Many Universities, colleges, and businesses tend to strip the last name down to 6 characters and add the first and last initial to either the beginning or end to make up an E-Mail address, i.e. Mary L. Ferguson = mlfergus or fergusml.

They are just now beginning to realize the problems that may cause when you have a large and diverse pool of people to choose from. Add to that a large database of company/college acronyms and you have some very funny addresses.
(Probably not funny to the individual involved.)

Some true life examples follow:

Hellen Thomas Eatons (Duke University):
eatonsht@dku.edu

Martha Elizabeth Cummins (Fresno University):
cumminme@fu.edu

George David Blowmer (Drop Front Drawers & Cabinets Inc.):
blowmegd@dropdrawers.com

Mary Ellen Dickinson (Indiana University of Pennsylvania):
dickinme@iup.edu

Francis Kevin Kissinger (Las Verdes University):
kissinfk@lvu.edu

Barbara Joan Beeranger (Myplace Home Decorating):
beeranbj@myplace.com

Amanda Sue Pickering (Purdue University):
aspicker@pu.edu

Ida Beatrice Ballinger (Ball State University):
ibballin@bsu.edu

Bradley Thomas Kissering (Brady Electrical, Northern Division, Overton, Canada):
btkisser@bendover.com

Isabelle Haydon Adcock (Toys "R" Us):
ihadcock@tru.com

Patricia A. Hornick (aka "Phornick")