The Demonyms of the United Kingdom

By Deane Barker • • tags: trivia • 1 min read •
AI Summary

This post examines the various demonyms used to refer to the people of the United Kingdom, highlighting the unique and sometimes surprising terms associated with each country and region. The author provides insightful commentary on the origins and usage of these demonyms throughout the UK.

I kept hearing about Susan Boyle being “Scottish.” Then I was reading the Wikipedia page on Bonnie Tyler and she was described as “Welsh.” I was confused. Weren’t these people British?

I consulted my buddy Chris for assistance.

Britain comprises three major geopolitical areas: England, Wales, and Scotland. So, you can be English, Welsh, or Scottish…and still be British.

My friend Chris is from England, so he’s English. He’s also British. But he’s not Scottish. And calling Susan Boyle “English” (or “Welsh”) would be all sorts of wrong.

So, to recap:

It gets a little more confusing when you toss Northern Ireland into the mix. They are Irish, of course, but not British. Northern Ireland and Britain together form the United Kingdom. Wikipedia claims that the United Kingdom and Britain are the same thing, and that someone in Northern Ireland can be called “British.” Chris disagrees.

Incidentally, this concept of naming someone after their country (an “American,” a “New Zealander,” etc.) is called a demonym.