Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

30/04/2007, 4:16 PM goldfinch Joined on 30/04/2007 Posts 4 Does your name influence your life? For a few years now I have been noticing how people's surnames often reflect either their job or personality in a curious way. For example, my geography teacher was Mr Field; I have spotted a Mr Kitchen who owns a kitchen design company; a Mr Cozier a heating company; a waste recycling officer called Miss Greene and a Miss Squirrel who is an officer of the Countryside Trust. Has anyone else spotted this phenomenon, and what, if anything, does it all mean?    Report

01/05/2007, 11:51 AM Molly Joined on 19/12/2006 Posts 4 Re: Does your name influence your life? Hi Goldfinch, There are so many associations with job and surnames aren't there? I can ceratinly add to your list: Mr Read - and editor of a magazine and Clare Garland - a florist! My father was a dentist and his initials are JAW! PS. Are you a twitcher by any chance?      Report

11/05/2007, 1:10 PM greenfingers Joined on 11/05/2007 Posts 3 Re: Does your name influence your life? Several years ago the same phenomenom in Dartmouth provoked the Swimming Pool Committee into producing their own fundraising Happy Families games. There were enough people in the town exhibiting 'nominative determinism' (I think it's a term coined by New Scientist) to complete two full sets. Some of them are still there, like Drew the artist, Pillar the builder and Hair the vet. Others included Blewitt the bookie, Measures the chemist, Crisp the greengrocer and Swindells the bank manager. I'm told that you can still buy the packs in the TIC.     Report

16/05/2007, 10:01 AM Webmaster Joined on 16/11/2006 Totnes Posts 102 Re: Does your name influence your life? .... not forgetting Mr Killer the Chemist! (Dartmouth during the 1980s)    Report

16/05/2007, 6:18 PM aborigine Joined on 19/12/2006 Posts 25 Re: Does your name influence your life? It just gets weirder and weirder. Just saw an ad for a dentist in Devon whose name really is Nashar!!!!    Report

17/05/2007, 10:47 AM databyte Joined on 19/12/2006 Posts 4 Re: Does your name influence your life? Does anyone remember Mr Hacket the woodwork teacher at Cuthburt Mayne School in Torquay?    Report

17/05/2007, 10:50 AM Skipper Joined on 24/11/2006 Posts 5 Re: Does your name influence your life? I was a little worried when I discovered a Mr Lemming officiating at the marriage Registry Office in Paignton!    Report

18/05/2007, 11:37 AM piffpaffpoof Joined on 27/02/2007 Posts 6 Re: Does your name influence your life? Here are some more I have spotted too! They are just too weird, don't you think? Mr Ratcliffe (pest control officer); Caroline Woolley (sheepdog trainer); Sadie Shrub (horticulture student); Laura Horsey (horse-trainer); Adam Wolfitt (food photographer); Clare Garland (florist); Mike Robin (RSPB spokesman)....    Report

Devon Life Foru... » Devon » General Chat » Re: Does your name influence your life?

(Quick links) Forums Home |- Search Forums |- Active Topics |- Unanswered Posts User Options |- Sign In |- Join this community |- Forgot Password Announcements |- Announcements and FAQs Grumpy Old Men |- 'I don't believe it!' DEVON EVENTS |- Forthcoming Events DEVON GREEN chat |- Green Issues Devon |- From the November issue |- General Chat |- Tips or advice from older or wiser housekeepers, please, to help avoid housekeeping meltdown |- Wild birds - weird and wacky |- From the August issue |- Do you have your own personal weather station, or know someone who does? |- From the July issue |- From the June issue |- Living the Dream |- Is the current legislation to protect our coastlines adequate, or should we be adopting much tougher measures? |- We often take them for granted, but churches are often full of fascinating curiosities. Do you have any in your church? |- Astronomy |- Bradfield Hall |- Advice from hot tub owners |- TRAVEL |- Taking local action |- WALKS |- ECO-LIVING |- FASCINATING FAMILY HISTORY DEVON FOOD AND DRINK |- Recipes DEVON GARDENS AND WILDLIFE |- Gardens |- Wildlife DEVON PROPERTIES AND INTERIORS |- Properties DEVON COUNTRY AND HERITAGE |- Heritage |- Climate DEVON YACHTING, CHARTS, TIDES AND WEATHER |- Harbour Experiences