The List of Aptonyms

Here is our genuine, homegrown list, compiled with the assistance of friends.  Pick a letter!

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

A Aikenheads Pharmacy

BR reports that there is an Aikenheads Pharmacy in her home town.

Akers, Geoff

Frequent contributor GO writes "Geoff Akers (pronounced "acres"), is a dairy farmer at
Tallygaroopna, Northern Victoria who was interviewed on Australia's ABC Radio National
program today, Thursday September 25 about how one industry (the dairy sector ) might
be changed forever by the drought which is currently ravaging Australia.

Albright, Scarlet

Contributor BC reports "In Toronto, and now apparently retired (or worse),
there was an optometrist with shingle (hung proudly over the east side of Keele St.
and just south of Dundas St. W.) by the name Scarlet Albright. Unfortunately the
sign and business are now gone."

Allcock, Susan

We have just discovered that the reporter on BBC Radio 5 who
covered the news about the possible cost of the anti-impotence
drug Viagra to Britain's National Health service is called Susan Allcock.
And that's not all. The spokeswoman for the US Food and Drug
Administration for inquiries about the drug is called Janet Woodcock.
(reprinted, with permission, from New Scientist Magazine. 25 July, 1998.) (AB)

Au, Dr.

SB had a dentist named Dr. Au (pronounced Ow).

B Babey, Joseph C.

Joseph C. Babey is a pediatrician. (Frank Nuessel, The Study
of Names, Greenwood Press, 1992, p. 42) (AB)

Bagwell,  John

My name is John Bagwell and I am an anesthesiologist.

Ball, Harvey

Published in The Gazette, Montréal, Saturday, April 14, 2001:

"Smiley Face designer dies" (Worcester, MA)

Harvey R. Ball, inventor of the smiley Face, died Thursday after a short illness.
He was 79. Ball, who co-owned and advertising and public-relation firm in Worcester,
designed the Smiley Face in 1963 to boost the morale of workers in two recently
merged insurance companies. Ball was paid $45 for his artwork by State Mutual Life
Assurance Co. of america - Now Allamerica - in 1963. He never applied for a trademark
or copyright. At his peak of popularity in 1971, more than 50 million Smiley Faces
buttons where sold. In 1999, the U.S. Postal Services issued a smiley Face stamp.
See http://elouai.com/smiley-history.php (AB)

Banks, Robin

I currently work at DataCash , a company specialising in online
credit cards transactions. You'd think an attempted fraud would
cross our desks now and again, wouldn't you ? Well, we've been lucky,
and none have — until this morning, which is why I only just heard
about the man in British Telecom's futures team who specializes in
handling internet fraud — Robin Banks. . (reprinted, with permission,
from New Scientist Magazine. 25 August, 1998.) (AB)

Barfield, Joe

Joe Barfield, from San Antonio, Texas, used to be a brewer in a local brew pub.
(Joe is one of a select group of contributors whose name also appears in the
aptonyms list.) He suggests his name is a contraction of "Barley Field": the
surname does not appear in The Penguin Dictiuonary of Surnames, but there
are entries for Barden, Barford, Barney, Barnes, and Barnfield that indicate links
to barley (a principal ingedient of beer). (JB2)

Barksey, Dr.

New contributor BC2 writes "Just discovered your site! We had a vet called Dr Barkesy
(in Surrey, B.C) My father was a PhD: Dr. Illman (I see you have another one).
 I once heard a person being paged: Mr. Bill  Board"

Beach, Reggie

AC, in her oceanography travels, has worked with Dr. Reginald A. Beach,
who specializes in coastal dynamics and sediment transport in the surf zone.

Beach, Jason

Jason K. Beach runs the Kannon Beach Surf Shop in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia
www.kannonbeach.com (JB3) Jeff goes on to say: "I’ve loved your site for years,
and one of my very best friends is the Sonia Shears you speak of on your splash page."
Thanks Jeff!

Beachley, Layne

GO says Layne Beachley is a professional surfer from Manly in Sydney,
New South Wales, Australia. She is regarded as the best female professional surfer
in history, having won the World Championship for six consecutive years. 

Bilios, George

CF reports that she "went to med school in Sydney Australia with a guy called
George Bilios back in the early 80s. I had always thought his name amusing for
a doctor...Dr Bilios is now practising medicine on the Gold Coast.

Bird, David

At present, Dr. David Bird, of McGill University in Montréal, is one of the best known
Canadian ornithologists. He is also the editor of a column on birds which appears on Saturdays
in The Gazette. (The Gazette, Montréal, June 11, 1998) (AB) [link from LN]

Blacktop, Kevin

AP tells of a Project Manager Kevin Blacktop who installs car parks in UK rail stations.

Avid CBC Radio listener (DP) reports hearing a Mrs. Blades on a
phone-in show, talking about her husband, Mr. Blades, who had
taken up knife-making.  They live in Hatchet Lake, N.S.  This prompted
an aptonymic conversation among the radio hosts, one of whom
recalled seeing an eye specialist named Dr. Eagle.

Blizzard, Sarah

ME writes, "Most famous one here in the East Midlands, UK: Sara Blizzard,
the TV weather presenter.

Block, Angel D.

First time contributor Shari Elf wrote to me about the colonic irrigation specialist
Angel D. Block, who lives in Kansas City, Kansas. (This arrived a week before Xmas!)

Blood and Gore

"When we were growing up in Ballarat, Victoria (Australia), two
local GPs shared a surgery.  They were Dr. Blood and Dr. Gore.  Hard to
authenticate this one, but take my word for it!  Dunno if they're still
about." (MT)

Bloom, Alan

LN came across a renowned family of gardeners in Bressington, Norfolk,
England: Alan Bloom and his sons Robert and Adrian.

Bold, Coby

Our Australian spotter TB reports the harrowing tale of a yound lady being assaulted in
a train station, ignored by everyone in the rush-hour crowd, only to be rescued by
another young lady, Coby Bold.

Book, Cathy

Cathy Book is a bookstore clerk. (Frank Nuessel, The Study of Names,
Greenwood Press, 1992, p. 42) (AB)

Boring, Mr.

NF writes, "When I used to teach at Garden City  (NY) High School, a fellow
English teacher was named Mr. Boring.  He used to tell his students it was
pronounced 'Booring', but you know how high school kids are."

Brain, Russell

LS reports two British neurologists: Dr. Russell Brain, author of Brain's Diseases
of the Nervous System (Oxford University Press, 1933), and Dr. Henry Head, past
editor of Brain, a medical journal.

Brown, Matt


Spotted by eagle-eyed TB in Sydney, Australia: a greengrocer's  called
Brown's Greens; also Fry's Meats in Adelaide.

Bullock, John

John Bullock is the spokesman for the Meat and Livestock Commission in Australia,
according to a newspaper article by Duncan Bone and reported to us by TB.

Doctor Bush

In Geneva, Illinois, there is a gynecologist named Doctor Bush. (LM)

Butts, Dr. Charles

At one time, Dr. Charles Butts was the spokesman for Smoke-Free
Nova Scotia, a clean air and anti-smoking lobby. (DC)
Here is a comic by Andrea.

C Cash, Iain

Iain Cash has been a cashier since 1992 in a Salvation Army office
in Paris, France.(IC) [He is the only one to have his name at the same time in
the English list and in the French list, for being English, working in Paris and
carrying an aptonymic name.]

Cashman, Brian

The New York Yankees General Manager is named Brian Cashman, a fitting
name for a team that typically has the highest (or second-highest)payroll of any
Major League Baseball team ($109 million this year). He was profiled in the
Montreal Gazette on Wednesday, October 31, 2001. (AB)

Champagne, Luscious

"Last week in the LA Times "California" section (I think it appeared on
Thursday  or Friday) there was a story about the program that takes drunk
drivers to the county morgue to scare them. One of the participants
was "Luscious Champagne" (NKC)

Chipman, Barry

Oz contributor GO writes, "I've just confirmed the existence of Barry Chipman,
the Tasmanian State Co-ordinator of the Australian timber industry funded front
roup, Timber Communities Australia.   He was interviewed on Australia's ABC,
Radio National program, The World Today...Tasmania's forests are logged to make,
among other things, wood chips!!!"

Chopp, Richard

Dr. Richard (Dick) Chop was JB2's urologist in Austin Texas.
Thankfully, he didn't have t

Chui, Dr. Donald

New contibutor PC2 found this excellent advert for dentist Dr. Donald Chui.

Cock, Everrard

Nominative determinism (Finding a vocation to fit your name)
doesn't always work: Everrard Cock is in fact a vet, not a
sex worker! (He's listed in the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons Directory of members.) (AM)

Cockburn, Alden

New Contributor MK writes "A few years ago, I saw an advertisement for a local urologist
who specialized in vasectomy reversals. His name is Dr. Alden Cockburn. I had to look this
up in the phone book to make sure it was correct. I also found a website with a more recent
article about Dr. Cockburn moving to Taos, New Mexico. The article insists the name is
pronounced, 'co-burn'." [Hey, MK: here in Canada we have a great musician named
Bruce Cockburm, and we procounce his name the same way as Alden does.]

Comfort, Samuel

Dr. Samuel Comfort, Dentist,  has been comforting his patients for
many years now, in the town of Haddonfield, New Jersey, USA. (AB)

Constable, Scott

According to LT, there is a police officer in Vancouver named
Scott Constable, whom one presumably would address as "Constable
Constable".

Courage, Trent

In Oakville, Ontario, Trent Courage and his brother are co-organizers
of the annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim. (DC)

Cowburn, David

Sorry, but there is no easy way to put this. CRE Group's combustion
labs have been looking into the problem of trying to dispose of our
embarrassing mountain of bovine carcasses. (due to mad cow's disease)

One suggested solution has been to dry and squash them into fuel
pellets for industrial solid fuel boilers. Mad? Surely not, when the man
in charge of their testing laboratory is none other than David Cowburn.
(reprinted, with permission, from New Scientist Magazine. 25 July, 1998.)
(AB)

Cull, Gerard

TM2 writes "I needed to have a tree removed from the front yard of our house
and someone recommended "Razorback Tree Removals".  The owner's name
is Gerard Cull.

Current, A. and D.

TMreports that growing up in Tonogany, Ohio, he recalls an electrical
appliance shop operated by the brothers A. and D. Current.  I wonder
if their middle initials were "C"?

Cutmore, Stephen

SO reports a tree surgeon in North Wales named Stephen Cutmore.

D D'Eath, Doctor

When working in Britain I numbered among colleagues one surgeon
D'Eath who worked with an anaesthetist called Coffin. In Jamaica
my wife hairdresser is Miss Baldy. (reprinted, with permission,
from New Scientist Magazine. 25 July, 1998.) (EB)

D'Eath, Joel

This is a first for the CAC: A paramedic named Joel D'Eath, from
Toronto , Ontario, saw our list and contributed his own name.  Welcome
to the CAC, Joel! 

Death, John

 "In 1989, John Death was the official spokeperson for the Australian
Civil Aviation Authority, the agency which investigates plane crashes.
(The Gazette, Montréal, April 18, 1989) (AB)

De Cock, Dr. Kevin

Dr Kevin De Cock starts as the New HIV/AIDS Director at WHO.  (RS)

Dent, Doctor

KP2 writes,"My dentist in the '60s was Dr. Dent, a dentist in the St. Louis, MO area.
There is a chiropractor in Tacoma, WA, named Bonz."

Divine, Leonard

Leonard Divine is a rabbi. (Frank Nuessel, The Study of Names,
Greenwood Press 1992, p. 42) (AB)

Dobson, J.A.W.

DC went to the same dentist, John Dobson, of Dartmouth Nova Scotia,
for more then 20 years before realizing that his middle initials were A.W.

Doctor, Marcellene

Marcellene Doctor, dermatologist, Fall River,
Massachusetts, USA. Source:
Telephone Directory, New Bedford, MA, USA, March 2000.
(KML)

Dollar, David

TB from Australia sends:  "ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) Lateline programme on
2007-03-20 interviewed American David Dollar, the China Manager of the World Bank.

Dolittle Painting

TB from Australia reports several aptonymic businesses: Dolittle Painting,
Sleep's Plumbing, and McLean's Cleaning Services.

Dollar, Creflo A.

While channel-surfing one Sunday morning, DC came across the TV
evangelist Creflo A. Dollar.  True to form, the show ended with the offer
of various Christian goods and services available by credit card through
a toll-free number

Dolphin, Professor William F.

Professor William F. Dolphin of Boston University is a researcher
in animal bioacoustics, especially marine mammal sonar, and is a
frequent presenter at the Animal Bioacoustics sessions at meetings
of the Acoustical Society of America, where DC has heard him speak.

Drinkwater, Ken

MB writes: "Last year, as I was reading various documents concerning oceanography, I came across a list
of articles published by a certain Mr. Ken Drinkwater, originally from Nova Scotia, researcher
for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.  Through Google you may easily access a page devoted to his work."

Dunn, Will

RK tells us of a lawyer he encountered named Will Dunn,
in Greenville, South Carolina.

E Emenau, Dr.

Dr. Emenau was in 1998 a gastroenterologist in the city of Saint John,
New Brunswick, Canada. You can recognize an aptonym in this name
if you change the order of letters "m" and "n". (SH)

F Feral, Priscilla

Multiple contributor RS came across Priscilla Feral, President of Friends of Animals,
a wild animal protection organization.

Fish, Frank E.

On the PBS documentary "Evolution", broadcast in September 2001, marine
scientist Dr. Frank E. Fish described the swimming of (you guessed it) fish. His
web page indicates that his interests are "...the study of the dynamics of locomotion
in animals. His focus has been on the energetics and hydrodynamics of vertebrate
swimming, with particular regard to propulsive modes and the evolution of
aquatic mammals." (DC)

Fish, M.P.

In his study of sources of underwater noise, DC came across a paper by
M.P. Fish of The University of Rhode Island, entitled "Biological Sources
of Sustained Sea Noise," published in Marine Bio-Acoustics, Proceedings
of a Symposium held at Binini, Bahamas, in April, 1963.

Fisher, Jonah

BBC reporter Jonah Fisher travelled aboard the Greenpeace ship Esperanza
to get the "inside scoop" on the Japanese whale hunt. (GO)

Fountain, Graham

Graham Fountain is the Victorian (Australia) Country Fire Authority Assistant Chief Fire Officer.
It's good to know that when the fires are threatening we have a fountain to put them out! (GO)

Freese, Walt

RS writes "I just read in the Wall Street Journal that the CEO of
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream is Walt Freese. Not bad."

Funnel, Bob

Bob Funnel is the owner of a beer and wine making outlet in Burnside
Industrial Park, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada (DC)

G Garden, Alexander

Alexander Garden was an 18th-century Scottish botanist who named
a flower, the gardenia, after himself. (BL)

Gates, Bill (yes THAT one!)

Gauss, Jeffery

Jeffery Gauss, distantly related to the famous mathematician, is a magnet artist. (JG)

Glaser, Morris

Morris Glaser was the founder of the Glaser Glass Company in 1921,
in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Company's motto:
"Glaser by Name, Glazier by Trade." Source:
Telephone Directory, New Bedford, MA, USA, March 2000.
(KML)

Glaser, Morris (another one!)

If the first one was not good enough, VG submits the name of her grandfather,
Morris Glaser, born in Kiev, the Ukraine, in 1900, lived most of his life in the Bronx,
and passed away in Chicago in 2001, living to the ripe age of 101 years!

Goodness, Donald

Donald Goodness is the rector of the Church of the Ascension in
New York City.(RS)

H Hacker, Eric

" I am a Certified Information Systems Security Professional. On the
application form, one must uphold a strict code of conduct. One of the
questions was "Are you or have you ever been associated with hackers or
hacking?" I had to fill out an explanation for that question."
 

    Eric Hacker, CISSP, GCIA, MCSE, CCSE
    Network Security Architect
    Major US Bank
    "Long gone are the days when one's surname referred to the role
    one had in the community." (EH)

Hackett, Mr.

The computer network coordinator at Bicentennial Junior High School in
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is Mr. Hackett. (DC)

Haddock, Steven

Steven Haddock is a scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
It would be ideal if he studied fish, but in fact he is more interested in deep-sea
gelatinous zooplankton, which I doubt would make a decent chowder. (MT)

Hammer, Peter

Peter Hammer is a hardware store clerk. (Frank Nuessel, The Study
of Names, Greenwood Press, 1992, p. 42) (AB)

Handsaker, Perrete

In 1994, DC received a FAX from Perrete Handsaker, International
Sales Coordinator for Celestron International, an telescope company.
He though that the name should have been Pierrete Handshaker.

Handwerker, Doctor

MC reports, "There is a gynecologist on Long Island, NY, named Dr. Handwerker."

   
Hardman, Stewart

Our first contributor form Eastern Europe, HM, discovered that Stewart Hardman
is the Director of the gay-oriented online gallery www.adonis-art.com.

Hayle, Gerry

My name is Geraldine Hayle, and I am a retired physician (UBC '55, FRCPC in anaesthesia). 
After my divorce, I got to choose my surname, which I decided to be a composite of my father's
(Hay) and my stepfather's (Hall). Between a choice of Hayll and Hayle, I chose the latter,
because it had a nice healthy sound and would be easier for people to use. Now if only I could
get people to stop pronouncing it as "Haley"!  (GH)

 Heavens, Alan

TB heard about astronomer Dr. Alan Heavens on the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation during the close approach of Mars in August 2003.

Hedges, John

AM reports from England: "My colleague Karl Sees from Shenfield, Essex, UK
knows a trader in a London bank whose name is John Hedges."

Hemsworth and Hands

In Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada, (PG) taught in a junior high school
with a Home Economics teacher named Mrs. Hemsworth and an Industrial
Arts teacher named Mr. Hands.

Herring, Peter

 At the Southampton Oceanography Centre in England, Peter Herring studies
photoecology, which has to do with light-emitting organisms in the ocean. (PW)

Hitwell, Darren

In Newcastle, Australia, there is a boxer named Darren Hitwell; he is
Australian Champion in his weight division. (MT)

House, Nita

Nita House is a real estate agent. (Frank Nuessel, The Study of Names,
Greenwood Press, 1992, p.42) (AB)

Horn, Mr.

Mr. Horn is the band teacher at Fraser Heights Secondary School in
Surrey, B.C. He teaches SM's daughter.

I
Ichinose, Dr. Fumito

Contributor AK informs us that "according to the BBC News website sewer gas
or hydrogen sulphide—which the BBC rather obviously informs us smells of rotten
eggs—may help preserve organ function in critically ill patients according to Harvard
scientist...Dr. Fumito Ichinose!

Illman, Doctor

CM tells us of some folks she has actually met:

Dr. Illman - Bloomington Indiana hospital doctor in 1980s

Dr. Brain - Indiana University sociology professor in 1980s

Dr. Reason - University of Kent (England) social sciences professor in 1980s

Innocente, Daniel

DC read in the Halifax Daily News:"Accused drug conspirator Daniel Innocente
has spent so much time in court he doesn't need a state-appointed lawyer, a judge
has ruled... Innocente is in jail, after his parole was revoked earlier this year on a
7-year sentence for another drug-trafficking conspiracy."

J

Jewell, Claire

In Kentville, Nova Scotia, Claire Jewell's first paid job was a clerk in
Duguid's Jewelers. Her mother, Jean Jewell, was an antiques dealer with a
certificate in gemology.  Claire's uncle, Ron Jewell, lived on Diamond Lane,
somewhere in England. (CJ)

Judge, Igor

Frequent contributor TB writes "The new Head of the Criminal Justice in the UK is called Igor Judge.

Justice, Courtney

In Delphi, Indiana, LL says she has seen the office of an attorney named Courtney B. Justice.

K Dr. Knapp

Dr. Knapp is an anesthesiologist. (Frank Nuessel, The Study of Names,
Greenwood Press, 1992, p. 42) (AB)

Kickett, Senter, and Wing

Derek Kickett played for Essendon in the Australian Football League (which is a far superior game to
Rugby League, or anything else for that matter). Also, there are two current players in the National Rugby League
called Darren Senter and Craig Wing.  Unfortunately, they don't play the correct positions! 
Senter is a forward and wing plays five-eighth. (MT )

Kroopnick, Dr. Kenneth

L Laidlaw, John

John Laidlaw was in 1998 a barrister in Saint John, New Brunswick,
Canada. (SH)

Lake, Sam

From Australia, TB reports that Dr. Sam Lake is a freshwater ecologist in the
Dept. of Biological Sciences at Monash University.

Landsea, Chris

RS reports that Chris Landsea is a hurricane researcher with NOAA.

Larock, Jeff

IF reports a reference in the October 2001 issue of National Geographic to a park ranger at the Lava Beds
National Monument, named Jeff LaRock who (presumablt among other things) enjoyed exploring caves.
In the same issue:  "...the nearby thermal area known as Bumpass Hell was named for Kendall Vanhook Bumpass,
an explorer and mountain man who fell into a boiling mud pot in 1865 and had to have his leg amputated."

Lawless, Ken

Ken Lawless is a police chief. (Frank Nuessel, The Study of Names,
Greenwood Press, 1992, p. 42) (AB)

Learning, Dr. Deryl

Dr. Deryl Leaming is flounder of the Academic Leadership Online Journal (TB)

http://www.academicleadership.org/pages/About_the_Journal.shtml

Leatherman, Dick

Dick Leatherman is a volleyball teacher, coach and tournament organizer
in San Diego, California. (PC)

Leek, van der

Out in Delta, British Columbia, LT reports seeing a truck belonging to
the van der Leek Roofing Company.

Little, Reed

(DC2) drew my attention to the author Reed Little, who helped write
"Documenting Software Architectures", a page-turner if there ever was one.

Writes KB: Up until the mid-nineties (?) there was an accounting firm in Bathurst, NB,
called Lyon and Cook.  I laugh when I think of them "lyin' to the tax department and
cookin' the books".

M Makepeace, James

Dr. James Makepeace, professor of sociology in 1987 at the college of
St. Benedict at St. John's University in Minnessota, was a specialist in
family violence. (The Gazette, Montréal, September 29, 1987) (AB)

Mallett, Dr. D. V.  - Chiropractor

KP found the chiropractor Dr. D. V. Mallett on LeMarchant Road,
St. John's, Newfoundland.

Mann, Jessica Helen

Jessica Helen Mann was a very good student in anthropology at McGill
University in Montréal. In June 1998, she graduated with honours in
Anthropology and Religious Studies, and also made the Dean's
Honour List. (CT)

Marine, Sally

UK contributor PW reports that Sally Marine was an administrator at
the Southampton Oceanography Centre.

Mauve, Anton

IF discovered that the artist Vincent van Gogh originall made drawings, and
was introduced to painting in colour by his artist cousin Anton Mauve.
The full biography can be found here.

McAnally, James R.

Dr. James R. McAnally is a specialist in implant, cosmetic &
restorative  dentistry in Seattle. (Queen Anne/Magnolia News,
Seattle, July 8, 1998) (LM)

McQuestion, Diana

Diana McQuestion heads the Meetings and Publications division of
the Science and Technology Corporation, at their head office in Virginia.
MT saw her name on a brochure advertising a scientific conference.
Folks wanting more information were invited to contact her!

Miller, Dusty

Writes TB: "Dusty Miller is the name of the CFMEU representative (the main trade union in construction,
forestry and forest products, mining and energy production) called in for negotations to prevent the closure
of a timber mill that went into receivership in Canberra this month. Here is the story.

Moller, Dr. Michelle

CH noticed a dentist in the Halifax Yellow Pages named Dr. Michelle Moller.

Moneymaker, Chris

NP reminds us of the champion poker player Chris Moneymaker.

Moore, Rob

Regular contributor IF reports "We went to a wedding in Rothesay on the weekend.  All over
southern New Brunswick were huge campaign signs promoting "Rob Moore". Unfortunately,
he was running for the Conservatives, not the Liberals." (Canada had a Federal election in
June 2004, following a scandal involving dubious expenditure of tax revenue.  The Liberals
won, but were given only a minority government.)

Mosele, Sandra

Frequent contributer GO found Sandra Mosele, General Manager and Winemaker for Kooyong and
Port Phillip Estate, Australia.

Mudd, Dr. Gavin

Another Oz contributor, GO, reports that Dr. Gavin Mudd is a representative of Monash University's
Institute for Sustainable Water Resources, and commented on the radio about the water shortages in
Sydney, Australia. Apparently, plans for a desalination plant have just been shelved and aquifers in
the Southern Highlands have been mooted as a potential source of drinking water. We hope they
do not end up with "muddy waters"! (a little blues joke)

N Nosce, Dr.

JS did not notice that his optometrist Dr. Luis V. Nosce had an aptonym until
his friend BB pointed out that the Filipino name is pronounced somewhat like "No-see".

Nurse, Dr.

Dr. Nurse is a General Practitioner at the Woodlawn Medical Centre,
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, (DC)

Nurse, Dr. Paul

TB has another great one: Paul Nurse was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

O

 
Ocean Hellman

DM writes "Not sure if this counts, but two of the actors/actresses in the [Canadian TV]
series "Danger Bay" [about oceanography] were: Ocean Hellman, and Christopher Crabb.

Opinsky, Howard

New contributor JM found a Reuters news piece about Howard Opinsky,
a Republican "operative" who ran media relations for a U.S. Presidential candidate in 2000.

Painter, Helen

Helen Painter studied marine biology at university and is now a Nova Scotian
artist specializing in fishy subjects. (MT)

Payne&Fears

MP reports a law firm Payne&Fears in LA.

Payne, Tom

Tom Payne is a dentist in Johnstown, Ohio. (RS)

Peanis, Offa

I know you keep telling your readers that you've printed enough
examples of nominative determinism and wish to move on, but I heard
this on the Today programme this morning (28 July) and I need to share it.

The piece was from Israel where it seems that there is a group of
extremely orthodox Jews taking the practice of circumcision to unusual
lengths by circumcising cadavers prior to burial.

There is an opposing Israeli group who suggest that this is taking the
custom a little too far. I take my hat off to the presenter who was quite
unabashed interviewing the spokesman of this group, whose name was
Offa Peanis. (reprinted, with permission, from New Scientist Magazine.
15 August 1998.) (AB)

Pisko, John

Plack, Dr. Les

        GM reports that Dr. Les Plack is a dentist in the San Francisco Bay Are
        and is the official dentist for the San Francisco Giants.

Playfair, Jim

         The winners of the 2001 Calder Cup finals of the American Hockey
         League are the St. John Flames, whose coach is Jim Playfair. (IF)

Plumb, Malcolm

Contributor AM2 writes that his family's plumber in Enfield, Middlesex,
England is one Malcolm Plumb.

Popwell, Dr. Lee

DC3 reports a chiropractor in Greenville, South Carolina, named Dr. Popwell.

Profitt, Janine

Janine Profitt is a financial advisor with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. (DC)

Prose, Francine

Francine Prose is a writer. Her most recent book is Guided Tours of
Hell, a pair of novellas. (NY Times Magazine Book Revue,
November 29th, 1998) (AB)

Q Quirk, Dr. K

Halifax contributor JP writes, "A favourite in our house is one I found
quite by accident in the local phone book: Dr. K. Quirk, Psychiatrist.
Someone in our family is always '...needing to see Dr. Quirk!' "

R

Raines, Dallas

AD reports that Dallas Raines is a popular TV weather reporter on ABC in LA.

Rizk, Sabrina

CH reports that there is a Public Servant in the "Risk, Integrity, and
Strategic Management: unit named Sabrina Rizk.

Robb, Gary

TB from Australia, has a collection of aptonymic lawyers, the first of which
is Gary Robb of Canberra, who is not far from Michael Lawless. In Sydney,
there is a solicitor named Cashman and two others named Cheate and Steele.
She goes on to say "There is also a lawyer called Martin Sides and another
called Gavin Back - if they could get together with someone (anyone!)
called Short, they could be Short, Back & Sides. (They could give you the
short, back, & sides treatment and then take you to the cleaners, I suppose). "

Rush, Gary

Longtime Oz contributor TB tells us of: "Rapid Strategic Planning" by Gary Rush
of  MGR Consulting, Barrington, IL.

S Sade, Eric

GG regularly drives by the office of an endodontist, Dr. Eric Sade, and his
wife's GP is Dr. Susan Au.

See, Dr. Wong

"There was an opthalmologist in Canberra in the 1970s called
Dr. Wong See," reports TB.

Seed, John

GO tells us about John Seed  from the Rainforest Information Centre in Lismore,
New South Wales. (www.rainforestinfo.org.au ) A very apt name as seeds are what
rainforests are all about!!!

Seed, Randolph

Dr. Randolph Seed was working in 1980 on a project on artificial
insemination at the Reproduction and Fertility Clinic in Chicago. He was
assisted by Dr. Richard Seed. (NY Times Magazine, July 20, 1980) (AB)

Senior, Jeff

The uncle of KS is a local policeman, Senior Constable Senior,
in New South Wales, Australia.

Service, Shantel

TM writes, "I work at a Mervyns retail store in West Valley City, Utah. The store manager's name
there is Shantel Service. We've had some laughs over it so I thought I would share.

Seymour, Hugh

I have experienced much disbelief throughout my education about my
father's name and his occupation: his name is Hugh Seymour, and he is
an optometrist. (reprinted, with permission, from New Scientist Magazine.
25 July 1998.) (AB)

Shears, Sonia

Sonia Shears is a hair stylist at the Golden Clipper hair salon in Mic
Mac Mall, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, who actually cut MT's
hair and gave him her business card.

Shortt, Ernie

Thanks to EM for spotting a van in Trenton, Ontario with
Ernie Shortt's Electrical Service on the side.

Shuttleworth

"I heard on the radio the other day that one of the NASA managers at Cape
Canaveral is named Shuttleworth." (IF)

Sin, Cardinal Jaime

TB reports from Australia: "You can't beat Cardinal Sin of the Philippines,
even more delicious when you see that his name is Cardinal J'aime Sin
(sorry—that's Jaime—slip of the pen <grin>)."

Slaughter, Terry

SC would like to submit one from the town where he works, in which there is
a dentist/maxofacial surgeon named Terry Slaughter.

Smiley, Dr. Samuel

Contributor DG writes "I work for an IT Company and we have a customer who works in the Dental Industry.  His name is Dr. Samuel Smiley."

Spellings, Margaret

JB writes: "I was watching The Daily Show this week and he interviewed US federal

secretary of education, Margaret Spellings."

Spilman, Wayne

Wayne Spilman is a lubrication engineer and coordinates papers for the
Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. (DC) <>

Sprinkle, Larry

Larry Sprinkle is the meteorologist for a Charlotte, North
Carolina TV station. (VEM)

Stiles, Sarah and David

 Out in Victoria, B.C., Sarah and David Stiles are hairdressers
(and also contributors). (SS)

Strike, Raymond

Raymond Strike is the President of the National Health and Welfare
Worker's Union, part of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
DC saw his picture and name on a poster in his place of work, a
government laboratory.

Stockwell, Phil

AP writes "I work in an independent school, Wellington College, in England.  
Our Catering Manager is called Phil Stockwell."

Sudds, Family

The Sudds family in Glenburnie, Ontario, Canada, was making a
living by washing and cutting dog hair. (DI)

T Tappe, Eddie

 TB from Australia, writes "The Ballarat Courier 2007-03-16 reports on water (we are in drought):
Goulburn Murray Water Diversions Assistant Manager is Eddie Tappe."

Tapper, Dr. Richard

In Toledo, Ohio, there is a urologist named Dr. Richard (Dick) Tapper. (TM)

  Teachworth, Ann

My name is Anne Teachworth and I teach worthwhile skills. I am the Director of the Gestalt Institute of New Orlens/New York where I teach therapists the skills of couple counseling from selection to solution. I am the author of the book WHY WE PICK THE MATES WE DO which sells on Amazon.com and a couples counselor for 28 years, so I also teach the general public about good relationships. www.teachworth.com  (AT)

Tensifier, Imogene

In the UK, RW reports that his colleague Imogene Tensifier works with
infra-red optical instruments in E2V Technologies.

Tennant, Simon

The Chief Economic Advisor to the Housing Instute of Australia is
Simon Tennant! Here's a news article: (GO)

Tester, Marion

TP writes: "I used to work with a water sample analyst who went by the
name of Marion Tester. As far as I know we still work for the same company
but I haven'tseen her for a few years.

Theoret, Dr. Julie

Dr. Julie Theoret is a mathematics professor at Lyndon State College,
Vermont, USA. Visit her personal page. (AL)

Thrower, William

WF tells us that William Thrower used to be an NFL quarterback.

Treadwell, Timothy

In the Toronto Globe and Mail, Saturday, June 2, 2001, the "Lunch with..."
column featured the wilderness hiker and grizzly bear fancier Timothy
Treadwell,  who spends months on his own in the Alaskan wilds observing
the beasts. Says the article: "Cohabiting with bears, of course, makes it
difficult cohabiting with girlfriends. In 1997, he took one on the first half of
the trip, but things did not work out.  Now there is a new girlfriend in the
picture, but Treadwell is pessimistic about his long-term prospects."
Or possibly hers?  (DC)

Treadwell, Dr.

Doctor Treadwell is the head of the pediatric orthopediac department of
Vancouver General Hospital, and treated SM's son.

Trump, C. Edward

The American Contract Bridge League has a page of new Life Masters (people
who have accumulated enough points in tournaments) that includes C. Edward Trump,
Nancy Hart, and William West. (The seats at the bridge table are denoted North, South,
East and West).  Frank Stewart in his book "Winning Defence for the Advancing Bridge
Player" claims to have had a partnership with a Steve Diamond. Also that he has played
against a Mrs. Passmore and a man named Bidwell. (DH)

V Vile and Vile

MT reports the Australian law firm of Vile and Vile.

Vile Municipal Waste Company

WF tells us that in Philadelphia, there is a trash hauling company that takes its name
from its founder, the Vile Municipal Waste Co.

Valve, Henry

Henry Valve is an author and owns Henry Valves Ltd. (UK) which sells
valves and accessories for refrigeration and air conditioning applications.
(Valves and accessories for ammonia and industrial application, Melrose
Park, Illinois, 1995) (ML)

Vowel, Faye

Dr. Faye Vowel, director of Emporia State writing laboratory, was the
creator of a very successful writer's hot line, a Dial-a-Grammarian service
for students and any one else needing information about correct usage.
(Time magazine, March 26, 1979) (AB)

W Watt, Dr. Muriel

Enthusiastic collector GO found Dr. Muriel Watt, spokesperson for the

Australian Photovoltaic Association.

Weatherhead, Elizabeth

Dr. Betsy Weatherhead is a climate researcher at NOAA, specializing
in the monitoring of ultraviolet radiation. DC saw her present a paper
entitled "Detecting Climate Change" at a recent international conference
called Global Warming and the Next Ice Age, held in Halifax, NS

Webb, Adrienne

Adrienne Webb is Senior Editor of Sympatico NetLife, "Helping Canadians
to get more from the internet."  One assumes that this is not a nom de plume,
if that is the correct expression in this instance. In fact, NetLife assures
us that it is her real name!  (DC)

Webster, Cynthia

CG writes, "Cynthia Webster runs a website-based business selling music
synthesizers, kits and components at http://www.cyndustries.com  "Synth" is
the common contraction of "synthesizer", as "Cynth" is of "Cynthia".  Her site
could reasonably be called "Cynth Webster's synth website".

de Weever, Hilda

In Aylesford, Nova Scotia (in the Annapolis Valley between Halifax and Digby),
there is a craft outlet called de Weever's Wovens, run by Hilda de Weever. (MT)

Winkler, Leah

Leah Winkler is a technologist at Nova Vision, a laser vision correction
clinic at the Halifax Shopping Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.   (DC)

Y Younger, Dr.

JR writes to say "A block away from me is the Younger Facial Surgery Centre
(the doctor's name is Dr. Younger).

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