The Austrian village of Fucking is to vote on a name change in an attempt to escape the constant ridicule and attention the name attracts the hamlet. Road signs bearing the village’s name are frequently stolen. The sight of semi-naked women posing for photographs beside signs is commonplace.
Experts on places with rude names say the town’s name is derived from Focko, a 6th Century Bavarian nobleman, and the modern spelling was adopted in the 18th Century.
Franz Meindl, the village’s mayor, said “First all Fuckingers have to agree on whether they want to change it or not. Then we have to agree on what to change it to." He confirmed that if Fucking changes its name it will lose the twin village status it currently enjoys with the village of Twatt in the Shetland islands.
