The Pioneer Woman's Actual Name Is More Complicated Than You May Think

Drummond's birth name is actually as ordinary as they come: She was born Ann Marie Smith in Bartlesville, OK (via Mashed). She was dubbed "Ree" as a child, and like most childhood nicknames, it stuck. The Southern tradition of giving children two names dates back to the 19th century, when the popular poetry of the time featured a rhyme scheme that perfectly suited multi-part names (per Psychology Today). Southern families are also known for calling children by their middle names, according to Country Living. So name-wise, Drummond is a Southern traditionalist through and through. 

Her Food Network brand moniker — which graces everything from cooking utensils to slow cookers to fabric to (yes) trash cans — has an even more entertaining history. As Drummond herself explains on her Pioneer Woman website, people started jokingly calling her "Pioneer Woman" when she left her comfortable city life to live on her new husband's cattle ranch. Years later, when a plumbing fiasco left the family without water for four whole months, the nickname returned. "A neighboring ranching friend, upon hearing of my plight, called and told me I was a real Pioneer Woman — only this time it wasn't a joke!" Drummond recalls. She then began using the name on her blog, and the rest is floral-printed, country-cozy history.