As the story goes . . . .

This post is in response to a comment left in a previous post concerning the origin of Buff's name. It seemed easier to leave it here than in the comment section.

To answer the second question, no, he isn't named after Buffalo Bill. The first time I was introduced to Buff in college (before we ever dated) my snide comment about his name was "What? Buff?? You mean like Buff, Buff the powder puff?" The name just calls for teasing and ridicule.

Well, ironically, the question about his name was asked while we are visiting Buff's family for Christmas, so I asked his mom the question again just so I could get the facts straight. (She laughed at the Buffalo Bill comment).

Yes, Buff is his real name and it is short for Buffington. Distinguished isn't it?

Apparently, years and years ago, there was a woman named Americas Buffington. Supposedly, the famous Buffington Island on the Ohio, West Virginia border is part of the family story. (Buffington Island had some sort of significance in the Civil War - google it for information if you are curious).

Well, Americas Buffington got married and lost the Buffington name. She desired it to be carried on, so she passed it along as a middle name to her son William Buffington. I think there are two William Buffingtons, it skips a generation where the name wasn't used and then Buff's mom got the brilliant idea to pass it along as a first name.

Buff has become very used to explaining his name and has been called many things by well-intentioned and misinformed people. He can answer to Buzz, Buss, Bud, Biff, Buford, Buffalo and any other name you think fits. If you call him Buffy, he might deck you.

No, we didn't pass the name along either as a first or middle name (although we came close). We considered the name Will for a son - but then Buff decided a son named Will Powers would make room for ridicule too.

And so that is the story of Buffington.