The Joy of Nominative Determinism
Can the alignment of names and occupations be more than mere coincidence? Reflecting on my secondary school days, our music teacher was Mr. Doe, and our art teacher was Mr. Drewitt. As 13-year-olds, we found this quite amusing. We regretted that Mr. Hopkins wasn’t a PE teacher and that Mr. Cave didn’t teach geology instead of history.
Nearby, a geography teacher named Mr. Forecast actually taught meteorology classes. Many other examples exist, such as the surgeon Dr. Blood, a sailor named Mr. Boatman, and a Lord Chief Justice known as Sir Igor Judge. These instances are entertaining to observe.
Historically, in the Middle Ages, surnames often derived from people’s occupations—Baker, Butcher, Carpenter, Weaver, among others. But in modern times, could a surname actually influence a person’s career choice?
The Concept of Nominative Determinism
Surprisingly, there is a somewhat serious claim suggesting this might be true. The term “nominative determinism” refers to the idea that people are subconsciously attracted to jobs, hobbies, and activities that are linked in some way to their family names.
“Nominative determinism” is the notion that people are subconsciously drawn to professions, interests and activities which relate in some way or other to their own family names.
This concept encourages reflection on how identity and name might shape life decisions beyond coincidence.
Summary
Nominative determinism suggests a fascinating link between surnames and career choices, highlighting a blend of history, psychology, and coincidence.