# Why aren't people from New England called New Englishmen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666 "2007-04-18T19:07:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666/21 "2007-04-19T21:30:55Z")
[QUOTE=MJinks] I think the title will remain intact this time… [/QUOTE] IIRC, the TV programme was renamed, but the film was ‘ninja’ on its original release. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666/22 "2007-04-19T22:14:57Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] The argument would go that we English have perfectly good extant words that mean the same thing: bloke, mate, lad or chap (if you’re posh). [/QUOTE] Does “posh” mean rich, or stuck-up/snooty, or…? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666/23 "2007-04-19T23:42:53Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Does “posh” mean rich, or stuck-up/snooty, or…? [/QUOTE] That’s a tricky one. You might well get a fair bit of traction if you post that as a GQ, although I’m not sure that there is any kind of factual answer. Perhaps an IMHO topic? Certainly there seem to be enough UK Dopers to give you some sort of flavour of the current state of the British class system ie it’s an utterly chaotic mess that no two people will agree about. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666/24 "2007-04-20T00:46:01Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] … the current state of the British class system ie it’s an utterly chaotic mess that no two people will agree about. [/QUOTE] That’s just what chav scum like you would say! Regarding the formation of demonyms as in the OP, I think the easiest answer is that we’re speaking English. English (and New English) pretty much ignores standard constructions for its demonyms. Someone from Massachussetts is a “Bay Stater”. A resident of Glasgow (UK) is a Glaswegian, and a resident of Glasgow (Delaware, US) has probably never heard the term and would sock you on the jaw if you called him one. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666/25 "2007-04-20T07:57:23Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] Anyways, can any Brits shed light for me why “guy” is apparently so offensive to the British ear? What’s its connotation in the UK? [/QUOTE] IANAB, but I’ve read it has to do with Guy Fawkes, a conspirator in the plot to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605 while the King was addressing both houses. The breakup of the Gunpowder Plot is remembered each year on Guy Fawkes Night (AKA Fireworks Night or Bonfire Night), during which effigies of Guy Fawkes are burned - these effigies are called “guys.” Given this, the term “guy” has historically not been seen as a compliment in Britain. I suspect that the original meaning has faded - that it has become more neutral in Britain, possibly because of how it’s used in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666/26 "2007-04-20T16:04:38Z")
[QUOTE=Jurph] That’s just what **chav** scum like you would say! [/QUOTE] I’ve heard that one on the boards too but just had to look it up! ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666/27 "2007-04-20T16:21:37Z")
[QUOTE=Jeff Lichtman] Given this, the term “guy” has historically not been seen as a compliment in Britain. I suspect that the original meaning has faded - that it has become more neutral in Britain, possibly because of how it’s used in the U.S. [/QUOTE] Hmmm. It never crossed my mind that ‘guy’ would be used as a disparaging term. I’m confident in saying that such usage died out well before snobs started objecting to the use of the Americanism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-people-from-new-england-called-new-englishmen/400666.md?page=1)