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List of British regional nicknames

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In addition to formal demonyms, many nicknames are used for residents of the different regions of the United Kingdom. For example, natives and residents of Liverpool are formally referred to as Liverpudlians, but are most commonly referred to as Scousers (after their local dish). Some, but not all, of these nicknames may be derogatory.

A - B

[edit]
Aberdeen
Dorics, Donians or Teuchters. Football team are nicknamed The Dons
Arbroath
Red Lichties or Lichties, Codheids
Basingstoke
Amazingstoke, Bas Vegans after Bas Vegas , Basingjoker , Stokie
Barnsley
Barnzolians, Tykes,[1] Colliers (a former mining community), Dingles (pejorative, by people from Sheffield)
Barrow in Furness
Shipbuilders
Bath
Bathonians, Tubbies, Spiders (pejorative)
Belfast
McCooeys, Dunchers
Beverley
Bevsters
Birkenhead
Plastic Scousers (or Plazzies)
Birmingham
Brummies[2]
Black Country
Yam Yams,[3] Nineheads
Blackburn
Horse Botherers (pejorative, by people from Burnley and other Lancashire towns, after bestiality convictions)[4]
Blackpool
Blackpudlians, Sand Grown 'Uns, Seasiders, Donkey Lashers / Botherers (the town has been rumoured to feature a donkey brothel)[5]
Bolton
Trotters (originally a football term, it is now used to describe anyone from Bolton and surrounding area), Noblot (collective noun, anagram for Bolton)
Bo'ness
Bo'neds (pejorative)
Bournemouth
Coffin Dodgers (due its popularity as a retirement area)
Bradford
Bradfordians, Bradistanis (pejorative)
Bramley
Villagers (by people from other areas of Leeds)
Brighton
Jugs (archaic)[citation needed]
Bristol
Bristolians, Wurzels (pejorative)
Britain
Limeys in Canada and the United States[6] : Pommies in Australia and New Zealand[7] : Les Rosbifs in France[8]
Tommy, Island Monkey in Germany[9]
Burnley
Burnleyites, Dingles (pejorative, by people from other Lancashire towns, notably Blackburn)
Bury
Shakers (originally a football term, it is now used to describe anyone from Bury and surrounding area)

C - D

[edit]
Caernarfon
Cofi
Caithness
Gallach[10]
Cambridge
Fenners, Swamp People

Cardiff: Bluebirds

Carlisle
Carlers, Gypsies
Ceredigion
Cardi[11]
Chatham
Chavs[12][failed verification]
Chesterfield
Spireites, Chessies
Cleethorpes
Meggies
Colchester
Colchies, Romans, Camuloonies, Steamies, Castlers, Cross 'n' Crowners (after Colchester's coat of arms).
Corby
Plastic Jocks
Cornwall
Kernowicks, Merry-Jacks, Mera-Jacks, Uncle Jacks or Cousin Jacks (when abroad).
Crawley
Creepy Crawlies, Insects[13]
Darlington
Quakers, Darloids, DCs, Monte Darlo
Derby
Bockers, Sheep Shaggers, Rams
Devon
Janners
Dingwall
Gudgie
Doncaster
Flatlanders (especially by people from Sheffield), Knights, Doleites
Dorchester
Dorchvegas
Dorset
Dorset Knobs (from the famous biscuit), Dumplings
Dover
Dovorian
Droitwich Spa
Monners
Dumfries
Doonhamers
Dundee
Dundonians
Duns
Dingers
Durham
Durhamites, Posh Mackems, Posh Geordies, Cuddies, Pit Yackers (due to Durham's mining heritage)

E – G

[edit]
Eastbourne
Winnicks or Willicks (dialect name of a guillemot or wild person)[14]
Edinburgh
Edinburgers or Edinbourgeois (used more so when referring to people from more affluent suburbs of Edinburgh), Dunediner (Gaelic Origin), Toonies (Scots)
England
Sassenachs (used by Scottish and Irish; Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic word "Sasannach", meaning "Saxon"), Sassies, Red Coats, Inglish,[15] Nigels, Guffy (primarily in Northeast Scotland from the Scots 'pig'), Sais (Welsh), Englandshire (in Scotland), The Shire (in Scotland), Poms (Australia)
Essex
Essex Calves (archaic), Easties, Essers, Wideboys, Saxons, Scimitars (from the county Coat of Arms)
Exeter
Grecians (especially those from around the St Sidwells area and Exeter City FC fans generally)
Fleetwood
Codheads
Forest of Dean
Foresters, Deaners, Offers
Fraserburgh
Brochers,[16] not to be confused with people from Burghead
Frodsham
Jowie Heads (from old Runcorn area Cheshire meaning turnip, reference to the rural position of the town)
Galashiels
Pale Merks (from the claim that Gala was the last major town in Scotland to have plumbing/running water)
Glasgow
Glaswegian, Keelies,[17][18] Weegies[19]
Glossop
Hillmen (due to its proximity to the Peak District)
Gloucester
Gloucestrian(s)
Goole
Goolies
Grimsby
Codheads, Haddocks, Grimmies
Gillingham, Kent
Medwayers
Gosport, Hampshire
Turk Towners
Great Yarmouth
Yarcos
Guisborough
Woollybacks

H - K

[edit]
Hampshire
Hampshire Hogs, Bacon Faces (reference to Hampshire as a pig-raising county in former times)
Hartlepool
Monkey Hangers,[20] Poolies
Hawick
Teri
Haydock
Yickers
Heywood
Monkeys[21]
Highlands and Islands (of Scotland)
Teuchters, used by other Scots and sometimes applied by Greater Glasgow natives to anyone speaking in a dialect other than Glaswegian
Hinckley
Tin Hatters
Huddersfield
Dog Botherers
Hull
Codheads, Hully Gullies, 'Ullites
Inverness
Sneckies
Ipswich
Tractor Boys, Carrot Crunchers
Irthlingborough
Irthlings
Isle of Wight
Caulkheads (named after the caulking of boats)
Kettering
Sheep shaggers, Ketteringers pansies
Kendal
Kendalians
Kilbarchan
Habbie
Haverfordwest
Long necks

L

[edit]
Lancashire
Yonners (specifically south-eastern Lancashire around the Oldham and Rochdale areas)
Leeds
Loiners[22]
Leicester
Rat Eyes (from the Roman name for the city: Ratae), Chisits (from the pronunciation of "how much is it," which sounds like "I'm a chisit"); Foxes, Bin Dippers (named after Foxes)
Leicestershire
Leicesterites, Bean Bellies (from the eating of broad beans)[23]
Leigh
Leythers, Lobby Gobblers (from lobby)
Lincolnshire
Yellow Bellies (after a species of frog common in the Lincolnshire and East Anglian Fens)[24]
Linlithgow
Black Bitch, from the burgh coat of arms
Littlehampton
LA, from the local accent being unable to pronounce the 'h' in Hampton[citation needed]
Liverpool
Scousers (from the stew known as scouse),[25][26]
Plastic Scousers or Plazzies (a person who falsely claims to be from Liverpool),[27]
Woolybacks or Wools (a person from the surrounding areas of Liverpool, especially St Helens, Warrington, Widnes, or the Wirral)[28][29]
Llanelli
Turks [citation needed]
London
Cockneys (Traditionally those born within the sound of the bells of St Mary le Bow, Cheapside)
Lossiemouth
Codheids [citation needed]
Louth
Luddites
Luton
Hatters

M - N

[edit]
Manchester
Manc, the shortened version of the demonym Mancunians
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Scabs - offensive, linked to the divisions during the UK miners' strike (1984–1985)[30]
Malmesbury
Jackdaws
Middlesbrough
Smoggies.[31]
Montrose
Gable Endies
Nantwich
Dabbers[32]
Neath
Abbey-Jacks, Blacks, Blackjacks.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Geordies
Norfolk
Norfolk Dumplings ("Dumplings being a favourite food in that county")[33]
Northampton
Cobblers, after the ancient shoe industry that thrived in the town.
Northern Ireland
Paddies, Huns (sectarian offensive term for pro-British Unionists), Taigs (sectarian offensive term for pro-Irish Nationalists)
North Shields, Tyne and Wear
Cods Heeds, Fish Nabbers[citation needed]
North Wales
Gogs[34]
Northwich
Salter Boys[citation needed]
Norwich
Canaries
Nottingham
Boggers, Scabs (insult; see Mansfield)
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Codders, Treacle Towners[citation needed]

O - R

[edit]
Oldham
Yonners (from Oldham pronunciation of 'yonder' as in 'up yonner'), Roughyeds, Biffos
Paisley
Buddies,[35]
Peterhead
Bluemogganers, Blue Tooners
Plymouth
Janners. Originally a person who spoke with a Devon accent,[36][37] now simply any West Countryman.[36] In naval slang (where the place is referred to as Guz[38]), this is specifically a person from Plymouth.[37]
Portsmouth
Pompey (shared by the city, the naval base and the football club), Skates
Redcar
Codheads
Rotherham
Chuckles, Rotherbirds
Royston, Hertfordshire
Crows
Rye
Mudlarks[39]

S

[edit]
St Helens
Woollybacks[40]
Scarborough
Algerinos, Bottom-enders (for those born or raised in the old town)
Scotland
Scotties, Jocks[41] Macs, Sweaties (offensive; from rhyming slang "Sweaty Sock" for Jock).
Selkirk
Souters
Shavington
Tramps[citation needed]
Sheffield
Dee Dars, Steelmekkers.[citation needed]
Sheringham
Shannock
Shrewsbury
Salops (shortened version of the demonym Salopians)
Skelmersdale
Skemheads, Woolybacks or Wools (in Liverpool)
Skye
Sgitheanachs
Southampton
Scum(mers)
South Shields
Sand Dancers:
South Wales
Hwntws (by people from North Wales)
Southern England
Southern Fairies, Shandy Drinkers
Southport
Sandgrounders, Groundies
Stalybridge
Stalyvegas
Stockport
Stopfordians (from an old name for Stockport), Hatters
Stockton on Tees
Smoggies
Stoke-on-Trent
Potters, Clay Heads, Stokies, Jug Heads, kidsgrove spiders,
Stranraer
Cleyholers
Strood
Long Tails, Stroodles
Stroud
Stroudies
Sunderland
Mackems[42]
Surrey
Capon
Sutherland
Cattach
Swansea
Jacks, Swansea Jacks
Swindon
Moonrakers

T - V

[edit]
Tarbert, Loch Fyne
Dookers (named after guillemot and razorbill, sea-birds once a popular food among Tarbert natives)
Teignmouth
Muffians
Telford
Telfies, Chavs

W

[edit]
Wales
Taffs [Mid/West Welsh] (sometimes considered offensive),[43] Taffies.[44]
Wallingford, Oxfordshire
Wallies
Walsall
Saddlers
Warrington
Wire, Wirepullers (after the local wire industry), [citation needed] Woolybacks or Wools (in Liverpool)
Welshpool
Soup Heads
Westhoughton
Keawyeds (Cowheads, after local legend)
West Riding of Yorkshire
Wessies (in other parts of Yorkshire)
Weymouth and Portland
Kimberlins (Portland name for a person from Weymouth)
Weymouth
Weybiza (due to the wild nightlife the town has adopted)
Whitehaven
Marras, Jam Eaters, Wetties
Widnes
Woolybacks or Wools (in Liverpool)
Wigan
Pie-eaters(after eating humble pie), Pie-noshers, Purrers,[45]
Wiltshire
Moonrakers
Wolverhampton
Yam Yams (from local dialect where people say "Yam" meaning "Yow am" meaning "You are")
Worthing
Pork Bolters[39]
Workington
Jam Eaters
Whitby
Codheads

Y - Z

[edit]
York
Yorkies, Old Yorkers
Yorkshire
Tykes, Yorkies, Yorkie Bars

See also

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ "tyke", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 674)
  2. ^ "Brummie", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 95)
  3. ^ "Wolverhampton researches Black Country dialect". The Guardian. 27 January 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Man Charged with Having Sex with Horse". Lancashire Telegraph. 9 July 2012.
  5. ^ "BBC report 2011 Blackpool Councillor Sorry for Donkey Botherer Jibe". Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  6. ^ "limey", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 401)
  7. ^ "pommy", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 506–507)
  8. ^ "Why do the French call the British 'the roast beefs'?". BBC News Online. 3 April 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Few laughs for 'humorous' Kraut". BBC News Online. 24 October 2001. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  10. ^ Transactions of the Gaelic Society. Gaelic Society of Inverness. 1907. p. 97. Retrieved 30 September 2010. Gallach caithness.
  11. ^ "Cardi", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 119)
  12. ^ "Definition of Chav in English". Oxford Dictionaries. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  13. ^ "MOST Crawley residents have probably, at some time, referred to the town by its well-known nickname – Creepy Crawley". This Is Sussex. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  14. ^ Wales, Tony (2000). Sussex as She Wus Spoke, a Guide to the Sussex Dialect. Seaford: SB Publications. ISBN 978-1-85770-209-5.
  15. ^ "Sassenach", (Robinson 1985, pp. 581)
  16. ^ Room, Adrian (2003). Placenames of the world: origins and meanings of the names for over 5000 natural features, countries, capitals, territories, cities, and historic sites. McFarland. p. 426. ISBN 978-0-7864-1814-5.
  17. ^ Brewer, E. Cobham. "Nicknames". Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. Retrieved 29 September 2010 – via Bartleby.com.
  18. ^ "keelie", (Robinson 1985, pp. 335)
  19. ^ Castillo, Michelle (20 August 2009). "Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Glasgow, Scotland". Peter Greenberg Travel Detective. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  20. ^ "The Hartlepool Monkey, Who hung the monkey?". This is Hartlepool. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  21. ^ Dawson, Chris. "Hey, Hey, We're Monkey Town". Ten Thousand Years in Monkey Town.
  22. ^ "Loiner", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 406)
  23. ^ Evans, Arthur Benoni (1881). Evans, Sebastian (ed.). Leicestershire Words, Phrases, and Proverbs (enlarged ed.). London: N. Trübner for English Dialect Society. p. 101.
  24. ^ Brewer, E. Cobham. "Yellow-belly". Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. Retrieved 30 September 2010 – via Bartleby.com.
  25. ^ Fazakerley, p. 24
  26. ^ "Mickey Mouse" - rhyming slang for "Scouse", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 429)
  27. ^ "Plastic Scouser". Allwords.com.
  28. ^ "Woolyback". Slang.org.uk.
  29. ^ "Woolyback". Allwords.com.
  30. ^ Emery, Jay (1 January 2018). "Belonging, memory and history in the north Nottinghamshire coalfield". Journal of Historical Geography. 59: 77–89. doi:10.1016/j.jhg.2017.11.004. hdl:2381/42989.
  31. ^ Harley, Shaun (16 July 2007). "I was made in Middlesbrough". BBC News Online. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  32. ^ White, Jonathan (3 May 2020). "A Dabber Debate - what's your preferred derivation?". Nantwich News. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  33. ^ Grose. "Dictionary of the vulgar tongue". Words from old books. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  34. ^ "gog", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 295)
  35. ^ "Paisley Buddies". Paisley Scotland. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  36. ^ a b "janner", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 363)
  37. ^ a b Tawney, Cyril (1987). "Glossary". Grey funnel lines: traditional song & verse of the Royal Navy, 1900–1970. Taylor & Francis. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-7102-1270-2.
  38. ^ "Plymouth's nickname 'Guz' and the reasons behind it". Plymouth Live. 29 September 2019.
  39. ^ a b Arscott, David (2006). Wunt Be Druv - A Salute to the Sussex Dialect. Countryside Books. ISBN 978-1-84674-006-0.
  40. ^ "Who are the woollybacks?". St Helens Star. 9 February 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  41. ^ "jock", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 369)
  42. ^ "Quiz: How Much of a Mackem are YOU?". Sunderland Echo. 4 January 2009. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  43. ^ "taff", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 369)
  44. ^ Cf. the nursery rhyme "Taffy was a Welshman / Taffy was a thief / Taffy came to my house / To steal a piece of beef."
  45. ^ Dialect term for "kicker"

References

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