Type Surname (from nickname)
Usage English, Popular Culture
Meaning & History
From a nickname for someone who was haughty or dressed ostentatiously, from Middle English po "peacock, peafowl", and bodi "body" (see Peacock). Famous bearers of the name were American banker and philanthropist George Foster Peabody (1852-1932) and Mr. Peabody, an anthropomorphic dog in the television animated series 'The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends' and animated film 'Mr. Peabody & Sherman'.