Evans, Harry, common (was Re: Severus)

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 190165

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, June Ewing <doctorwhofan02 at ...> wrote:
>
> > Nikkalmati:
> > Commenting on Petunia's statement, "common" has two meanings.
> > One is not unusual, frequently used, but I believe Petunia was
> > referring to the second meaning - low class. If taken literally
> > a potter is a tradesman and I think Petunia was making a snide
> > remark about Harry's father's famiy. I have no clue about the
> > social status of "Evans."
 
> June:
> Petunia was not referring to the name Potter, she was referring to
> the name Harry. Her husband had just asked her what the Potters'
> son's name was and her answer was "Harry, nastily common name if
> you ask me."

Geoff:
Quite correct... The canon reference is:

'"What's his name again? Howard, isn't it?"
"Harry. Nasty, common name, if you ask me."'
(PS "The Boy Who Lived" p.11 UK edition:)

Curiously, if this had been set even three or four years later, it would have 
been the opposite because, after Charles and Diana's second son was born,
Harry became, and still is, very fashionable.

Which I am sure annoyed Petunia immensely...
:-)

Re Nikkalmati's comment, if Petunias /had/ been referring to Potter as a low 
class name being a trade name, this is rather amusing (and typically snobbish 
from her) because a huge number of British families have trade names, usually 
ending in "-er". Mine is a less obvious one for example!