This Popular Term Was Coined Right Here in Minnesota

Minnesota has given the world some pretty amazing inventions - everything from Post-it Notes to rollerblades to the pacemaker. But, I just found out that one everyday term we hear all the time also got its start right here in our neck of the woods.

And this isn’t just any word - it’s one that I personally use every single day, often multiple times a day. So naturally, I’m kind of geeking out over this discovery.

I had no idea Minnesota played a role in shaping something so widely recognized, yet here we are, adding another to our growing list of world-changing inventions!

Get our free mobile app

This Popular Term Was Coined Right Here in Minnesota:

It's a word you see plastered on yard signs, business cards, and every real estate ad and it was actually invented right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

It all started back in 1916 when Charles N. Chadbourn, a Minneapolis real estate agent, realized there wasn’t a great way to tell the difference between real estate pros and, well, anyone else trying to sell a house.

So, as vice president of what’s now the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Charles proposed the term “Realtor” - a polished, professional title exclusively for members of the association, according to NAR.

And it stuck. The word took off, and by 1949, “Realtor” was officially trademarked, meaning only licensed NAR members can use it.

Related: 10 Minnesota Cities Where Home Prices Are Skyrocketing Right Now

So, next time you see a Realtor® sign in someone’s yard, just remember - it’s not just a fancy title, it’s a little piece of Minnesota history. Pretty cool, right?

Listen to Curt St. John and Samm Adams in the Morning
weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5