The Art of Literary Nomenclature

ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Joseph“, from the Latin / Greek version of “Yosef”, a Hebrew name meaning “He will add”.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Jo, Joey, Jojo, Jos, José, Sep, Seph, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Joe, the under-gardener at Amhurste, in “A Brother to Dragons” (written in 1886, set in 1586), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
– Joe Collins, an old army friend of Marion Warren’s father, in “May Flowers”, from A Garland for Girls, by Louisa May Alcott, 1887.
– Joe Drummond, who is love / obsessed with Sidney Page, to a dangerous degree, in K. by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1914).
– Joe Giddy, Ray Kennedy’s brakeman, whose laziness has tragic results, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
– Joe Marchant, who is in need of a friend now more than ever, in “The Thanksgiving Guest”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
– Joe Pebbles, one of Humfrey Lemon’s customers, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales.
– Joe Scales, the very first suitor for one of the Gilbreth girls in Cheaper By the Dozen (1948), written by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.
– Joe (Joseph) Scott, an odorous and odious young man who considers himself a candidate for Virginia Herrick’s heart, in Virginia of Virginia, written by Amélie Rives in 1888.
– Joe Sibley, the teenaged son of the brash, shallow Sibley clan who encourage Ethel Amory in her frivolity while on their trip to Europe in “Poppies and Wheat”, from A Garland for Girls.

Tagged: 1500s, 1600s, 1880s, 1890s, 1910s, 1940s, English, J

§ 2 Responses to Joe

• Joseph | The Art of Literary Nomenclature says:

  August 24, 2014 at 10:13 am

  […] Makepeace Thackeray (published in 1847-48, but set in the 1810s-20s).- Joseph Scott (called “Joe“), an odorous and odious young man who considers himself a candidate for Virginia […]

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• Most Common Names for Some Common Jobs | The Art of Literary Nomenclature says:

  January 7, 2015 at 6:53 am

  […] – Mechanic: Dave, Fred, Jerry, Patrick, Randy, and Rick. – Meteorologist: Bill, Jeff, Joe, Jim, Mike, and Scott. – Photographer: Annie, Bruno, Hugo, Noah, Tracey, and Zoe. – […]

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