Majordomo

This article is about an occupation. For the e-mail software, see Majordomo (software). For the Teenage Dads album, see Majordomo (album). For the brand of chocolate, see Mayordomo.

Majordomo at hotel des Deux Magots, Paris, 25 November 2009

A majordomo (US: /ˌmeɪdʒərˈdoʊmoʊ/) is a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another. Typically, this is the highest (major) person of a household (domūs or domicile) staff, a head servant who acts on behalf of the owner of a large or significant residence.

A majordomo may also, more informally, be someone who oversees the day-to-day responsibilities of a business enterprise. Historically, many institutions and governments – monasteries, cathedrals, and cities – as well as noble and royal houses, also had the post of majordomo, who usually was in charge of finances.

Additionally, the Hispanos of New Mexico use the related term mayordomo to refer to the manager of an acequia system for a town or valley. Also, when translated into English, "mayordomo" means butler.

Etymology

The origin is from maior domūs (Latin for 'principal of the house'), and it was borrowed into English from Spanish mayordomo or obsolete Italian maiordomo. Also, it is found as French majordome, modern Italian maggiordomo, Portuguese and Galician mordomo, and Romanian and Catalan as majordom.

In television

On a few episodes of the TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, the Clampetts visit a castle in England and meet the castle's majordomo, Mr. Faversham, but constantly mistake his title for his name (and mistake his name for a greeting.)

In the original run of the 1980's TV series Magnum, P.I., Jonathan Higgins is sometimes referred to as the majordomo of the estate where he and Magnum live, though he typically referred to himself as the estate caretaker or estate manager.

In the original run of the nighttime drama Dynasty, the majordomo of the Carrington residence is Joseph Anders, played by Lee Bergere during seasons 1–3. The character dies by a self-inflicted gunshot wound early in season 4.

See also

• Butler
• Castellan
• Chief operating officer
• Chief of Staff
• Concierge
• Consigliere
• Chamberlain
• Executive officer
• Kouropalates (curopalate)
• Maître d'hôtel
• Mayor of the palace
• Papal majordomo
• Seneschal
• Steward
• Underboss
• Valet

External links

• The dictionary definition of majordomo at Wiktionary