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Did you know that the word "Dad" dates back to the sixteenth century, or possibly even earlier? It may have originated with the Welsh word "Tad" (meaning father), which later mutated to Dad. The word "Father" is derived from the Old English "Foeder".

Animals are fathers too! Strangely enough, a father ocean catfish is a true example of a devoted father. He carries the eggs of his young is his mouth until they are ready to be born, which may take up to several weeks. During that time, he cannot eat a thing! Penguins are another good example; Father penguins keep on their feet in arctic temperatures for sixty days or more to protect his eggs. He hides them on top of his feet, hiding them with feathered flap. Like the catfish, he cannot eat for the duration of his guard of the eggs.

Here are some other interesting facts about fathers that you probably don't know:

• 25.8 million fathers were part of married-couple families with their own children under 18 in 2000.
  
  
• In 2000, their were 2 million single fathers in the United States.
  
  
• Albert Einstein is the father of modern science.
  
  
• George Washington is the father of our country.
  
  
• Herodotus is the father of history.
  
  
• The Grim Reaper is known as "father time".
  
  
• The term "Great White Father" refers to the United States President.
  
  
• A.A. Milne was the father that based the character Christopher Robin, (from Winnie the Pooh) on his son.
  
  
• Will and Grace star Eric McCormack recently stepped up to the father role.
  
  
• Out of 102 prime-time TV shows, only 15 have a father as a regularly appearing, main character.