Re: Science and Unemployment...

John Thompson (johnt@haagar.jpl.nasa.gov)
30 Jun 1995 22:29:34 GMT

In article <ts_zemanian-3006951302550001@ts_zemanian.pnl.gov> ts_zemanian@pnl.gov (Thomas S. Zemanian) writes:
>In article <DAp9yH.Kp6@stdc.demon.co.uk>, clive@stdc.demon.co.uk (Clive
>D.W. Feather) wrote:
>
>> In article <3shhc8$t7i@decaxp.harvard.edu>,
>> Stephen S. Lee <lee9@fas.harvard.edu> wrote:
>> > Hey, this is not exactly a novel idea. Get thee hence to a history book,
>> > wherein you should read about the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, and
>> > a group of people known as Luddites.
>>
>> As someone whose family originated in Luddendon Foot, I should point out
>> that the early Luddites were not anti-technology for its own sake, but
>> because they were losing their jobs - that is, it was an early form of
>> Trade Union militancy.
>>
>
>Hi Clive:
>
>You seem to be implying that the Luddites got their name from your
>ancestral home. One of my dictionaries (Webster's New World Dictionary of
>the American Language; College Edition (1968)) gives the etymology as
>"said to be after Ned Lud, feebleminded man who smashed two frames
>belonging to a Leicester employer (c. 1779)"
>
>What's the scoop? Is there a link between the place name and the man's name?
>
>--Tom
>

I don't know anything about this particular case but places (both names
and descriptions) are a common source of surnames (York, London, Marsh,
Rivers, Lake, Field). The other big sources that I have noticed are
occupations (Smith, Farmer, Taylor, Sawyer, Fisher) and fathers' given names
(all the *son names, like myself).

>--
>The opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Keep your filthy hands off 'em! 

-- 

John Thompson

Jet Propulsion Laboratory      email: johnt@haagar.jpl.nasa.gov

4800 Oak Grove Drive             tel: 818-354-4587

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