‘Tell me your name, and I’ll tell you your career’
January 9, 2009 by Shane BorerPosted in: "Would you want this person in Finance?", In this week's e-newsletter, Latest news & views
Ever wonder how you ended up in your current job or industry? This psychologist thinks it might have more to do with your name than anything else.
While official dictionaries don’t yet recognize the word “aptronym,” it’s becoming more commonly known to people. An aptronym is a name that’s aptly suited to its owner, and psychologist Lewis Lipsitt has had a fascination with them ever since he was a boy.
Most surnames originated about 1,000 years ago, and most reflected the occupation of the original bearer. For example, a “Taylor” made and mended clothing, while a “Miller” usually worked grinding flour from grain.
In his research, Lipsitt has found that Boulder County, CO, has more aptronyms than any other area in the U.S. After taking a look in the local phone book, you can find:
- Mr. Brett Berger, owner of the Thunderbird Burgers food chain
- Ms. Susan Booker, librarian and assistant director of the Lafayette Public Library
- Mr. Tony Tallent, theater and arts director of the Boulder Public Library
- Mr. Oak Thorne, ecologist
- Mr. Chris Wall, rock-climbing coach at the Boulder Rock Club, and
- Ms. Betsy Weatherhead, atmospheric scientist at Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences.
Does your name really choose an occupation for you? Do any of your friends or co-workers have an aptronym? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Tags: Aptronym, Career choice, Psychologist
January 9th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
So what should we conclude about this study, considering its author is a guy by the name of “Lipsitt”??
January 16th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hosier = my job really socks???
January 16th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I work at a Healthcare facility – we have a Dr. Cure.
January 16th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
“MATHIS” I am a bookkeeper
January 16th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Fred Fillmore, DDS West Lafayette, IN
Dr Kraack, MD, Pendleton, IN I’ll bet you can guess his specialty
January 16th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Growing up I had a Dr. Cutright. He was in General Practice but also surgery.
January 16th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
We had a Sergeant Sergent in one unit I was in. Then there was Major Major in Catch 22, except we really had one of those, though the spelling was Majer.
January 16th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
We have a salesmen by the name of Letterman – he sells postage equipment.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:57 am
My mother’s maiden name was Clarke. Old English for ‘clerk.’ I note with no little pride that clerks were one of the rare literate classes in England at the time.
I’m a CPA, btw. So apt.
January 19th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I know of two vendors I deal withthat seemed destined for their jobs, Jan Moo, in accounting for Stockyard Wholesale Meats and Tammy Bloom, also in accounting for Washington Wholesale Floral.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
The lady that refilled the candy vending machines where I used to work was named Candy Hershey.
January 20th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I was referred to one of 2 doctors, both female. I’ll let you guess the specialty
Dr. Lauren Hyman
Dr. Betty Beaver