I have always known that I was named after a tugboat. The Cheryl Ann was the hardworking tugboat docked at Berth 14 in San Pedro Harbor on the maritime adventure series “Waterfront,” which ran from 1954 to 1956 (the year I was born). The Cheryl Ann was operated by Captain John Herrick (Preston Foster) and crew members Carl Herrick (Douglas Dick), Tip Hubbard (Pinky Tomlin) and Willie Slocum (Willie Best). Other Tugs on the scene were the "Belinda" and the "Isabel." John Herrick was the captain of the tug Cheryl Ann. His family consisted of wife May, police detective son Jim, and the crew of the tug, his son Carl, Tip and Willie. The stories revolved around the family and various criminals encountered around the harbor.
It’s pretty clear that my parents weren’t the only ones with the totally brilliant idea of naming their first-born daughter after this hardworking, adventurous, dare I say crime-solving tugboat.
Case #1: There were five Cheryl’s in my combined sixth-grade class.
Case #2: In the 10 minutes it took me to research “Waterfront” I found multiple Cheryl’s out in cyberspace – all claiming the same namesake. One has even established an online site for Cheryl’s only: http://activerain.com/groups/Cheryl .
It’s also pretty clear that several of these Cheryl Ann’s out there are now between the ages of, say 50 and 56, and thinking about retiring. If your name is Cheryl Ann, after the legendary tugboat, I’d like to hear from you.
I found photos of a model of the Cheryl Ann (sincere thanks go to Wes Whitlinger at http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Modellers/Wes/1ndex.htm) which I have added to this page. Seems a shame I waited so long to research the tugboat that is my namesake.
I only recently found out that I was named Cheryl for the tugboat Cheryl Ann...My older sister already had the middle name of Ann so my mother refused Ann as my middle name. Recently, as my Dad lay in his bed at the nursing home, he mentioned that the day I was born, the nurses tagged me as Tugboat Annie...What? Never heard this...called my mom....she'd also never heard of this..only that he insisted on naming me Cheryl...He explained about the mighty little tugboat and how proud he was that I had lived my life as determined as the Cheryl Ann. Just had to share...I thought I was the only person in the world named after a Tugboat!
ReplyDeleteI knew that I was named after the tugboat as my dad use to wat5ch this show and decided to name me "Cheryl Ann", I did not tell many people as they would first laugh and then say how cool. I want to get a picture of the boat so that I can mount in a frame to hang. born in October 1957.
ReplyDeleteI'm another, born in 1953. Rather than being named for the boat, I got the impression that my middle name of Ann was attributable to my parents (mostly my Dad) liking the two names together. I think the idea for the name Cheryl may have first been my mother's--who thought it was a pretty name when she heard about Lana Turner naming her daughter this. Two hard to top naming stories there.
ReplyDeleteI also am named after the tug...Cheryl Ann but my Mom spelled my middle name with an e...but my family has also called me Cheri all my life. Funny to see you go by Cheri too. Only my school day kids called me Cheryl and I still love it when they do!!!
ReplyDeleteI was named Cheryl Ann also, born Jan 1956. And i met my best friend in the 6th grade and she is Cheryl Ann after the tugboat too. My family calls me Cheri and when I was in trouble I was called Cheryl Ann.
ReplyDeleteI was named after the Cheryl Ann tugboat. I was named Sheryll Ann by my mom. She use to watch the tv show The Waterfront and liked how the name sound. My spelling is different. I always wanted to change my name though. There were never any Sheryll Ann's when I was growing up.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom also changed the C to S. LOL
DeleteI am also named after the Tug Boat Cheryl Ann, I was born in 1959. I would love to get a picture and a model of the tug boat some day.
ReplyDeleteI was born in 1959 2... My dad was a police officer and always watched TV shows related to crime drama... He named me after the Cheryl Ann and all growing up he would tell me that, even though my mother wood bicker that she made me Cheryl and just because she liked the name not because of the tugboat! I only researched it recently and found that there really was a tugboat call the Cheryl Ann, I was thrilled! So from one Cheryl and to another thanks for your post, God bless!
DeleteI've known since I was a young girl (born 1960) that I was named after a "boat" my mother saw in a "movie" or "television show". My mother was only 17 when she gave birth to me. I was put into foster care at age 11and eventually adopted. My mother is deceased now, and here I'm just learning the true name of the show and tugboat that was my namesake!
DeleteMe too, born in 1954. Had six Cheryl Ann's in school with me throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteI was born in December 1955, and was proudly named by my paternal grandmother Cheryl Ann after the tugboat.
ReplyDeleteMy wife's name is Cheryl Ann and her mom told her she was named after the tugboat as well. She was born in 1957.
ReplyDeleteMy name is also Cheryl Ann born in Louisiana 1959. I never thought much about it when my dad told me I was named after a tugboat. I only mentioned it to others if they were also named Cheryl. I am just now researching this and find it amazing. So here's to all the Cheryl's out there! My sister's name is Tracy named after my dad's favorite actor Spencer Tracy.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was named Cherylann, after the famous tug boat as well. She was born 7/17/1956
ReplyDeleteShe was called Cheri by all our family, as well.
DeleteI am named after this tugboat. My Godfather said let's name her Cherylann after the tugboat and my parents said okay.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Cheryl Ann and I was born in 1958 I was named after the tugboat Chery Ann email me if you where to at cherylklein90@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy name is Cheryl Ann and I was born in 1959 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I too was named after the tugboat. Guess I wasn't the only one....
ReplyDeleteI was named after the tugboat. pronounced CH as in chair ,Cheryl. I was born Dec. 1955
ReplyDeleteI too was named after the tugboat. My parents pronounced my name with the hard "ch" like chair as well. (my father is from Texas and the hard "ch" tends to be a southern usage.) I just found the DVD of the series and on that the name is pronounced with a soft "sh" like shirt.
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled to find this your story online... I too was named after the tugboat Cheryl Ann! I too, waited until now 2 research the tugboat I was named after... All growing up my dad would tell me I was named after a tugboat and it was a joke between my mom and dad, they would bicker back and fourth because my dad named me after the tugboat but my mom said that she named me Cheryl Ann just because she like the name, but my dad wouldn't let my mom forget that I was named after the tugboat Cheryl Ann! I would love to have a model or a picture of the Cheryl Ann... Now that I know that she really existed and that my father really did name me after her, it's a moral imperative that I get some memorabilia of my namesake 😁 thanks so much for sharing your story! Cheryl Ann - "Cheri" we even spell our nickname the same, 😄
ReplyDeleteI was named after the Cheryl Ann tugboat as well -- born in 1961. Did not know there were so many of us out there!
ReplyDeleteWow.. I Loved reading all the stories!
ReplyDeleteI thought all these years I was the only Cheryl Ann
named after a tug boat. My Dad was in the Navy based in Long Beach for a while. His only request to my Mother was if it’s a girl she has to be Cheryl Ann after this Tug boat. I was born in Missouri in 1959 .My Dad received a telegram announcement on ship.
My Love for the water, fishing or boating has been a big part of my Life! Thanks namesake!
Cheryl Ann here! Born in 1958. I always knew my parents named me after a tug boat but recently found out that it was from the tv series. This was to be my oldest sisters name but my mom changed her mind. I’m happy to be the recipient of this beautiful legacy.
ReplyDeleteI am Cheryl Ann born in Massachusetts in 1961 and was named after the tugboat.
ReplyDeleteI was named Cheryl Ann in 1963,after my dad's ship, I would love to find a model of that tug boats!
ReplyDeleteMy Dad insisted on naming me Cheryl Ann , my Mom changed the C to an S much to his dismay lol she didn't like the idea of naming me after a T.V. show Tugboat,she wanted to name me Sherry, after cheap wine ... ha! They were quite the characters.
ReplyDeleteI’m another Sheryl Ann named after the tugboat. Born in ‘58. I love being part of this unique group of women. But really, who names their daughter after after a tugboat, a hard-working, rough looking boat?! Haha!
DeleteThis is really funny, I mentioned to my kids I was named after a boat on a tv show. My son in law googled it and found the name of the show and many others named after this boat. Since I am in the middle of Kansas, I really don't get to the water often.
ReplyDeleteMy mom named me Cheryl Ann after a boat on a tv show. I was born October 1957. Hello to all you Cheryl Anns out there.
ReplyDelete