When something is named after a person or a place or a company, we call that name an eponym. Eponyms are everywhere—in science, medicine, the arts.

This list focuses on words that are eponyms but are so common that you might come in contact with some of them every day and barely know how they got their names.

1. Teddy

The toy was first created in 1902 and was named after the then president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.

Historians agree the teddy bear got its name when ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt, as the 26th president was nicknamed, on a hunting trip in Mississippi.

The president failed to make a kill and so his hosts caught a bear, presenting it to him as a target.

He refused to shoot it, saying: “Spare the bear”.

- See more at: http://giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/09/16/10-everyday-items-you-wont-believe-were-named-after-people/#sthash.OY6lKQ1q.dpuf

2. Biro

You virtually make use of this item almost every day. Biro is the last name of a Hungarian inventor who invented the object “that has a small metal ball as the point of transfer of ink to paper.” His full name is Biro Laszlo Jozsef.

Ever stopped to wonder how miserable your life would be without a biro?

- See more at: http://giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/09/16/10-everyday-items-you-wont-believe-were-named-after-people/#sthash.OY6lKQ1q.dpuf

3. Jacuzzi

Have you ever thought about the origin of the word Jacuzzi, that luxurious bubbly bath that every Nigerian musician claims to own?

It’s the surname of the brothers who invented it back in 1956.

- See more at: http://giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/09/16/10-everyday-items-you-wont-believe-were-named-after-people/#sthash.OY6lKQ1q.dpuf

4. Macadam

Before you start sceamin that Macadam is not an everyday item, do yourself a favour and check a dictionary. Macadam is a paved surface having compressed layers of broken rocks held together with tar. This basically defines the road you use virtually every day

The word owes its existence to John Loudon McAdam, a Scottish engineer and road-builder. MacAdam was the first to propose “compacted crushed stone as a road covering.” In other words, he is the father of modern road construction. The word “tarmac” is also partly derived from his name; it is a blend of “tar” and “MacAdam.

- See more at: http://giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/09/16/10-everyday-items-you-wont-believe-were-named-after-people/#sthash.OY6lKQ1q.dpuf

4. Macadam


Before you start sceamin that Macadam is not an everyday item, do yourself a favour and check a dictionary. Macadam is a paved surface having compressed layers of broken rocks held together with tar. This basically defines the road you use virtually every day

The word owes its existence to John Loudon McAdam, a Scottish engineer and road-builder. MacAdam was the first to propose “compacted crushed stone as a road covering.” In other words, he is the father of modern road construction. The word “tarmac” is also partly derived from his name; it is a blend of “tar” and “MacAdam.

5. Sideburns

Ambrose Everett Burnside a Union Army general in the AmericanCivil War and later politician, Burnside was well known and well liked.

He wasn’t known as a good general, often getting his forces in trouble, but people forgave him because of his freaky facial hair.

Two burly muttonchops grew dangerously long and connected to a handlebar moustache. Originally they became known as burnsides, but over time, the syllables were switched around.

6. Saxophone

The musical instrument was invented by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker. His father, Charles Joseph (1791-1865) invented the less popular saxhorn

7. Cardigan

Cardigan was named after Thomas Brudnell who was a General in the Crimean War. His troop were the first to wear such garments

8. Diesel Engine

The Diesel engine was named after its inventor identified as Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel who was a French-born German engineer.

9. Nicotine

This name for the “poisonous addictive chemical in tobacco smoke” is derived from Jean Nicot, a French diplomat, scholar, and lexicographer who introduced tobacco to France from Portugal where he served as French ambassador in the mid-16th century.

Nicot believed tobacco had medical properties and actively advocated its use in the French society, particularly among the French elite. He became wildly popular in France in his time as a result of the acceptance of tobacco by the French nobility. The tobacco plant nicotiana is also named after him.

10.Braille

Braille is a point system of writing in which patters of raised dots represents letters and numerals. It is a very usefully tool for the blind as it helps them read.

The word is derived from Louis Braille, a French educator and musician who became blind when he was only three years old and who later went on to invent a system of writing and printing that is used all over the world by the blind.

Do you know any other item that should be on the list? Please let us know in the comment section below.

- See more at: http://giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/09/16/10-everyday-items-you-wont-believe-were-named-after-people/#sthash.OY6lKQ1q.dpuf

Rastafarianism- Was invente by Ras Tafari at young age of 14 who later was employ into the working force of menelik 2 of abyssinia modern day ethiopia. He late cunningly dethron the menelik daughther Zauditu and rule ethiopia for 44years under the name of emperor Hail salise. It has over 5million followers who smoke indian hemp and keep dread locks as a sign of membership

Oga you said 10,abi copy and paste no gree you post am finish?

Hen hen

your memory don dey skip?

Odilafta: Oga you said 10,abi copy and paste no gree you post am finish?

may be where e dey copy am talk say make e bring money before e go copy the rest.

ask seun for the money nah,sebi na in site

Oya na continue,copy copy.

dis is very educative, tnks op

op. come complete Am joor...... abi dey don delete the post from where u dey copy am?

5. Sideburns

Ambrose Everett Burnside a Union Army general in the AmericanCivil War and later politician, Burnside was well known and well liked.
He wasn’t known as a good general, often getting his forces in trouble, but people forgave him because of his freaky facial hair.
Two burly muttonchops grew dangerously long and connected to a handlebar moustache. Originally they became known as burnsides, but over time, the syllables were switched around.

6. Saxophone

The musical instrument was invented by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker. His father, Charles Joseph (1791-1865) invented the less popular saxhorn

7. Cardigan

Cardigan was named after Thomas Brudnell who was a General in the Crimean War. His troop were the first to wear such garments

8. Diesel Engine

The Diesel engine was named after its inventor identified as Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel who was a French-born German engineer.

9. Nicotine

This name for the “poisonous addictive chemical in tobacco smoke” is derived from Jean Nicot, a French diplomat, scholar, and lexicographer who introduced tobacco to France from Portugal where he served as French ambassador in the mid-16th century.
Nicot believed tobacco had medical properties and actively advocated its use in the French society, particularly among the French elite. He became wildly popular in France in his time as a result of the acceptance of tobacco by the French nobility. The tobacco plant nicotiana is also named after him.

10. Braille

Braille is a point system of writing in which patters of raised dots represents letters and numerals. It is a very usefully tool for the blind as it helps them read.
The word is derived from Louis Braille, a French educator and musician who became blind when he was only three years old and who later went on to invent a system of writing and printing that is used all over the world by the blind.

Do you know any other item that should be on the list? Please let us know in the comment section below.

Source: http://giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/09/16/10-everyday-items-you-wont-believe-were-named-after-people/#sthash.OY6lKQ1q.dpuf

Used to think biro is a naija thing. Dunno why when I say biro, my non-Nigerian friends think am speaking Latin.

Nice one.

nice.....i suspect front page

Maggi and Coke

the op vex he no put pic again. lolx

nwaobitex: the op vex he no put pic again. lolx

No mind am.

#dereIsGod..O!


dat sentence was invented after our dear first lady made an outcry of dat word!!

front page material

Cool facts op.....This looks like fp material.
Why would someone name a dangerous chemical after himself(nicotine)

Alomo
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St. Remy
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benson and hedges

Maggi - Named after the founder (Seasoning Company) Julius Maggi in 1887.

Why no much comments?

BIRO

I agree with all the listed items including BIRO.
It wasn,t until 2007 that BIRO was officially accepted as a normal day to day English word, however.
I should add that this list is in-exhaustive.
Perhaps, NLanders can help add their own.

I add PENICILLIN

Thanks 4 letting me knw

Very nice to know

T-bag

Stone

Bush*

Zero*

Fish-ayo

Bank-ole