What's a Peddie, and Why Did They Name a School after It?

I found this photo with the name Peddie School attached, and thought, "What the heck is a peddie?"

Must be British slang.  They're always shortening words, like "Uni" for "University" and "Telly" for "Television."

Peddie -- Pedophile?  Pedestrian? Pediatrician?









Or maybe Australian slang for an exotic bird.

Turns out to be a Scottish surname, derived from "Peter."

And the Peddie School?  In America.  To be exact: In Hightstown, New Jersey, about 50 miles south of New York City.

Originally it was called the Hightstown Baptist Seminary (high school).  Then it became the Hightstown Scientific Institute.  Then the Peddie Institute, after benefactor Thomas Peddie ( a New Jersey politician).  The Peddie School, then just Peddie School.

It's been peripatetic about its students as well as its name: all girls, then co-ed, then all boys, then co-ed again.

One would expect that, going to a school with such an unusual name, students would be mocked, ridiculed, made fun of:  "Peddie the Pedophile!", "Petty Peddie,""Petite Peddie," and such.  But I haven't found any evidence of ridicule online:

$100 m donation increases diversity at exclusive prep school
Peddie girls' soccer shows spirit
25 of the most expensive private schools in the U.S.

I guess when your parents are paying $52,000 a year for tuition, room, and board, you can afford a funny name.

In addition to preparing the children of New Jersey elites for Harvard and Yale, Peddie has a rather extensive athletic program.  It excels in soccer and lacrosse, but the more physique-displaying sports are not ignored.










Especially swimming.













I still think if I heard someone say "I graduated from the Peddie School," it would be hard to restrain a laugh.