Well, I must nominate my own surname for the most-egregious-mispronounciation-by-a-single-person award. Here's the story:
I have a fairly simple surname, two syllables, spelled like it is pronounced. Except, it has a "z" in it; which seems to send people into catatonia.
My mother and father attended a high school together, and my father's best friend and my mother's best friend married. My parents were their wedding attendents, and vice versa. We grew up calling my parents' friends "aunt" and "uncle," and referred to their children as cousins. I was their older daughter's maid of honor. Their younger daughter married a cousin of mine, and now has the same surname. Despite all this -- friendship nearing 60 years' duration, close ties, a daughter and grandchildren with the surname, my "aunt" still mispronounces my surname!!!!!
How bad is that?
