# Etymology of the word Yankee **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678 "2000-10-20T17:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![quasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@quasar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quasar)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/1 "2000-10-20T17:37:46Z")
This came up in conversation a few days ago. Since I am clueless regarding the matter, I thought about taking advantage of the **Ultimate Information Resource on the Net: the SDMB**. So, dopers, could any of you enlighten me? ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/2 "2000-10-20T17:46:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by quasar \* > \*\*This came up in conversation a few days ago. Since I am clueless regarding the matter, I thought about taking advantage of the **Ultimate Information Resource on the Net: the SDMB**. So, dopers, could any of you enlighten me? > \*\* Yes, we can help. The etymology of the word Yankee is as follows: The word’s origin is New Yorker for “winner” or “champion.” 😃 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/3 "2000-10-20T17:54:20Z")
Sir, you have opened a can of worms. The origin of the term is still unclear with leads pointing to Dutch (_Janke_ for Johnny, among other Dutch terms), native American Indian, and French. But a persuasive, though not definative, argument made by Prof. Edward Taube points to a Algonquinian root word for “stranger” that evolved into today’s “yankee.” ---
**Author:** ![Beruang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/4 "2000-10-20T17:58:28Z")
I forget the source, but my favorite deinition goes something like this: In the rest of the world, a “yankee” is someone from the United States. In the United States, a “yankee” is someone from the north. In the north, a “yankee” is someone from New England. In New England, a “yankee” is someone from Vermont. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/5 "2000-10-20T18:27:16Z")
I heard it was from the Dutch _Jan Kees_, or “John Cheese”. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/6 "2000-10-20T19:03:52Z")
I heard the “Jan Kees” story from Paul Harvey some years ago. The “cheese” part appears to be apocryphal. “. . .the most plausible conjecture is that it comes from the Dutch Janke, diminutive form of Jan (John), applied as a derisive nickname by either Dutch or English in the New England states. . . The existence of Yank(e)y or Yankee as a surname (often with Dutch associations) is vouched for by the following references. . . .” –OED ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/7 "2000-10-20T19:10:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beruang \* > \*\* > In New England, a “yankee” is someone from Vermont. \*\* Except in Fenway Park, where it’s someone who gets beer and epithets hurled at them… ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/8 "2000-10-20T22:03:28Z")
A pull’s as good as a jerk. A jerk’s as good as a yank. And a Yank is a d@mn fine American… According to the exceptionally dry and unreadable,“Origins” (A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English by Eric Partridge) the term Yankee originated thusly: **Yankee** : Properly, the native or a citizen of the New England states of the USA, hence a British collective for any American. Both of the theories - an Amerind corruption (orig _Yengees_, b/f _Yengee_) of _English_, and a corruption of French _Anglais_, an Englishman - are very probable French/English fancies: the most likely explanation is that _Yankee_ represents the Dutch _Janke_, diminutive of Dutch _Jan_, John, as applied by the New York (originally New Amsterdam) Dutch to the English settlers in Connecticut. (Webster strongly, Matthews less strongly, DAE lukewarmly, support the _Janke_ version.) There you have it. **stuyguy** and **Mjollnir** were on the money, just without all of my elaborate cites. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/9 "2000-10-20T23:22:41Z")
quasar, you could have saved yourself a lot of time if you consulted the Ulitmate Resource on the Net’s Ultimate Resource: Cecil Adams. [What is the origin of the word “Yankee”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_260.html) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/10 "2000-10-21T09:35:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beruang \* > \*\*I forget the source, but my favorite deinition goes something like this: > > In the rest of the world, a “yankee” is someone from the United States. > > In the United States, a “yankee” is someone from the north. > > In the north, a “yankee” is someone from New England. > > In New England, a “yankee” is someone from Vermont. \*\* Close, but not quite. The below is from the humor cassette “Speak N’Hampsha Like A Native” by Fritz Wetherbee. It only sound right if spoken aloud in a thick N’Hampsha accent. > [@](#): > > The world views a Yankee as someone from the Western Hemisphere, specifically from the northern part. In the northern part, a Yankee is someone from the United States. In the United States, a Yankee is someone from north of the Mason and Dixon Line. And in the Northeast, a Yankee is someone from New England. And in New England, a Yankee is someone from New Hampshire or Maine or Vermont. And to someone in New Hampshire, a Yankee, it’s said, is someone who has pie … for breakfast. He’s not making this stuff up. I like pie … for breakfast, and so did my grandfather from New Hampshire. ---
**Author:** ![Yankee\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7ea924/32.png) [@Yankee\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankee_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2000, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/11 "2000-10-21T14:44:31Z")
I cam in here armed with a link to Cecil’s column but Alph beat me to it. Funny I would have looked that one up all ready, eh. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/12 "2000-10-22T00:08:11Z")
I was always told: A yankee is someone who lives up North. A _damned_ yankee is someone who comes down south to visit. A _ **goddamned** _ yankee is someone who comes down south and STAYS! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-word-yankee/37678/13 "2000-10-22T00:25:25Z")
**Zev** said > [@](#): > > The word’s origin is New Yorker for “winner” or “champion.” Sorry to bring up spelling, but you misspelled "_WIENER_.(go Cleveland :D) **Bibliophage** said > [@](#): > > He’s not making this stuff up. I like pie … for breakfast, and so did my grandfather from New Hampshire. Assuming N’Hampsha is the ending of life as we know it, how did you get to Maine? Before you skewer me, I love Maine. John Thorn, the world’s greatest writer about food, lives there. That, alone, would justify its existance.