Why does McCarthy wait until this point in the story to reveal the orchard keeper's name?

This is the first time that the "old man," also referred to as the "orchard keeper," has been referred to by name and "Uncle Ather" is not even his proper name. At the very least, it reveals his first name of "Ather," which is a corruption of "Arthur." Given how important he is the story, it is somewhat strange that McCarthy would wait so long to give him a name, and surely this is not without significance. Arthur is a kind of outsider to the community and insofar as names are a social necessity, it is perhaps fitting that he is referred to only by what he is, rather than by who is.