I need the ultimate in WASPy last names

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blacbird

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I've always liked the name of baseball star Chase Utley. Sounds real upper-class; which is funny, as he's about as blue-collar on the field as you can get.

caw
 

firehorse

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Kirkham.

Chauncey.

Macallister.

Stone.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Ahem.

It depends if you're writing humor or not. There are many WASP stereotypes that work for comedy but aren't culturally accurate (I feel a list coming on). On the other hand, 'real' WASP names are often so generic that they might not work for comedy. For an accurate comic look, try to find a copy of The Preppy Handbook by Lisa Birnbach (1980). Dead-on.

On the serious side: A Separate Peace (John Knowles) and Ordinary People (Judith Guest).

Also see if you can find a copy of the Social Register. Boston would be best (oldest families), New York second. I think they stopped printing it around the late 70s.

For the oldest names [older = more prestigious = WASPier], search the passenger list of the Mayflower and ships that arrived prior to 1700 and/or signers of the Declaration of Independence.

The letters K and W seem to come up a lot together (e.g., Kelsey Whittenden, Wilson Kennedy, etc.)

Naming thoughts (I know you asked about last names, but I imagine your characters have first and middle ones, too - important to use in establishing WASPiness):

First names:
For men, keep it simple and classic (despite the stereotype). Matthew, David, Paul, John, Bill, Robert, Michael, etc. Possibly Clayton, Martin, Emile...

For women, two options:
1) Classic - Elizabeth, Margaret, Rebecca, Suzanne, Katherine (with a K), Alexandra
2) Family names that happen to work* - Taylor, Morgan, Whitney, Kennedy, etc. [* These are also trendy names, but in WASP families, they're always associated with a family member. Gender-neutral is preferable.]

Middle names:

Almost always a family name. Can be over the top or plain: van der Veen, Macpherson, Biddle, Newhouse, Train, Taft, Worcester, Vanderbilt.

Last names:
Wide range. The closer your character is to New England (family lineage), the more likely the name is simple: Adams, Wilson, Stone, Walker, Franklin, etc. Or see any of the middle names.

The absolute preppiest last name, IMHO, is Witherspoon, but it might make the reader think of Reese, which is probably not what you want ;) Biddle is a very old name, as is Stockton.

The Numeral
Numerals originally indicated old families. It's one of the true stereotypes and is key in introducing your character as a WASP. There is no "II" (that would be Jr.); III and IV are ideal.

The preppiest real names I know (the hash marks are so spiders don't index them):

Paul ### Vere ### Roundy ### IV

Wallace ### Macpherson ### Alston ### III ("Macky")

Before I step off my lecturn (WASPs aren't supposed to do soapboxes), one more thing: Most WASPs from the oldest families and the oldest money (not the same thing) are extremely down-to-earth, humble and gracious in an unassuming manner. They have nothing to prove and are often a bit (or more) uncomfortable about people knowing their lineage/legacy. The stereotypes are more akin to people who are trying to fit into a culture that doesn't exist (which makes them stand out all the more and works well for comedy).

I hope this is relevant...
Sarah
 
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Cyia

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Donahough, Devereaux, Smythe (vs Smith, of course)

(go to Harvard's, Yale's, Princeton's websites and check their allumni lists from the school's early days. Wasps swarm there.)
 

tehuti88

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I haven't much to say but I'm greatly amused at the number of "-ton"s. The moment I saw this post I thought of my character Andrew Barrington and he is incredibly WASPy. I also thought of the name Remington. Glad I'm not the only one. *LOL*
 

dirtsider

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Try flipping through Elisabeth Gaskell's works, such as Cranford and Wives and Daughters. Wonderful works to begin with. Dickens had a tendency of creating names to suit the characters.
 
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