# New Jerseyan??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755 "2020-05-14T00:45:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/21 "2020-05-14T20:55:23Z")
Very few people in NJ actually use any of these terms. Most people would just say “I’m from Jersey” or “s/he’s from Jersey” or something like that. In some contexts you might say “he’s a Jersey guy” “she’s a Jersey girl”, but these sometimes carry the connotation of being “white trash” (i.e. blue collar, gaudy style etc.). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/22 "2020-05-14T21:54:25Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > As I said, almost never hear it. But you use it for yourself. > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Very few people in NJ actually use any of these terms. I guess the dozens of New Jerseypeople who have used those terms on the board must be atypical. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/23 "2020-05-14T22:25:28Z")
It depends on where you’re from in New Jersey. There’s a distinct difference between North Jersey and South Jersey. South Jersey, I can see “Pineys.” North Jersey . . . “Smoggies”? Tripler Jersey born and bred . . . and then fled. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/24 "2020-05-14T22:55:42Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > But you use it for yourself. I agree it is used. Also I literally meant hear. > [@Tripler](#): > > It depends on where you’re from in New Jersey. There’s a distinct difference between North Jersey and South Jersey. South Jersey, I can see “Pineys.” North Jersey . . . “Smoggies”? > > Tripler > Jersey born and bred . . . and then fled. Dammit, NJ has 3 parts, I can link to the NJ Government COVID- Tracker site if you don’t believe me. **Central Jersey**. Its in my location. Please check the Hospital Census Tab: [COVID-19](https://covid19.nj.gov/#live-updates) ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/25 "2020-05-14T23:00:36Z")
It could be that I’ve heard or read the terms, but just never noticed. I guess hearing Murphy say it spurred something in my head. I’ve lived in Pennsylvania and Texas as well, so have some experience in what outsiders call us (when being polite). One thing is for sure, I’ll definitely notice these terms in the future. I’ll report back at some point. Of course, I’ve worked in NYC for over 20 years, so know that they are definitely not commonly used locally. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/26 "2020-05-14T23:37:51Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Ambrose Bierce suggested “ **Jerseyman** ”, which I rather like more than “New Jerseyan” or “New Jerseyite” (although it admitttedly is to sex-specific for this day and age). The demonym for a person for Michigan used to be Michigander. Until people started asking if a man from Michigan was a Michigander, was a woman from Michigan a Michigoose? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/27 "2020-05-15T12:31:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The demonym for a person for Michigan used to be Michigander. Until people started asking if a man from Michigan was a Michigander, was a woman from Michigan a Michigoose? That’s just _mishegoss_. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/28 "2020-05-15T15:45:59Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > I thought the answer the this question is “asshole” :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/29 "2020-05-15T18:30:41Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It’s apparently the state’s official demonym. What term do you actually hear get used to describe someone from New Jersey? How did I get to be this old without knowing the word: demonym? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/30 "2020-05-16T09:30:07Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I agree with this, you almost never hear “New Jerseyite” or “New Jerseyan” I lived in NJ for 8 years and would pick New Jerseyan over New Jerseyite. Husband’s a native Pennslyvanian and he says both sound weird, maybe New Jerseyan is a little less weird. “From Jersey” is a typical description. Most people in that part of the U.S. don’t care about the island. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/31 "2020-05-16T12:01:21Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > I lived in NJ for 8 years and would pick New Jerseyan over New Jerseyite. Husband’s a native Pennslyvanian and he says both sound weird, maybe New Jerseyan is a little less weird. > > “From Jersey” is a typical description. Most people in that part of the U.S. don’t care about the island. “From Jersey” is what I hear by far the most. We do collectively ignore the existence of the Island our state was named after. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/32 "2020-05-16T23:15:22Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Now, I’ve never heard someone from Connecticut referred to by a demonym, whether Connecticuter, Connecticotian, or Connecticutensian. Nutmegger was the term when I grew up there. (I know, not a demonym, but a nickname.) ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755/33 "2020-05-18T00:29:15Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Dammit, NJ has 3 parts, I can link to the NJ Government COVID- Tracker site if you don’t believe me. **Central Jersey**. Its in my location. Please check the Hospital Census Tab: [New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub](https://covid19.nj.gov/#live-updates) I don’t buy it. Edison is clearly in the orbit of New York City, and Toms River/Atlantic City are in the realm of Philly. For evidence: North Jersey is served by NYC broadcasting, and South Jersey is served by Philadelphia broadcast telecommunications. Anything in between simply doesn’t exist, and debate about it is as murky as the Mutara nebula. Tripler It’s well known both populations are migratory during the summer season. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jerseyan/853755.md?page=1)