The professional name of actuary

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Actuary is a curious word by which to describe the profession to which it has become attached. There is no obvious connexion between the meaning of the word and the professional duties which it signifies. Moreover, the title of actuary is still in use for other officials who may by their duties have a more direct claim to the title from its original derivation. T. E. Young (J.I.A. 33) devoted part of a Presidential Address to the origin of the word, and present members of the Institute may be interested in an investigation into the way in which the name came to be attached to the profession.