Oxford "-er" - Other Personal Forms

Other Personal Forms

Other "-er"s as personal names include:

• Athers: Lancashire and England cricket captain Michael Atherton (b.1968), who subsequently became a commentator on both radio and TV ("all cricket-lovers have crackpot theories, even Athers");
• Beckers: former England football captain David Beckham (b.1975) became known almost universally as "Becks" (and with his wife Victoria, formerly of the Spice Girls, as "Posh and Becks"), but there are some instances of his being referred to as "Beckers");
• Betjers: as an undergraduate, the poet John Betjeman (1906–1984) was generally known as "Betjy" or "Betj", but Philip Larkin, among others, later adopted the "-er" form;
• Blashers: the magazine Country Life referred to the explorer Colonel John Blashford-Snell (b.1936) as "Blashers" (as in "Hats off to Blashers", reporting his having assisted in the design a hat for explorers);
• Brackers: Tim Wonnacott used this form with reference to Bargain Hunt expert James Braxton (owner of Edgar Horns Auctioneers, Eastbourne) during the 2008 series of the programme;
• Britters: American singer Britney Spears (b.1981) was often described in the British press as "Britters". Unsurprisingly, her boyfriend when she first rose to fame, the singer Justin Timberlake (b.1981), was Timbers.
• Bozzer (or "Bozza"): London Mayor Boris Johnson (b. 1964)
• Camers or Cammers: applied occasionally to British Prime Minister David Cameron (b.1966), notably by bloggers or spoof writers and especially with reference to his educational background (Eton and Oxford);
• Cheggers: broadcaster Keith Chegwin (b.1957);
• Cleggers: Nick Clegg (b.1967), British Deputy Prime Minister 2010-: shortly after the formation of a coalition government, a cartoon by Peter Brookes of The Times, had Prime Minister David Cameron saying, "Polish these, Cleggers, old son ...";
• Griggers: recounting how she met John Betjeman, Alice Jennings, a programme engineer at the BBC during the Second World War referred to producer Geoffrey Grigson (1905–85) as follows: "'John said, 'Who's that girl?' And Griggers from a great height said, 'That's your PE'";
• Hatters was used by Private Eye with reference to Roy, Lord Hattersley (b.1934), former Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party;
• From the 1960s and subsequently, Elanwy Jones of Collett Dickenson Pearce was known to her circle as Lanners;
• Mozzer (or "Mozza"): musician Morrissey
• Nickers: it is perhaps inevitable that people named Nicholas will continue, from time to time, to be addressed as such;
• Notters: during the Falklands War of 1982 Conservative MP and diarist Alan Clark referred to British Defence Secretary John Nott (b.1932) as "poor old Notters";
• Pragger Wagger: various holders of the title of Prince of Wales, probably originally referring to Edward VII when heir apparent;
• Rampers: the Surrey (and former Middlesex) cricketer Mark Ramprakash (b. 1969): "I could not help wondering how 'Rampers' would have dealt with their ageing attack" (Bill Frindall, 2007);
• Rodders for Rodney, as in the BBC radio comedy series, Beyond Our Ken (1958–64), when Hugh Paddick, playing the part of Charles, addressed his camp friend Rodney (Kenneth Williams): "Absolutely dolly, Rodders";
• Tatters: the Yorkshire squire, Sir Tatton Sykes (1826-1913), father of politician and diplomat Sir Mark Sykes and great-great-grandfather of novelist and socialite Plum Sykes (Worcester College), was referred to in the novels of Robert Surtees as "Tatters" or "Old Tat";
• Thickers: John Thicknesse, cricket correspondent of the London Evening Standard 1967–96;
• Tinners: Peter Tinniswood (1936–2003), TV scriptwriter and author of Tales from the Long Room;
• Tollers: the Oxford nickname of writer J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973);
• Tuffers: Middlesex and England cricketer Phil Tufnell (b.1966)
• Twitters: nickname of Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon (1831–1890), British Colonial Secretary in the 1860s-70s, on account of his twitchy behaviour;
• Whiters: used privately by broadcaster Carol Vorderman to address Richard Whiteley (1943–2005), her co-presenter of Countdown;
• Widders: former British Government Minister Ann Widdecombe (b.1947) was so described by journalist Hugo Vickers. See also the Daily Mail, 30 October 2010: "Widders wipes floor with John Sergeant";
• Woolers: sports journalist Ian Wooldridge (1932–2007).