In unfortunate news for sign thieves across Europe, the Austrian town of Fucking has recently undergone a name change.
Now known as Fugging, Fucking’s population of around 100 people have been campaigning for a name change for some time now after growing tired of the constant jokes and frequently having their road signs stolen.
According to The New Zealand Herald, the mayor if the town, which was pronounced foo-king, told local media the name change would officially take place on 1 January 2021.
Apparently, the village was especially popular with British tourists, with one local tour guide telling The New Zealand Herald: “The Germans all want to see Mozart’s house in Salzburg; the Americans want to see where The Sound of Music was filmed; the Japanese want Hitler’s birthplace in Braunau; but for the British, it’s all about Fucking.”
Located about four kilometres south of the German border, Fugging first began to be known as Fucking from around the 18th century, after originally being named after Bavarian nobleman Focko in the 6th century.
It was first recorded in Latin as Adalpertus de Fucingin around 1090, Fukching in 1303 and Fugkhing in 1532.
Featured image source: iStock/bizoo_n
