What's the origin of the comptroller? How is it different than a "controller"?

May 19, 2004 11:29 AM

After reading up on this MeFi FPP, I began to wonder about the word comptroller. The dictionary does provide its etymology (just another variant of "to count" being "to compt"), but what I want to know is why this particular office in American cities is called such. Is this office the same name as that in other countries? Perhaps in the UK? Why do we call them comptrollers and not just controller?
posted by linux to Writing & Language (11 answers total)

don't have them in the uk, afaik
posted by andrew cooke at 11:41 AM on May 19, 2004

UK National Audit Office

"The NAO is headed by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn, who is an officer of the House of Commons. "

I don't know if that title was taken from the US office though.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 12:29 PM on May 19, 2004

It's not just for Government offices. My Father was a comptroller of a trucking company before he retired and my brother is the comptroller of a different trucking company currently.
posted by Mick at 12:35 PM on May 19, 2004

According to the OED, it's simply a misspelling of "controller" that became an accepted part of the language. Here's the complete definition:

An erroneous spelling of CONTROLLER, introduced c 1500, and formerly frequent in all senses; still retained in certain official designations, while in others it has been changed to the ordinary spelling. Hence comptrollership.

Whitaker's Almanac, 1890, gives (p. 84) Her Majesty's HouseholdComptroller of Household; Clerk Comptroller, Kitchen. Lord Chamberlain's DepartmentComptroller of Accounts. Chapel RoyalComptroller of Royal Closet. Household of Prince of WalesComptroller and Treasurer. Household of Duchess of AlbanyComptroller. So in Households of Prince Christian, Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of Connaught. Also, in Government Offices (p. 148): Exchequer and Audit DepartmentComptroller and Auditor-General; Assistant Comptroller and Auditor. Board of TradeComptroller of Corn Returns. Patent OfficeComptroller General. National Debt OfficeComptroller General; Assistant Comptroller.

But on the other hand: (p. 147) Controller of the Navy; Controller of H.M. Stationery Office; and so in the various departments of the Inland Revenue, Post Office, Telegraphs, etc.
posted by aladfar at 1:28 PM on May 19, 2004

oh, sorry (was a new word to me)! (although i think mick is talking about the usa, from his profile).
posted by andrew cooke at 1:50 PM on May 19, 2004

The first company I worked for, in the UK in 1977, had a small team of people called the comptrollers, who worked in the accounts department. I'd always assumed it was because they used comptometers.
posted by punilux at 1:57 PM on May 19, 2004

The American Heritage dictionary (via dictionary.com) also suggests that it's simply an bastardization of "controller". See:

1: One that controls: a controller, not an observer of events.

So, the answer to the question "Why do we call them comptrollers and not just controller?" is simply - because someone made a spelling mistake a few hundred years ago. At least that's all I'm able to piece together with the OED, etc.

Off topic: I really like dictionaries.
posted by aladfar at 2:02 PM on May 19, 2004

Sorry for the many posts here. For some reason, I find this quite absorbing.

Regarding the comptometer: the first serious manufacture and sales occuring in 1888.

The word "comptroller" goes back at least to 1890 according to the OED. So it's possible the position was named after the device, but those are some tight tolerances for the development of language (I think - I'm only an armchair linguist).

I've a feeling "comptometer" stems from the word "computer" which is what clerks responsible for adding up strings of figures were called before the word took on its more modern meaning.

But I'm biased: I rather like the idea that a misspelling is responsible for an office title.
posted by aladfar at 2:11 PM on May 19, 2004

Response by poster: aladfar, you'll note that I already noted the two different spelling. My question was why American cities make use of the comptroller title in the first place. Was it a continuance of UK offices in the colonies? Was it the generally accepted spelling of controller in the new American Republic? Etc, etc, etc.
posted by linux at 3:26 PM on May 19, 2004

Response by poster: I decided to ask the New York Public Library as well with the following question:

I would like to know the history of the title of comptroller in American cities. I know that comptroller is another spelling of controller, but what is the office known as comptroller?
Was this the preferred spelling at the time the office was created in American history? Is it a continuation of a title when England possessed the colonies (the OED cites the title is retained in official designations)?

posted by linux at 3:52 PM on May 19, 2004

Interestingly enough, I had the same question as the original poster a few months ago, and decided to research it. Sadly I cannot attribute this, but the reason for the difference is due to the French word 'compte', which means 'to count'. A comptroller is therefore more likely to be someone who controls figures, budgets or audits, whereas 'controller' is more general in use.
posted by wackybrit at 6:43 PM on May 19, 2004