Buzz
American English speakers often take for granted their unique silent letters and unusual pronunciations, effortlessly saying words like laugh, jeopardy, and colonel. However, encountering a particularly baffling British English example—such as the name Cholmondeley—can leave us utterly perplexed.
Discover how to pronounce 25 British titles and last names, from Belvoir to Wriothesley, that defy their spelling. (Remember, names can have varied pronunciations, and the right way to say someone’s name is always how they prefer it.)
1. Belvoir
In British tradition, Belvoir is typically pronounced as “BEE-ver,” similar to the word beaver.
2. Beauchamp
Many Beauchamps prefer the French-inspired “BOH-shahmp,” but in the UK, it’s commonly pronounced as “BEE-chum,” akin to Beecham.
3. Cholmondeley
Rose Hanbury holds the title of Marchioness (“mar-shuh-NESS”) of Cholmondeley, which is pronounced “CHUM-lee.” This surname also belongs to Charles Cholmondeley, the MI5 operative behind the crucial Operation Mincemeat during World War II.
4. Cockburn
It’s pronounced “KOH-burn,” similar to Coburn, got it?
5. Colquhoun
This ancient Scottish clan name is typically said as “kuh-HOON” or “kull-HOON.”
6. Dalziel
In the BBC detective series Dalziel and Pascoe, one of the two main characters has a surname pronounced “dee-ELL.” (It can also be heard as “DEE-ill.”)
7. Featherstonehaugh
While some pronounce Featherstonehaugh (and its variants) as it appears, others say it as “FAN-shaw” or “FERN-shaw.”
8. Fenwick
In Delaware’s Fenwick Island, the name Fenwick is pronounced as written. However, in the UK, the “w” is often silent, making it “FEN-ick.”
9. Fiennes
The last name of Ralph Fiennes, known for playing Voldemort, Shakespeare in Love actor Joseph Fiennes, adventurer Ranulph Fiennes, and other members of the Fiennes family, is pronounced just like the word fines. (Additionally, Ralph Fiennes’s first name is said as “RAIF.”)
10. Geoghegan
The name Geoghegan is usually pronounced as “GAY-gun.”
11. Gloucester
Whether referring to the Duke of Gloucester or the town of Gloucester, it’s pronounced as “GLOSS-ter.”
12. Kerr
Deborah Kerr, renowned for her roles in The King and I, An Affair to Remember, and many other iconic films, has a surname pronounced “KAR,” rhyming with car.
13. Knollys
The last name of Lettice Knollys, an Elizabethan noblewoman who wed Elizabeth I’s alleged lover Robert Dudley, is said as “NOLZ,” similar to Knowles. (Her first name, by the way, is pronounced “leh-TEESS,” not like lettuce.)
14. Leveson-Gower
The Leveson-Gower family traces its roots to the 1600s. While modern pronunciations vary, the traditional way to say it is “LOO-sun GOR.”
15. Mainwaring
Captain Mainwaring, a beloved character from the British sitcom Dad’s Army, has a name pronounced “MAN-er-ing,” identical to mannering.
16. Marjoribanks
This last name, belonging to another historic Scottish clan, is pronounced “MARCH-banks.”
17. Menzies
Traditionally, this Scottish surname is pronounced “MING-iss” or “MING-iz,” though many today, including The Crown and Outlander actor Tobias Menzies, say “MEN-zeez.”
18. Pepys
The surname of Samuel Pepys, the renowned 17th-century English diarist, is pronounced “PEEPS,” much like the Easter treats.
19. Shrewsbury
The earl of Shrewsbury’s title is traditionally pronounced “SHROHZ-bur-ee.” (The town in Shropshire, however, is sometimes referred to as “SHROOZ-bur-ee.”)
20. St. John
This name isn’t always pronounced “Saint John”—it can also be said as “SIN-jun.”
21. Stanhope
Many pronounce it as “STAN-hope,” but the correct pronunciation is “STAN-up.”
22. Warwick
When referring to an earl of Warwick, the correct pronunciation is “WAR-ick.”
23. Wodehouse
The surname of author P.G. Wodehouse is pronounced “WOOD-house.”
24. Worcester
Whether referring to the earl of Worcester or the town, it’s pronounced “WOOSS-ter,” with the “oo” sounding like in wood. (Incidentally, Worcestershire, as in Worcestershire sauce, is said as “WOOSS-ter-sheer” or “WOOSS-ter-sher.”)
25. Wriothesley
Among the various ways to pronounce the historic English surname Wriothesley, the most unexpected is “RIZZ-lee.” (The character in the game Genshin Impact pronounces it as “RIZE-lee.”)
