List of British regional nicknames
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In addition to formal demonyms, many nicknames are used for residents of the different settlements and 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 -especially those exchanged by post-industrial towns too close to each other. Many derive from sports clubs, especially football ones. Involved demonyms tend to attract offensive parodies, for example "Bumholian" for "Dundonian" (an inhabitant of Dundee).
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A - B
[edit]- Aberdeen
- Dorics, Donians (football team are nicknamed The Dons), Teuchters, Sheepshaggers (pejorative).
- Accrington
- Akkies, Ringpieces (pejorative)
- Acle
- Asses[1]
- Aldershot
- All-the-Shit (collective, pejorative)
- Arbroath
- Red Lichties or Lichties, Codheids
- Ascot
- Arse Caughts (pejorative, mocking the "refined" accent)
- Ashford, Kent
- Slashers
- Ashton-under-Lyme
- Flashers (pejorative)
- Atherstone
- Blatherers (pejorative)
- Ayr
- Ayr-souls (pejorative)
- Bacup
- Buttercups,[2] Turd-bakers (pejorative)
- Bagshot
- Shitbags (pejorative)
- Baldock
- Baldricks (pejorative, after a scruffy little side-kick in the sitcom Blackadder)
- Bamber Bridge
- Bum Boys (pejorative, and very offensive nowadays)
- Banbury
- Bandies, Bangers
- Barking
- Pooches, Mads
- Barnsley
- Barnzolians, Tykes,[3] Colliers (a former mining community), Dingles (pejorative, by people from Sheffield)
- Barnstaple
- Barneys (pejorative when alluding to Barney Rubble of the Flintstones)
- Barrow in Furness
- Barrovians (demonym), Wheelbarrows, Shipbuilders, Basras
- Basildon
- Basras, Basghanistanis
- Basingstoke
- Amazingstokers, Bas Vegans (after Las Vegas), Basingjokers, Stokies
- Batley
- Dingbats, Batshit Crazies (pejorative)
- Barnoldswick
- Barlickers, Bollockers (pejorative)
- Bath
- Bathonians, Tubbies, Spiders (pejorative)
- Beccles
- Becklers, Feckless Becklers
- Bedford
- Vans (after Bedford Vehicles), Bedpans (pejorative, but the town's railway to London used to be called that)
- Bedworth
- Layabouts, Bedsores (pejorative)
- Belfast
- McCooeys, Dunchers
- Berkhamsted
- Berkies, Berks (pejorative, from rhyming slang "Berkeley Hunt")
- Beverley
- Bevsters
- Bicester
- Bisexuals, Bi's
- Bideford
- Biddies
- Billericay
- Bilbos
- Bilston
- Billies, Silly Billies (pejorative)
- Bingley
- Bingles
- Birchington-on-Sea
- Masochists
- Birkenhead
- Birkos, Plastic Scousers (or Plazzies)
- Birmingham
- Brummies[4]
- Bishops Castle
- Piss-up Arseholes (pejorative)
- Bishops Waltham
- Piss-up Wallies (pejorative)
- Bispham
- Spammers
- Bix
- Bikkies, Biscuits
- Black Country
- Yam Yams,[5] Nineheads
- Blackburn
- Dodos[6] Sooties, Horse Botherers (pejorative, by people from Burnley and other Lancashire towns, after bestiality convictions)[7]
- Blackpool
- Blackpudlians (demonym), Black Puddings, Sand Grown 'Uns, Seasiders, Donkey Lashers / Botherers (the town has been rumoured to feature a donkey brothel)[8]
- Bloxwich
- Bollockers
- Blyth
- Sparts (after the football club), Blitherers
- Bognor Regis
- Boggers, Bog Buggers (pejorative, alludes to the last words of King George V)
- 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)
- Bootle
- Bootlickers, Bugs-in-Clogs[9]
- Bourne, Lincolnshire
- Bourne Deads (pejorative)
- Bournemouth
- Bomos, Coffin Dodgers (due its popularity as a retirement area), Porners (pejorative)
- Bracknell
- Brackens, Cracknellers (pejorative, alluding to crack cocaine)
- Bradford
- Bradfordians, Bradistanis (pejorative)
- Bradford-on-Avon
- Gudgeons[6]
- Braintree
- B-towners, Brain-deads (pejorative)
- Bramley
- Villagers (by people from other areas of Leeds), Apples
- Brentwood
- Brenterz, Woodlice (pejorative)
- Bridgwater
- Smellophaners[10]
- Bridlington
- Briddlies, Piddly Briddlies (pejorative)
- Bridport
- Ropeys (after the former rope-making industry), Silly Bees (from the football club)
- Brierfield
- Pricklies
- Brighton
- Brightonian - pronounced Bri-tonian Jugs (archaic),[11] Las Gayvas (after Las Vegas; there are other nicknames alluding to the city's large gay community which are homophobic and offensive)
- Brill
- Brillbillies
- Bristol
- Bristolians, Brizzlies, Wurzels (pejorative)
- Britain
- Limeys in Canada and the United States.[12] Pommies in Australia and New Zealand[13] : Les Rosbifs in France[14]
- Tommy, Island Monkey in Germany[15]
- Broadstairs
- Bradstows (former name)
- Bromsgrove
- Grovellers
- Bromyard
- Yardies, Yardbirds
- Budleigh Salterton
- Buddies, Sex-Buddies (pejorative)
- Buildwas
- Builders, Cowboy-Builders (pejorative)
- Bungay
- Bungholes
- Burgh le Marsh
- Burglers
- Burnham-on-Crouch
- Burning-Crotches
- Burnley
- Burnleyites, Yorkies, Dingles (pejorative, by people from other Lancashire towns, notably Blackburn. From a family in the Emmerdale soap opera, set in Yorkshire)
- Burton upon Trent
- Brewers, Burbles
- Bury
- Shakers (originally a football term, it is now used to describe anyone from Bury and surrounding area)
- Bury St Edmunds
- Teddies
- Buxton
- Buggy Stoners
C - D
[edit]- Caernarfon
- Cofi
- Caithness
- Gallach[16]
- Cambridge
- Camshafts, Fenners, Swamp People
- Canterbury
- Turbos, Scammers (the city depends on income from tourists)
- Cardiff
- Bluebirds (from the football club), Diffies
- Carlisle
- Carlers, Gypsies
- Ceredigion
- Cardi[17]
- Chatteris
- Chatterboxes, Gobshites
- Chorley
- Charladies
- Chorleywood
- Charley Wouldn'ts
- Chatham
- Chavs[18]
- Chelmsford
- Chelmos
- Cheltenham
- Nammers
- Chesham
- Cheesies
- Chester
- Cestrians, Chezzies, Incestrians (pejorative, the etymology is false which derives "incest" from the Latin "In Cestria" meaning "What goes on in Chester")
- Chester-le-Street
- Chezzie-la-Rues (alludes to Danny La Rue; "Rue" is French for "street")
- Chesterfield
- Spireites, Chessies
- Chew Magna
- Maggot Munchers
- Chichester
- Chis (long i), Chitterlings, Chi-chis (pejorative)
- Chipping Norton
- Chippies, Chipsticks, Greasy Chippies (pejorative), Gnaw-tongues
- Chipping Sodbury
- Sodding Chippies
- Chorlton-cum-Hardy
- Cum-hardlies (pejorative)
- Cirencester
- Sirens
- Clacton-on-Sea
- Clackers, Clicketty-Clacks
- Cleethorpes
- Meggies
- Cleobury Mortimer
- Clomos
- Clun
- Clungies
- Clitheroe
- Clitherovians, Clit-Heroes (pejorative)
- Coalville
- Coalvillers, Hole-fillers
- Cockermouth
- Cockermouthers -an offensive nickname replaces "er" with "in"
- Colchester
- Colchies, Romans, Camuloonies, Steamies, Castlers, Cross 'n' Crowners (after Colchester's coat of arms).
- Colerne
- Hoof-polishers
- Colne
- Colons (pejorative if an allusion to the large intestine is intended)
- Congleton
- Beartowners,[19] Congos
- Copthorne
- Yellow-bellies[6]
- Corby
- Cobras, Plastic Jocks (the new town was populated by Scottish immigrants)
- Corfe Castle
- Coarse Arseholes
- Cornwall
- Kernowicks, Merry-Jacks, Mera-Jacks, Uncle Jacks or Cousin Jacks (when abroad).
- Coupar Angus
- Cowpat Funguses
- Coventry
- Peeping-Toms, Covids (pejorative)
- Cramlington
- Cramps
- Crawley
- Creepy Crawlies, Insects[20]
- Cromer
- Crabs[1]
- Crosby
- Crockys, Crozzers
- Cuckfield
- Cuckolds
- Curry Rivel
- Curry Dribbles
- Dagenham
- The Nam (collective)
- Darlaston
- Darlos, Daleks
- Darlington
- Quakers, Darloids, DCs, Monte Darloes
- Denton
- Hatters, Dentists
- Derby
- Bockers, Sheep Shaggers, Rams
- Desborough
- Desperates
- Devon
- Janners, Devos (pejorative when pronounced with a long "e")
- Dewsbury
- Ragpickers (after the former shoddy industry)
- Didcot
- Dead Cats, Diddlers (pejorative)
- Dingwall
- Gudgies
- Diss
- Dissenters, Diss-entery (collective, pejorative)
- Doncaster
- Donnies, Flatlanders (especially by people from Sheffield), Knights, Doleites
- Dorchester
- Magpies (after the football club), Maggies, Maggots, Dorch-vegasers
- Dorking
- Dorks, Orcs, Chicken Botherers (pejorative, after the Dorking chicken breed)
- Dorset
- Dorset Knobs (from the famous biscuit), Dumplings
- Dover
- Dovorians, Dovakians (pejorative)
- Driffield
- Dribblers
- Droitwich Spa
- Monners
- Droylesden
- Droids
- Dudley
- Duds (pejorative)
- Dukinfield
- Duck Botherers
- Dumfries
- Doonhamers, Queenies
- Dundee
- Dundonians (demonym), Coagies,[6] Bumholians (pejorative)
- Duns
- Dingers
- Dunstable
- Dung-stablers, Dunwuns
- Durham
- Durhamites, Posh Mackems, Posh Geordies, Cuddies, Pit Yackers (due to Durham's mining heritage)
E – G
[edit]- Earby
- Earwhacks, Wingnuts (pejorative)
- Eastbourne
- Winnicks or Willicks (dialect name of a guillemot or wild person),[21] Coffin Dodgers, Piddlies (pejorative, alludes to the many elderly residents)
- East Dereham
- Derelicts
- East Grinstead
- Grinners
- East Kilbride
- Polo Mints (the town has too many roundabouts)
- Eastleigh
- Beastlies (pejorative)
- Eccles
- Thumpers (see Kung Fu Kapers)
- Edinburgh
- Edinburgers or Edinbourgeois (used more so when referring to people from more affluent suburbs of Edinburgh), Dunediner (Gaelic Origin), Toonies (Scots), Reekies, Freakies (alludes to those involved in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
- Ellesmere Port
- Smellies, Tinnies
- Ely
- Slipperies ("slippery as an eel")
- England
- Sassenachs (used by Scottish and Irish; Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic word "Sasannach", meaning "Saxon"), Sassies, Red Coats, Inglish,[22] Nigels, Guffy (primarily in Northeast Scotland from the Scots 'pig'), Sais (Welsh), Englandshire (in Scotland), The Shire (in Scotland), Poms (Australia)
- Epsom
- Shitters (the spa water contains Epsom salts -a drastic purgative)
- 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), Sex-with-Sisters (pejorative)
- Eye
- Eyeballs
- Ewell
- Eeews (pejorative)
- Failsworth
- Failers, Jailsworths (pejorative)
- Fakenham
- Fakers
- Fareham
- Fairies
- Faringdon
- Farting Donkeys
- Farnborough
- Farnians, Fart Buggers
- Faversham
- Faffers
- Felixstowe
- Fillies
- Fleetwood
- Codheads
- Folkestone
- Toke-Stoners (pejorative)
- Forest of Dean
- Foresters, Deaners, Offers
- Formby
- Georgies (after George Formby)
- Fort William
- Farting Billies
- Fraserburgh
- Brochers,[23] (not to be confused with people from Burghead)
- Frinton-on-Sea
- Master Gaters (pejorative; the town used to hide behind a set of railway crossing gates)
- Frodsham
- Jowie Heads (from old Runcorn area Cheshire meaning turnip, reference to the rural position of the town), Frodos (a character in The Lord of the Rings)
- Frome
- Dodgers (from the football club), Ooz (collective -"it's pronounced Froom"), Shrooms (alludes to Magic mushrooms)
- Galashiels
- Pale Merks (from the claim that Gala was the last major town in Scotland to have plumbing/running water)
- Gateshead
- Knockoff Geordies (slightly pejorative, "wrong side of river")
- Gerrards Cross
- Jerrys, Crosstitutes
- Glasgow
- Glaswegian, Keelies,[24][25] Weegies[26]
- Glastonbury
- Glastoids, Ding-a-Lings (a centre of New Age activity)
- Glossop
- Hillmen (due to its proximity to the Peak District), Tuppies (after the P. G. Wodehouse character Tuppy Glossop)
- Gloucester
- Gloucestrians, Glozzies
- Godalming
- Godalmingers, God-all-mingers (pejorative)
- Golborne
- Gollums
- Goole
- Goolies
- Gosforth
- Gossies
- Grassington
- Grassy-arses
- Gravesend
- Boneyarders
- Great Dunmow
- Flitchers, Dung-mos (pejorative)
- Grimsby
- Codheads, Haddocks, Grimmies
- Gillingham
- Medwayers, Jills
- Gosport
- Turk Towners, Guppies
- Great Malvern
- Grot Mavens (pejorative)
- Great Yarmouth
- Yarcos
- Guildford
- Guiltys
- Guisborough
- Guys, Woollybacks
H - K
[edit]- Halesworth
- Worthy-of-hell's
- Halesowen
- Yeltz
- Halifax
- Haligonians (demonym), Wally Gonads (pejorative)
- Hampshire
- Hampshire Hogs, Bacon Faces (reference to Hampshire as a pig-raising county in former times)
- Hartlepool
- Monkey Hangers,[27] Poolies
- Haslemere
- Mere Nutters
- Haslingden
- Hasbeens (pejorative)
- Havant
- Akloos (pejorative, "Haven't a clue")
- Haverfordwest
- Long-necks
- Hawick
- Teris
- Haydock
- Yickers
- Haywards Heath
- Heathens
- Hazel Grove
- Bullocks (the original name was Bullock Smithy),[28] Nutters
- Hedon
- Shoulders
- Henfield
- Chicken-runners, Free-Range-Chickens
- Heswall
- Hezzies
- Hereford
- Ciderheads
- Heywood
- Monkeys[29]
- Higham Ferrers
- Ferrets
- High Wycombe
- Chairboys (from the football club, and the town's former industry), Willyous (Wycombe as an acronym: "Will You Come Over, My Bed's Empty")
- 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
- Holmes Chapel
- Sherlocks, The Chaps
- Holyhead
- Hole-in-heads (pejorative)
- Honiton
- Huns
- Horbury
- Dead Horses
- Horley
- Hee-Haws
- Hornsea
- Hornys, Porny Hornys (pejorative when applied to the womenfolk)
- Horsham
- Shams
- Horwich
- Whores (pejorative; Blackrod is nearby and "they go together")
- Hove
- Hovellers, Hove Actuallys (pejorative - "We're not Brighton but...")
- Huddersfield
- Hudders, Dog Botherers (pejorative)
- Hyde
- Hydeyhos
- Hull
- Codheads, Hully Gullies, 'Ullites, Hullbillies
- Ilkley
- Ickies, Milk-leaks
- Ince-in-Makerfield
- Incy-wincies, Spiders (from the nursery rhyme Incy Wincy Spider)
- Inverness
- Sneckies
- Ipswich
- Binners, Tractor Boys, Carrot Crunchers
- Ilchester
- Sickies
- Irthlingborough
- Irthlings
- Isle of Wight
- Caulkheads (named after the caulking of boats), Boat People (pejorative, refers to those commuting to the mainland for work)
- Keele
- Christines (after Christine Keeler)
- Keighley
- Keiths
- Kenilworth
- Everetts (after Kenny Everett)
- Kettering
- Holies, Sheep shaggers, Ketteringer pansies (pejorative)
- Kendal
- Kendalians, Kennys, Dollies
- Keswick
- Kezzies
- Kidderminster
- Kiddies, Kiddy Fiddlers (pejorative)
- Kings Lynn
- Linnets
- Kilbarchan
- Habbies
- Kirkby-in-Ashfield
- Turding-in-Ashpits
- Knutsford
- Nutters, Cnuts
L
[edit]- Lancashire
- Lankies, Yonners (specifically south-eastern Lancashire around the Oldham and Rochdale areas)
- Lauder
- Lousies
- Leeds
- Loiners[30]
- Leamington Spa
- Lemons, Phlegms
- Leek
- Leakies
- 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)[31]
- Leigh
- Leythers, Lobby Gobblers (from lobby)
- Leominster
- Lemons
- Letchworth Garden City
- Lechers
- Leyland
- Ley-abouts
- Lincoln
- Imps (see Lincoln Imp), Impotents (pejorative), Missing Links
- Lincolnshire
- Yellow Bellies (after a species of frog common in the Lincolnshire and East Anglian Fens)[32]
- Linlithgow
- Black Bitches, from the burgh coat of arms
- Lichfield
- Bitchy Litches
- Lingfield
- Ding-a-Lings
- Littleborough
- Little Buggers (not necessarily pejorative)
- Littlehampton
- LA, from the local accent being unable to pronounce the 'h' in Hampton[citation needed]
- Liverpool
- Scousers (from the stew known as scouse),[33][34]
- Plastic Scousers or Plazzies (a person who falsely claims to be from Liverpool),[35]
- Woolybacks or Wools (a person from the surrounding areas of Liverpool, especially St Helens, Warrington, Widnes, or the Wirral)[36][37]
- Llanelli
- Turks[38]
- London
- Cockneys (Traditionally those born within the sound of the bells of St Mary le Bow, Cheapside)
- Looe
- Looneys, Looby Loos (from Andy Pandy, a children's television programme)
- Lossiemouth
- Codheids [citation needed]
- Loughborough
- Loogabaroogas (from attempts by foreigners to pronounce it)
- Louth
- Luddites
- Lowestoft
- Puds,[6] Slow Stuffers (pejorative)
- Ludlow
- Luddites, Bloody Low-lifes (pejorative)
- Luton
- Hatters, Looneys, Harpic Dodgers (pejorative, equating the town to a toilet)
- Lyme Regis
- Limeys, Slimeys, Cobnuts
M - N
[edit]- Mablethorpe
- Maybos
- Macclesfield
- Maxies,[39] Treacle Towners
- Maidenheads
- Hymens
- Maidstone
- Slag-stoners (pejorative, compare Folkestone)
- Manchester
- Mancs (the shortened version of the demonym Mancunians), Mankys (pejorative)
- Mansfield
- Mannies, Stags, Deer Botherers, Scabs - offensive, linked to the divisions during the UK miners' strike (1984–1985)[40]
- Malmesbury
- Jackdaws, Smarmies, Marmites
- Malton, North Yorkshire
- Maltesers
- March
- Slow Marchers (pejorative)
- Margate
- Maggots (pejorative), Dee-effells (acronym, "Down From London", refers to relocators)
- Market Drayton
- Maggot-Dregs (pejorative), Milk Trays
- Market Harborough
- Maggot-Harbourers (pejorative)
- Matlock
- Pubic-hairs
- Melton Mowbray
- Porkies (famous for pork pies)
- Middlesbrough
- Smoggies.[41]
- Middleton
- Piddly Middlies (pejorative)
- Midsomer Norton
- Zombies
- Milton Keynes
- Milk-'n-Beaners
- Mirfield
- Smurfs
- Monmouth
- Monsters, Monster Mouths, Mongs (pejorative)
- Montrose
- Gable Endies
- Morecambe
- Sandgronians[6]
- Moretonhampstead
- Mormon Hamsters
- Nantwich
- Dabbers,[42] Nannies
- Neath
- Abbey-Jacks, Blacks, Blackjacks.
- Nelson
- Smelly Nellies (pejorative)
- Newark-on-Trent
- Trentsiders, Wankers (anagram)
- Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
- Big'uns
- New Brighton
- Newbos
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Geordies, Barcodes (the football team play in black and white striped shirts)
- Newton Abbot
- Mutant Scabbies
- Norfolk
- Norfolk Dumplings ("Dumplings being a favourite food in that county"),[43] Turkey Botherers (pejorative)
- 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
- Cods Heeds, Fish Nabbers[citation needed]
- North Wales
- Gogs[44]
- Northwich
- Salter Boys[citation needed]
- Norwich
- Nodgies, Canaries, Budgies (the football club colours are green and yellow)
- Nottingham
- Snotties, Boggers, Scabs (insult; see Mansfield)
- Nuneaton
- Codders, Treacle Towners[45]
O - R
[edit]- Ogmore-by-Sea
- Pornographers (pejorative)
- Okehampton
- Okey Dokeys
- Oldbury
- Oldies, Dead Oldies
- Oldham
- Yonners (from Oldham pronunciation of 'yonder' as in 'up yonner'), Roughyeds, Biffos
- Ongar
- Ongarians, Mongers (pejorative)
- Ormskirk
- Ormies, Biggos
- Ossett
- Ossies, Hot-shits (not necessarily pejorative)
- Oswaldtwistle
- Gobbins (but only "above the lamp")[46]
- Otley
- Otters, Grotties (pejorative)
- Oxted
- Cockstoods
- Padiham
- Thick-Neeks,[6] Paddywhacks, Irish Piggies (pejorative - "Paddy Ham")
- Painswick
- Penis-Whackers
- Paisley
- Buddies,[47]
- Peacehaven
- Plotters,[48] Piss Mavens (pejorative)
- Peaslake
- Mushy Peas
- Penistone
- Penistoners, Penis Toners (pejorative)
- Penzance
- Peezeders
- Peterborough
- Peterpatchers, Peterphiles (pejorative), Posh (collective, from the football club)
- Peterhead
- Bluemogganers, Blue Tooners
- Petworth
- Muppets (pejorative)
- Pewsey
- Spewers
- Pickering
- Nose Pickers
- Plymouth
- Janners. Originally a person who spoke with a Devon accent,[49][50] now simply any West Countryman.[49] In naval slang (where the place is referred to as Guz[51]), this is specifically a person from Plymouth.[50]
- Poole
- Poodles
- Portsmouth
- Pompey (collective, shared by the city, the naval base and the football club), Skates (pejorative, alluding to frustrated sailors raping skates)
- Port Talbot
- Port Toileteers
- Potters Bar
- Pisspots, Bar-flys (pejorative)
- Prescot
- Prekkies
- Preston
- Nob-enders (pejorative, from Preston North End F.C.)
- Pudsey
- Pud Pullers (pejorative)
- Queensbury
- Quims (pejorative)
- Radstock
- Raddlers, Rattlers
- Ramsbottom
- Woollybums
- Ramsgate
- Hovellers (refers to hoy boats used to supply sailing ships)
- Raunds
- Randies
- Rawtenstall
- Rotten-balls (pejorative)
- Reading
- Dingbats (pejorative), Dingoes
- Redcar
- Codheads
- Redditch
- Radishes
- Reedham
- Rats[1]
- Redhill
- Dead Willies
- Rickmansworth
- Rickies, Prickies (pejorative)
- Rishton
- Irishmen
- Rochdale
- Rochies, Cockroaches (pejorative)
- Ross-on-Wye
- Rosstitutes (pejorative)
- Rotherham
- Chuckles, Rotherbirds
- Royston
- Crows
- Royton
- Royds, Destroyers
- Runcorn
- Runnys
- Rushden
- Bog Brushes
- Ryde
- Riders, Easy Riders (pejorative when applied to the womenfolk)
- Rye
- Mudlarks[52]
S
[edit]- St Agnes
- Aggies
- St Albans
- Snorbennies,[53] Snore Bennies (pejorative, alluding to the character Benny in the soap opera Crossroads)
- St Andrews
- Andy Pandies (from Andy Pandy, a children's television programme)
- St Austell
- Snozzles
- St Helens
- Nellies, Woollybacks[54]
- St Neots
- Snotties
- Salford
- Dots (acronym, from the song Dirty Old Town by The Pogues)
- Sandown
- Rundowners, Sad Downers (pejorative)
- Sandwich
- Sarnies
- Scarborough
- Scarbs, Algerinos, Bottom-enders (for those born or raised in the old town)
- Scotland
- Scotties, Jocks[55] Macs, Sweaties (offensive; from rhyming slang "Sweaty Sock" for Jock).
- Scunthorpe
- Scunnys, Scuntys
- Selkirk
- Souters
- Shackerstone
- Shaggers
- Shankhill
- Shankys, Wanky Shankys (pejorative)
- Shavington
- Tramps[citation needed]
- Shaw
- Gorbies
- Shelf
- Stackers
- Sheffield
- Dee Dars, Steelmekkers[6]
- Shepshed
- Sheep-shits (pejorative)
- Shepton Mallet
- Shit-'n-smell-it-s (pejorative)
- Sherborne
- Sherberts
- Sheringham
- Shannocks
- Shifnal
- Shifties
- Shipley
- Shipworms (pejorative)
- Shirley
- Temples (after Shirley Temple), Shirt-lifters (pejorative, nowadays offensive)
- Shrewsbury
- Salops (shortened version of the demonym Salopians), Shrews, Plastic Sheepshaggers (pejorative, especially from Telford folk: "Not in Wales, but might as well be")
- Sidmouth
- Hissing Sids (see Captain Beaky and His Band)
- Skegness
- Skeggies, Scaggies (pejorative)
- Skelmanthorpe
- Smelly-Skellys
- Skelmersdale
- Skemheads, Skemmers, Skummers (pejorative), Woolybacks or Wools (in Liverpool)
- Skipton
- Skiprats (pejorative)
- Skye
- Sgitheanachs
- Slough
- Sluffers, Paludians (Latin; Slough means "marsh")
- Smethwick
- Smeggies
- Solihull
- Silhillians, Silly Hillbillies (pejorative)
- Southampton
- Sotoners, Scum (collective, pejorative), Scummers
- Southend-on-Sea
- Mudlarks (the "beach" is a mudflat)
- South Ockendon
- Cock-in-Dungs (pejorative)
- South Shields
- Sand Dancers
- South Wales
- Hwntws (by people from North Wales)
- South Woodham Ferrers
- Sex With Friends (acronym, collective)
- Southern England
- Southern Fairies, Shandy Drinkers, United Supporters
- Southport
- Sandgrounders, Groundies, Sowies, Shit-pots (pejorative)
- Spalding
- Splods
- Spilsby
- Spliffers (pejorative)
- Stalybridge
- Staleys, Staly-vegasers
- Stanford-le-Hope
- No-hopers
- Stanley
- Afghanistanleys
- Stafford
- Staffies, Stuffers
- Stockport
- Stopfordians (from an old name for Stockport), Stockies, Stockpots, Hatters
- Stockton on Tees
- Smoggies
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Potters, Clay Heads, Stokies, Jug Heads, Pot Heads, Monkey-Dusters (pejorative)
- Stowmarket
- Stowmartians
- Stranraer
- Cleyholers
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Fads (acronym, "Fat American Dodgers"; the town is over-touristed)
- Strood
- Long Tails, Stroodles
- Stroud
- Stroudies
- Sunderland
- Mackems,[56] Jamrags (pejorative, the football team play in red and white striped shirts)
- Surrey
- Capons
- Sutherland
- Cattach
- Sutton, Surrey
- Shat-ons (pejorative)
- Sutton-in-Ashfield
- Shitting-in-Ashpits
- Swanage
- Cygnets
- Swansea
- Jacks
- Swindon
- Moonrakers, Pighillers (what the name means), Swine-dungs (pejorative)
T - V
[edit]- Tadcaster
- Taddys, Tadpoles
- Tamworth
- Tammys, Tampons (pejorative)
- Tarbert, Loch Fyne
- Dookers (named after guillemot and razorbill, sea-birds once a popular food among Tarbert natives)
- Taunton
- T-Towners, Tants, Peacocks (from the football club) Piss-cocks (pejorative)
- Teignmouth
- Muffians
- Telford
- Telfies, Tel-chavs, Overspills (pejorative), Skelly-tels, Teletubbies
- Tetbury
- Tits
- Thame
- Tame Rats
- Thirsk
- Thir-skis
- Tideswell
- Tidsas[39]
- Tidworth
- Tiddlers, Tiddly Widdlys, Shiddly Tiddly Widdlys (the town hosts an army camp)
- Tilbury
- Tillbillies
- Tipton
- Fly-tips
- Tiptree
- Tipplers
- Tottington
- Totties, Totters, Totty Totties (the young womenfolk)
- Towcester
- Toasters, Tossers, Toe-suckers
- Tring
- Tring-a-lings
- Trowbridge
- Knobs,[6] Knobheads (pejorative)
- Uckfield
- Uckers, Noeffs
- Urmston
- Worms (pejorative)
- Ventnor
- Ventriloquists (pejorative; "they talk out of their arses, and their heads are the dummies")
W
[edit]- Wakefield
- Wakey-Wakeys
- Wales
- Taffs [Mid/West Welsh] (sometimes considered offensive),[57] Taffies.[58]
- Wallingford
- Wallies, Wally-farts
- Walsall
- Saddlers, Walnuts, Wallies-all (pejorative, collective)
- Walton-on-Thames
- Tame Wallies
- Walton-on-the-Hill
- Wally Hillbillies
- Walton-on-the-Naze
- Wally Noses
- Wantage
- Wanters
- Warrington
- Wazzas, Wires, Wirepullers (after the local wire industry),[59] Woolybacks or Wools (in Liverpool)
- Washington
- Washers, Shingles
- Watford
- Watties, Wotsits, Twats (pejorative)
- Wednesbury
- Wedgies, Dead Wedgies (see below)
- Wednesfield
- Wedgies,[39] Muddy Wedgies (see above)
- Wellingborough
- Smelly Wellies (pejorative)
- Welshpool
- Soup Heads, Deadpoolers
- Welwyn
- Cock-well-ins
- Welwyn Garden City
- Weeds (also see above)
- Wem
- Wembats (pejorative; wombats are slow, thick, mostly arse and good at digging)
- Wendover
- Bendovers, Bendy-Wendies (pejorative)
- West Brompton
- Baggies
- Westhoughton
- Keawyeds (Cowheads, after local legend)
- West Kirby
- Wekkas
- West Riding of Yorkshire
- Wessies (in other parts of Yorkshire)
- Wetherby
- Horribles ("horrible weather")
- Weymouth
- Kimberlins (Isle of Portland name for a person from Weymouth), Weybizas (due to the wild nightlife the town has adopted)
- Whitehaven
- Marras, Jam Eaters, Wetties, Glow-Worms (allegedly contaminated by radioactivity from Sellafield)
- Whitby
- Codheads, Spookies
- Whitstable
- Bubbles, Shit-bubbles (pejorative)
- Whittle-le-Woods
- Widdlies
- Whitworth, Lancashire
- Shit-worths (pejorative)
- Widecombe in the Moor
- Wookiees
- Widnes
- Chemics, Stinkies, Woolybacks or Wools (in Liverpool)
- Wigan
- Pie-eaters (having to eat humble pie after a strike, also pies are central to the cuisine there), Pie-noshers, Purrers,[60]
- Wigston
- Piggly-Wigglies
- Willenhall
- Willies
- Wiltshire
- Moonrakers
- Wingham, Kent
- Wingnuts
- Wisbech
- Wisbekistanis (pejorative)
- Witham
- Shit'ems (pejorative)
- Woking
- Joke-Wokes
- Wolverhampton
- Wolvos, Yam Yams (from local dialect where people say "Yam" meaning "Yow am" meaning "You are"), Yammies, Dingles (pejorative)
- Wombwell
- Wombats
- Woodbridge
- Woodworms (pejorative)
- Worcester
- Woos
- Worth
- Nothings (pejorative)
- Worthing
- Pork Bolters[52]
- Workington
- Jam Eaters
- Wye
- Bovvers
- Wymondham
- Windies (short first "i", following local pronunciation)
Y - Z
[edit]- Yeovil
- Eeyores, Yo-yos, Yo-yo-knickers (pejorative, directed at the womenfolk)
- York
- Yorkies, Old Yorkers, Yoricks
- Yorkshire
- Tykes, Yorkies, Yorkie Bars, Tight (epithet varies)s (the inhabitants have a reputation for frugality)
See also
[edit]- List of regional nicknames
- Lists of nicknames – nickname list articles on Wikipedia
- Demonym
Citations
[edit]- ^ a b c Notes and Queries Vol 7 1853 p. 452
- ^ Eichler et al: Namenforschung / Name Studies 2008 p. 1753
- ^ "tyke", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 674)
- ^ "Brummie", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 95)
- ^ "Wolverhampton researches Black Country dialect". The Guardian. 27 January 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Morris, J: From Dodos to Dee Dars, The Genealogist Magazine, Feb 2014
- ^ "Man Charged with Having Sex with Horse". Lancashire Telegraph. 9 July 2012.
- ^ "BBC report 2011 Blackpool Councillor Sorry for Donkey Botherer Jibe". Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ Crowley, T: The Liverpool English Dictionary 2017 p. 245
- ^ Dean, M: The Little History of Somerset 2020 p. 86
- ^ Augustus Hare: Sussex 1894 p. 136
- ^ "limey", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 401)
- ^ "pommy", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 506–507)
- ^ "Why do the French call the British 'the roast beefs'?". BBC News Online. 3 April 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Few laughs for 'humorous' Kraut". BBC News Online. 24 October 2001. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ Transactions of the Gaelic Society. Gaelic Society of Inverness. 1907. p. 97. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
Gallach caithness.
- ^ "Cardi", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 119)
- ^ Yvette Taylor: Classed Intersections 2016 p. 109
- ^ Head, R: Congleton Past and Present, 1887, p.67
- ^ "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.
- ^ Wales, Tony (2000). Sussex as She Wus Spoke, a Guide to the Sussex Dialect. Seaford: SB Publications. ISBN 978-1-85770-209-5.
- ^ "Sassenach", (Robinson 1985, pp. 581)
- ^ 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.
- ^ Brewer, E. Cobham. "Nicknames". Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. Retrieved 29 September 2010 – via Bartleby.com.
- ^ "keelie", (Robinson 1985, pp. 335)
- ^ Castillo, Michelle (20 August 2009). "Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Glasgow, Scotland". Peter Greenberg Travel Detective. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- ^ "The Hartlepool Monkey, Who hung the monkey?". This is Hartlepool. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- ^ Advertiser Notes and Queries Volumes 1-2 1882 p. 16
- ^ Dawson, Chris. "Hey, Hey, We're Monkey Town". Ten Thousand Years in Monkey Town.
- ^ "Loiner", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 406)
- ^ Evans, Arthur Benoni (1881). Evans, Sebastian (ed.). Leicestershire Words, Phrases, and Proverbs (enlarged ed.). London: N. Trübner for English Dialect Society. p. 101.
- ^ Brewer, E. Cobham. "Yellow-belly". Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. Retrieved 30 September 2010 – via Bartleby.com.
- ^ Fazakerley, p. 24
- ^ "Mickey Mouse" - rhyming slang for "Scouse", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 429)
- ^ "Plastic Scouser". Allwords.com.
- ^ "Woolyback". Slang.org.uk.
- ^ "Woolyback". Allwords.com.
- ^ Criddle, B: The Almanac of British Politics 2005 p. 408
- ^ a b c Notes and Queries 1894 p. 94
- ^ 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.
- ^ Harley, Shaun (16 July 2007). "I was made in Middlesbrough". BBC News Online. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- ^ White, Jonathan (3 May 2020). "A Dabber Debate - what's your preferred derivation?". Nantwich News. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ Grose. "Dictionary of the vulgar tongue". Words from old books. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ "gog", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 295)
- ^ Kieran and Jordison: Crap Towns Returns 2013 p. 103
- ^ LA Record Vol 100 p. 431
- ^ "Paisley Buddies". Paisley Scotland. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
- ^ Miles, M: Paradoxical Urbanism 2020 p. 41
- ^ a b "janner", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 363)
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Plymouth's nickname 'Guz' and the reasons behind it". Plymouth Live. 29 September 2019.
- ^ a b Arscott, David (2006). Wunt Be Druv - A Salute to the Sussex Dialect. Countryside Books. ISBN 978-1-84674-006-0.
- ^ Bishop, J: The Illustrated Counties of England 1985 p. 34
- ^ "Who are the woollybacks?". St Helens Star. 9 February 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "jock", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 369)
- ^ "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.
- ^ "taff", (Partridge, Dalzell & Victor 2007, pp. 369)
- ^ Cf. the nursery rhyme "Taffy was a Welshman / Taffy was a thief / Taffy came to my house / To steal a piece of beef."
- ^ Hayes, J: Celebrating Warrington 2022 p. 87
- ^ Dialect term for "kicker"
References
[edit]- "Liverpudlian". Cambridge Dictionaries Online.
- Fazakerley, Fred (2005) [2001]. Scouse English. London: Abson Books. ISBN 0-902920-94-4.
- Partridge, Eric; Dalzell, Tom; Victor, Terry (2007). The concise new Partridge dictionary of slang and unconventional English. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-21259-5.
- Robinson, Mairi (1985). Concise Scots Dictionary. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press Ltd. ISBN 1-902930-00-2. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- Ronowicz, Eddie; Yallop, Colin (2006). English: One Language, Different Cultures. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8264-7079-9. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- Pinniped; Mu Beta Beta. "Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire". History. h2g2. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.