I thought of this in the shower, then deleted it when someone in a discord I asked it to eventually said duh it’s Michael Jackson, and another replied Michael Jordan you dumbass … oof … but then while deleted it got upvotes somehow so whatever lol

  • deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
    101·
    2 days ago

    Jackson is a patronymic last name: Jack’s son.

    Smith is an aptronymic last name: a smith.

    So yeah, bang on.

    • Tujio@lemmy.world
      3·
      2 days ago

      There are a bunch of aptronymic last names, especially in English culture. The Baker family, the Tanner family, the Shoemaker family etc.

      Don’t ask about the Dickinsons.

    • phubarr@lemmy.world
      3·
      23 hours ago

      I’d love to know why you know these terms. I’m a huge etymology nerd and I eat this stuff up.

      This entire thread begs the question, why do some people have a first name for a last name? Is it just a less-clear patronym?

      • deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
        2·
        22 hours ago

        I too am an etymology geek, I had to look up “aptronym” (I already knew there was a word for it, but couldn’t remember it) but already knew “patronym”. I can occasionally work out the approximate Latin roots of words and take a stab at what to search for.

        Regarding names’ positions moving around… that’s just people. People name their children all sorts of stupid things that eventually become normal.