| Surname | Nickname | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
|
M |
||
|
Marsh |
Swampy |
Play on words - in the sense of boggy ground |
|
Marshall |
Scrumpy |
|
|
Martin |
Pincher |
Nickname of Admiral Sir W F Martin (1801-95), renowned for being a strict disciplinarian who did not hesitate to "pinch" ratings for minor offences. |
|
Mason |
Perry |
Name of a defence lawyer who featured in the American 1960s TV series of the same name |
|
Matthews |
Stanley |
1940s/50s Stoke City, Blackpool & England footballer. |
|
May |
Daisy |
"Daisy May" was the ventriloquist's dummy (a little schoolgirl puppet) used by Albert Saveen. He became the first ventriloquist to have his own radio series, with a post-war BBC Light Programme show called Midday with Daisy May. A Cockney printer, Saveen developed the info on Daisy May Children's character voice by learning to use one lung at a time whilst recovering in hospital after being blown up by a bomb during the war. Alternative explanation In the sense of raising doubts about a young lady's virtue - "Daisy may; or alternatively, she may not". |
|
May |
Piggy |
|
|
McRae |
George |
1970s soul singer |
|
Meadows |
Grassy |
Play on meadows being grassy places |
|
Metcalfe |
Fruity |
|
|
Miller/Millar |
Dusty |
Play on a miller being covered in dust |
|
Miller/Millar |
Windy |
Play on words - windmill |
|
Mills |
Bomber |
WW1 hand grenades were known as Mills Bombs |
|
Moore |
Pony |
After George Washington "Pony" Moore (1820-1909) who ran the Magpie Music Hall, Battersea and later formed the Moore and Burgess Minstrels (an offshoot of the Christy Minstrels and very famous in the mid-19th century) He was a well known sporting character who allegedly always bet in "ponies" (betting slang for a sum of £25). |
|
Morgan |
Rattler |
After Sir Henry Morgan (circa 1635-88) buccaneer and Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. Rattle is the naval slang for prison and Morgan is reputed to have always carried a large bunch of keys. |
|
Murphy |
Spud |
Play on Murphy being a common Irish surname and association with the Irish Potato Famine |
|
Murray |
Ruby |
Popular 1950s female singer |
|
N |
||
|
Nelson |
Sandy |
Renowned American session drummer of the 1950s/60s, much in demand and amongst others played with The Coasters, Gene Vincent, Phil Spector and Duane Eddy. |
|
New |
Knocky |
|
|
Newman |
Alfie |
|
|
Nicholson |
Jack |
1970s - present day; American film star |
|
O |
||
|
Oakley |
Annie |
Legendary female American Wild West markswomen - subject of famous musical "Annie Go and Get Your Gun". |
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