Post by Joanna on Jul 7, 2016 20:31:22 GMT -5
Places with Unfortunate Names
Fucking, Austria. The town was founded in the 500s by a Bavarian nobleman whose last name was Focko. Over the centuries, the spelling has evolved (or maybe devolved in this instance) to its current form, meaning “place of Fockos.” The town’s road signs have been stolen so often that the city now cements them into the ground.
Coxsackie, New York. The town’s name is apparently an American Indian term meaning “owl’s hoot,” though it has many other competing definitions. To make matters even worse (or better, depending on your sense of humor), there’s a hamlet within Coxsackie called Climax. That’s Climax, Coxsackie.
Nesselwank, Germany. This is Germany, so technically, it’s pronounced “vank,” meaning “slope.” But for those who speak English, these signs are funny. The Wank is actually a mountain that’s popular with hikers along Germany’s southern border with Austria. If hiking isn’t for you, take the Wankbanh (Wank Tram), a cable car. You can also buy a Wankpass that will give you year-round access to this cable car.
Dildo, Newfoundland, Canada. We might think of past historical figures as stuffy, but they can have a sense of humor, too. Captain James Cook, the famous cartographer of Newfoundland, was also known to have a little fun when it came to naming places. The town of Dildo took its name from the adjacent Dildo Island which juts out into Trinity Bay like ... well, you get the idea.
Knob Lick, Kentucky. This Kentucky town’s name has a much more tame meaning that one might imagine. A “knob” is another name for a prominent hill and a “lick” is a small transient stream. It makes you wonder why the town ever changed its name from Knob Creek – or Antioch, for that matter. (Kentucky also has an unincorporated community called Beaverlick.)
Climax, Georgia. Climax, Coxsackie, can’t have all the fun. In southwestern Georgia, not far from the Florida line, is a once lively little town called Climax. The area derived its name because it was the highest point along the railroad between Savannah and the Chattahoochee River. Stop by for the Swine Time Festival, held the first Saturday following Thanksgiving, to celebrate all things pig-related.
Bastardo, Umbria, Italy. This little village took its name from a favorite local inn that was started by someone born outside the area. Because of this, the inn became known as “the bastard’s inn,” and the rest is history. It’s worth stopping by on a day tour while you explore the beautiful region and its other historic towns of Assisi (home of St. Francis) and Perugia.
Anus, Burgundy, France. Coming from Latin and meaning “ring,” the little area of Anus has no more than about 20 homes. Stop by the café in nearby Fouronnes and order randouille sausage. After you’ve taken your obligatory picture with the road sign, travel to Auxerre, just 30 minutes away, to sample some of the finest Burgundy wine.
Weiner, Arkansas. The German immigrants were probably giving the area a compliment when they named it after Vienna, Austria. Unfortunately, “w” and “v” have different sounds in English. Interestingly enough, the city is known for the Arkansas Rice Festival every October. Clearly the people there missed their hot dog calling.
Semen, Indonesia. “Semen” is the Indonesian word for “cement,” which makes one of the country’s largest companies, Semen Indonesia, sound a lot less peculiar. While not necessarily a town, the area of Semen, East Java, is owned by the company and produces concrete.
Source: A lot and StrangeNames.
