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Special Edition Happy Families Card Games - the Brown Family Edition

The Brown surname has a long and proud history, so it's no wonder that our Happy Families card game team has researched and published a special Brown edition of "Happy Families". This classic game first appeared in the mid 1800s and was designed to be both entertaining and informative for children. It included characters from different professions. As the years have passed, this popular card game has been updated and modernized with different characters but still carries the same message of happy families living life together.

Today, the Happy Families Brown edition card game captures the spirit of its original namesake. Its vibrant and colourful designs feature members of the Brown family: A son, a daughter, a Mum and a Dad. They are happily living family life to its fullest as they follow the rhythm of family life, Happy families style (!) – from celebrating birthdays to Dad blowing up the barbecue, to assorted holiday hiccups.

Our Happy Families card game celebrates the joys of being part of a happy family - like the Browns! The cards celebrate family milestones such as weddings, annual events like Halloween as well as everyday moments such as playing games or cooking dinner. This special Brown edition also includes loads of fun facts about the Brown surname that reveal why it is one of Britain’s oldest and most respected surnames.

The surname Brown is one of the most common surnames in the English-speaking world. It's estimated that there are over six million people with the last name Brown in the United States alone. But what do we really know about this ubiquitous name? Here are a few fun facts about the surname Brown.

The name Brown actually has several possible origins. It could be derived from the Old English word "brun," meaning dark-haired or it could refer to someone who worked outdoors. In some cases, it may even be an occupational name for a tanner or someone who worked with brown dyes.

The earliest known record of the surname Brown dates back to 1296, when one Walter le Brun was listed in the Yorkshire Rolls.

Brown is also a Scottish Clan name. The head of the clan is Andrew Brown, 9th Laird of Coltness.

There are several notable people with the last name Brown, including American abolitionist John Brown, author Dan Brown, and musician James Brown.

The land area known as "Brown County" in Texas is named for Henry Brown, an early settler and surveyor in the area.

In the game, the facts decorate the cards rather than being an active part of the game. So you get to learn about the name Brown while you have fun playing Happy Families.

Families of all ages and background can learn more about the Brown family with our Happy Families card game. With its fun facts, vibrant illustrations, and engaging themes, this special edition makes a great gift for any family or individual who has the Brown surname. So, why not take your turn today to join the happy families and play our Happy Families Brown Edition!

It's sure to bring smiles and laughter to your doorstep! Enjoy playing the classic game of ‘Happy Families’!

You'll find the Brown game and other names here

The Top 10 Fun Facts About the Name Thomas

Alongside our Games with Names range, today we're taking a quick look at the name Thomas.

Did you know that the name Thomas is one of the most popular names in the world? It's true! It's popular across the English speaking world and according to data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, Thomas was the 17th most popular name for baby boys born in the USA in 2018.

If you're named Thomas, or if you know someone called Thomas, you might be curious to know a bit more about the name. Here are 10 fun facts about the name Thomas to get you started:

1. The name Thomas is derived from the Aramaic T'oma, which means "twin."
2. Saint Thomas is one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.
3. "Doubting Thomas" is a nickname given to Saint Thomas because he doubted Jesus Christ's resurrection when he was told about it by the other apostles.
4. There are two patron saints named Thomas: Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Thomas Becket.
5. "Tom" is a common diminutive (shortened form) of "Thomas."
6. Other diminutives of "Thomas" include "Tommy," "Tommy," and "Tommo."
7.  International versions of the name include Tomik (Czech), Tommaso (Italian), Tomos (Welsh) and Tomislaw (Polish).
8. Prominent people with the name Thomas include President Thomas Jefferson, writer Thomas Paine, philosopher Thomas Hobbes, actors Tom Hanks and Tommy Lee Jones, and musician Tom Petty.
9. According to an old wives' tale, if your thumbs are webbed (that is, if there skin connecting your thumb to your hand), then you're likely to be named Thomas!
10. In medieval times, people believed that twins were a sign of the devil. As a result, many parents who had twins would give one of them the name "Thomas" as a way to ward off evil spirits!

So there you have it: The name Thomas is a strong and classic name with a long history dating back to medieval times. 

And for every other imaginable Thomas fact, please go on to our unique Thomas Game here.

Olivia: A Name as Sweet as its Meaning

Alongside our Games with Names range, today we're taking a quick peek at the name Olivia.

As a name Olivia is beautiful, classic, and unique all rolled into one. Keep reading to learn more about this lovely name.

Olivia is a feminine given name in the English language. It is derived from olive which is a symbol of peace and justice. The first recorded use of Olivia as a given name in England was in 1571.
The name has been in constant use since then. It is consistently one of the most popular girls' names in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, Olivia was ranked as the ninth most popular name for girls born in 2017.
Olivia is also used as a middle name for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries. The name has many famous bearers including actresses Olivia de Havilland, Olivia Wilde, and Olivia Colman plus the late singer Olivia Newton-John.
There are many nicknames for Olivia including Liv, Livi, Livia, Oli, and Olive.
Olivia is a classics girl's name that will never go out of style.

And for every other imaginable Olivia fact, please check out our unique Olivia Game here.

Why the name Oliver is so popular

Thinking about our Games with Names range, today we're taking the briefest of looks at the name Oliver.

It seems like every other child these days is named Oliver. But why? What is it about this name that has made it so popular? Here are the top ten facts about the name Oliver that might give you some insight.

1. The name Oliver is of Latin origin and means "olive tree." This might be one reason why it's become such a popular choice for baby names; olive trees are strong and resilient, two qualities we want our children to have.
2. The name Oliver was actually quite popular in the Middle Ages, but it fell out of favour during the Renaissance. It wasn't until the 19th century that it began to regain popularity.
3. One famous bearer of the name Oliver is Oliver Twist, the protagonist of Charles Dickens' novel of the same name. Published in 1838, the book helped increase the popularity of the name Oliver.
4. There have been several saints named Oliver, including Saint Oliver Plunkett and Saint Oliver Platt.
5. In more recent years, there have been several fictional characters named Oliver, including Harry Potter's friend Oliver Wood and Green Arrow's sidekick Connor Hawke, who took on the alias "Oliver Queen" after his father died.
6. Song titles featuring the name Oliver include “Oliver’s Army” by Elvis Costello, “Oliver, Oliver” from the musical Oliver! and “Oliver” by Kara’s Flowers
8., In 1760 Oliver Goldsmith published a series of ‘Letters from a Chinese Philosopher’, supposedly sent by a Chinese traveller in England by the name of Lien Chi Altanghi,. In truth they were actually written by a certain Oliver Goldsmith. Who would pretend to be called Lien when you've got a great name like Oliver ?
9. Nicknames for Oliver include Ollie, Olly and Ols.
10. Celebrity Olivers include Oliver Cheshire (Model), Oliver North (Soldier/ Politician), Oliver Riedel (Musician) and Oliver Stone (Movie Director).

So there you have it! The ten top facts about the name Oliver. And for every other imaginable Oliver fact, please check out our unique Oliver Game here.

The Top Ten Michael Facts You Didn't Know You Needed to Know

Alongside our Games with Names range, today it's time for a sneak peek at the name Michael.

Michael is a popular name for all ki nds of males from grown men to baby boys. It is of Hebrew origin and means "Who is like God?" If you have a psecial Michael in your life or are named Michael yourself, check out these top ten facts about this awesome name!

1. The name Michael has been around for centuries—it was even mentioned in the Bible!
2. It is the name of two archangels in the Bible.
3. Saint Michael is the patron saint of police officers, soldiers, and paramedics.
4. In 2018, it was the ninth most popular baby boy name in the United States.
5. Songs with the name Michael in the title include "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" by Harry Belafonte and "Michael" by Franz Ferdinand.
6. It can be pronounced a few different ways, including Mee-kal, Mik-kel, and My-kal.
7. Famous Michaels include basketball player Michael Jordan, actor Michael J. Fox, and singer Michael Jackson.
8. Notable fictional characters named Michael include Michael Corleone from The GodFather and Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc.
9. In astrology, people born under the sign of Scorpio are sometimes given the nickname "Micheals."
10. When shortened, some common nicknames for Michael include Mike, Mick, and Mickey.

We hope you enjoyed this race through some fun facts about the name Michael! For almost every other imaginable Michael fact, please check out our unique Michael Game here.

The Joseph Chronicles: Everything you ever wanted to know about the name Joseph

Alongside our Games with Names range, today we'll take a peek at the name Joseph.

Joseph is a popular name for grown men and baby boys. But where did the name come from? And what does it mean? Read on to find out some juicy tidbits about the name Joseph:

1. The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and it means "God will add."
2. The name Joseph is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which was borne by the son of Jacob in the Bible.
3. Joseph is one of only two people in the Bible who were given privileged information about the end times by an angel.
4. In the book of Genesis, Joseph is known for correctly interpreting Pharaoh's dream, which saved Egypt from a great famine.
5. As a result of his wisdom, Joseph was made Pharaoh's chief advisor and given authority over all of Egypt second only to Pharaoh himself.
6. The coat of many colours that Jacob gave to Joseph was a sign of his favouritism toward Joseph and foreshadowed the jealousy of Joseph's brothers, which led to his being sold into slavery in Egypt.
7. While in Egypt, Joseph rose to a position of power and influence and was eventually reunited with his brothers and father when they came to live in Egypt during a time of famine.
8. Joseph is often shortened to Joe, although more and more babies are being given the name Joe outright.
9. There are 4 places named Joseph in America. There are 3 places named Joseph in Zambia. There are 2 places named Joseph in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.

10. Joseph has a feminine form - "Josephine" and one of the most famous bearers of the name was Estée Lauder who doesn't sound much like a Josephine at all....except that she was originally born with the name "Josephine Esther Mentzer"

With a rich history and meaning behind it, the name Joseph is sure to be a source of strength and joy for all who are lucky enough to have this great name. 

And for every other imaginable Joseph fact, please check out our unique Joseph Game here.

Playing around with cards:

The Top Ten Fun Facts about the Name Joshua

Alongside our Games with Names range, today we're taking a quick look at the name Joshua.

Do you have a great friend name Josh or Joshua ? Or maybe a relative who needs a great little birthday gift ? Let us distract you for a moment with our top ten list of fun facts about the name Joshua!

Blog Body:
1. The name Joshua is of Hebrew origin and it means "the LORD is my salvation."
2. Joshua is one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was ranked as the third most popular boys' name in 2018.
3. Famous people who share the name Joshua include actor Josh Gad, NFL quarterback Josh Freeman, and musician Josh Groban.
4. The name Joshua appears in the Bible several times, most notably as the leader of the Israelites after Moses' death.
5. In the Book of Joshua, Joshua leads the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan, an event which marks the beginning of the Hebrew people's occupation of Palestine.
6. According to Jewish tradition,Joshua was born on Passover eve and died on Pentecost.
7. In medieval England,Joshua was often used as a nickname for Jethro origne "Gift of Jehovah."
8. The feminine form of Joshua, (Jessica), was popularized by Shakespeare in his play The Merchant of Venice.
9. Josh is a common diminutive for Joshua in English-speaking countries. Other diminutives include Joshy and more rarely, Joshington..
10. There are many variations of the spelling of Joshua in other languages, including Ieshua or Yeshua in Hebrew and Jeshua or Yeshuah in Aramaic.

Conclusion: So there you have it! Our top ten list of fun facts about the name Joshua! We hope you found this list informative and for every other imaginable Joshua fact, please check out our unique Joshua Game here.

10 Fun Facts About the Name James

Alongside our Games with Names range, today we'll take a quick look at the name James.

The name James is a popular one, ranking as the 9th most common name given to baby boys in the United States in 2018 and always popular in the UK too. It's a classic name with a long history. Here are 10 fun facts about the name James.

1. "James" comes from the Latin Jacomus which is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob.
2. Sir Paul McCartney's first name isn't Paul...it's James.
3. Saint James was one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles.
4. Five kings of England have been named James including two who were King James (James I and II).
5. Several American presidents have had the name James including presidents Carter and Buchanan.
6. There have been nine popes named James including Pope James I who was pope from 576-577 AD.
7. Several saints have been named James including Saint James the Greater and Saint James the Lesser.
8. The author of the Epistle of James in the New Testament is believed to be Saint James, though this is disputed by some scholars.
9. Songs with James in the title include “Sweet Baby James” by James Taylor, Carole King, “James Dean” by Eagles, “Little James” by Oasis and “James and the Cold Gun” by Kate Bush
10. The name "James" has been used as a stand-in for generic male names since at least 1362 according to the Oxford English Dictionary. So next time you hear someone say "Jiminy Cricket!" or "Jimmy Crack Corn!" they might not be using someone's actual name but rather just a handy placeholder for any old fella'.

So there you have it, 10 quick fun facts about the name James! And for every other imaginable James fact, please take a look at our unique James Game here.

The Top Ten Facts About the Name "Jack"

Alongside our Games with Names range, today we're taking a quick look at the name Jack.

Jack is a nice name. It's a strong name. A name that can be varied to create cute nicknames like "Jackie" or "Jacky." It's a name that has been around for centuries and has been borne by many famous people, from Jack London to Jack Nicholson. But there are some things about the name "Jack" that you may not know. Here are the top ten facts about the name "Jack"!

10. The name "Jack" is of English origin and means "God is gracious."
9. According to babycenter.com, Jack was the seventh most popular boy's name in 2017.
8. Famous people with the name "Jack" include Jack Benny, Jack Black, Jack White, and Jackie Gleason.
7. There have been seven United States presidents with the name "James," but only one with the name "Jack."
6. In Arthurian legend, Jack is the nickname of Sir Gawain, one of King Arthur's knights of the Round Table.
5. According to an old wives' tale, if you want your child to have a good sense of humor, you should name him or her "Jack."
4. In medieval times, "jack" was used as a generic term for peasant or commoner. It wasn't until the 16th century that it began to be used as a proper first name.
3. There are numerous songs with "Jack" in the title, including “Captain Jack” by Billy Joel, “Jack Ruby” by Deep Purple and “Happy Jack” by The Who.
2. In 2017, actor Channing Tatum named his daughter Everly after his character in the 2006 film Step Up; her full legal name is Everly Elizabeth Maeve Tatum—but her nickname is just plain old "Jack."
1. And finally, perhaps the most surprising fact about the name "Jack" is that it can be used as both a masculine and feminine given name! In 2017, Jack was the 198th most popular girl's name in England and Wales according to babycenter.com—so if you're looking for an unusual but still relatively common baby name, this might be the one for you!

So there you have it—the top ten facts about the name "Jack"! And for every other imaginable Jack fact, please check out our unique Jack Game here.