage
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Scoot,
Mean, Wilderspin, Game, Sweetlove
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Stockport
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Shatwell,
Mycock, Sweetmore, Garlick
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Stoke-on-Trent
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Doorbar,
Knapper, Winkle, Tams, Eardley, Hammersley, Salt, Shufflebottom
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Sunderland
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Wardropper,
Moan, Tatters, Trusty, Smiles
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Sutton
(Surrey)
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Haggard,
Allwork, Mash
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Swansea
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Ace,
John, Vice, Dummer
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Swindon
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Anger,
Flippance, Outlaw, Cuss, Plank, Sly
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Telford
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Firmstone,
Tart, Beetlestone, Hotchkiss, Daddy
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Torquay
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Cranch,
Crimp, Underhay, Tout, Pook
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Truro
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Tressider,
Buzza, Letcher, Craze, Dark, Lobb
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Tunbridge
Wells
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Gladwish,
Fuggle, Muddle, Cramp
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Twickenham
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Folly,
Wapshott, Nockles, Puddle
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Wakefield
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Stakes,
Nodder, Bucktrout, Idle, Proverbs, Belk
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Walsall
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Bottomer,
Duckhouse, Beebee, Faultless, Bibb
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Warrington
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Highcock,
Dingsdale, Tickle, Tittle
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Watford
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Biggerstaff,
Moneypenny, Peddle, Gullet
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Wigan
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Duddle,
Penk, Letherbarrow, Shacklady, Stirrup
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Wolverhampton
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Beards,
Tilt, Croot, Blower
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Worcester
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Orgee,
Careless, Panting, Crump, Bickerstaff
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York
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Strangeway,
Bumby, Waters, Didlick, Toes
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