New Scientist popularised the phrase “nominative determinism” (coined by Jen Hunt of the University of Manchester) to describe the occasions where someone’s surname suits their occupation.
So when I received a mailing from Crusaid, requesting funds for their HIV/AIDS work in Namibia, I was tickled to see that the envelope manufacturer was Crusade.
What a coincidence, I was only just thinking of this because the man who runs the guesthouse here in Heidelberg is called Herr Zimmerman (room-man).
Do I win a prize? perhaps Chok-lat??
Nominative determinism is more prevalent than you’d think. The nurse at my daughters’ former school was called Mrs Cutts, and I have recently had glazing supplied by a Mr Payne. Marine biologists do well: I have personally dealt with Drs Haddock, Herring and Mussel. But my favourite of all time is a zoologist who works on life-history strategies of birds, which sometimes involves looking inside birds’ nests and counting their eggs. So step up, Professor Ben Hatchwell.
The BBC’s whaling correspondent is the aptly named Jonah Fisher
Jonah Fisher? That’s gorgeous!!