Whats in a Name? The word REALTOR and You Free PLR Article On July 17, 1947, The National Association of Real Estate Boards applied to the United States Patent Office to register REALTOR as a trademark. The date claimed for first usage was of law. Many people use the word realtor interchangeably with real estate agent. In speech, it may be overlooked, but since the NAR does not want the people who are not authorized by the Board to be mixed up with their own members, they ...