List of demonyms for US states and territories explained

This is a list of demonyms used to designate the citizens of specific states, federal district, and territories of the United States of America. Official English-language demonyms are established by the United States Government Publishing Office (USGPO);[1] however, many other terms are in common use.

List

Jurisdiction! rowspan="2"
Recommended by USGPOAlternatives
OfficialUnofficialArchaicNon-English
AlabamianAlabaman[2]
Alaskan Russian: аляскинец|alyaskinets[3]
American SamoaAmerican SamoanSamoan: Amerika Samoa
Arizonan Arizonian[4] Spanish; Castilian: Arizonense
Arkansan Arkansasan, Arkansawyer,[5] Arkie[6]
Californian Prune Picker,[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] CaliforniosSpanish; Castilian: Californiano, californiana
Coloradan Coloradoan[13] [14]
Connecticuter Connecticotian,[15] Connecticutensian, Connecticuteer, Nutmegger [16]
Delawarean Blue Hen's Chicken,[17] Muskrat
Washingtonian
Floridian Alligator,[18] Fly-Up-the-CreekSpanish; Castilian: Floridiano, floridiana
GeorgiaGeorgian Buzzard, Cracker, Goober-grabber[19]
GuamanianChamorro: Tåotåo Guåhån
Hawaii resident Islander,[20] Kamaʻāina. The Associated Press Stylebook restricts use of "Hawaiian" to people of Native Hawaiian descent.[21] Hawaiian: [[Kamaʻāina]]
Idahoan
Illinoisan Illinoisian, Illinoian, Flatlander,[22] Sucker, Sand-hiller, Egyptian[23]
HoosierIndianan (former GPO demonym replaced by Hoosier in 2016), Indianian (archaic)[24]
Iowan Hawkeye[25]
Kansan Grasshopper, Jayhawker, Sunflower[26]
Kentuckian Corncracker,[27] Kentuckyan
Louisianian LouisiananFrench: Louisianais Spanish; Castilian: Luisiano, luisiana
Mainer Down Easter or Downeaster,[28] Mainiac,[29] Yankee (rare)
Marylander
Massachusettsan Bay Stater (official term used by state government) and Citizen of the Commonwealth (identifier used in state law)[30] Massachusettsian,[31] Massachusite,[32] [33] Masshole (derogatory[34] as an exonym; however, it can be affectionate when applied as an endonym[35])
Michiganian Michigander,[36] Wolverine,[37] [38] Michiganite, Yooper/Troll (for residents of the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula, respectively),[39] Michigoose (used specifically for female residents, as a play on "Michigander")
Minnesotan Minne
Mississippian
Missourian MissouranFrench: Missourien Spanish; Castilian: Misuriano
Montanan
Nebraskan Bugeaters (fake) or Cornhuskers[40]
Nevadan
New HampshiriteNew Hampshireman or New Hampshirewoman, Granite Stater, Granite Boys[41]
New Jerseyan New Jerseyite
New Mexican Spanish; Castilian: Neomexicano, neomexicana, Spanish; Castilian: Neomejicano, neomejicana[42]
New YorkNew Yorker Knickerbocker[43] [44] Spanish; Castilian: Neoyorquino, neoyorquina
North Carolinian Tar Heel, Tar Boiler[45] Spanish; Castilian: Norcarolino, norcarolina
North Dakotan Spanish; Castilian: Nordakotense
Mariana IslanderChamorro: Tåotåo Mariånas
Ohioan Buckeye[46] Ohian[47]
Oklahoman Okie,[48] Sooner[49]
Oregonian
Pennsylvanian Penn, Quaker, Pennamite[50] Pennsylvania Dutch

Pennsylvanier[51]

Puerto Rican Boricua[52] Spanish; Castilian: Puertorriqueño, puertorriqueña
Rhode Islander Swamp Yankee[53]
South Carolinian Sandlapper[54] Spanish; Castilian: Sudcarolino, sudcarolina
South Dakotan Spanish; Castilian: Sudakotense
Tennessean Volunteer, Butternut[55] Big Bender
TexanTexian (Anglo-Texan - historical),[56] Tejano (Hispano-Texan), Texican (archaic)Spanish; Castilian: Texano, texanaSpanish; Castilian: Tejano, tejana
Utahn Utahian, Utahan
Vermonter Woodchuck[57]
Virgin IslandsVirgin Islander
Virginian
WashingtonWashingtonian
West Virginian Mountaineer
Wisconsinite Badger,[58] Cheesehead,[59] [60] Sconnie,[61] Wisconsonian, Wisconsese
Wyomingite Wyomese,[62] Wyomingian

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: U.S. Government Publishing Office Style Manual . 2016. §5.23 .
  2. News: William . Safire . William Safire . On Language: Foam Fell on Alabama . The New York Times . 1994-06-26. Safire reports that after he used the word "Alabaman" in a column, he received a letter from Vic Gold that said in part, "The natives, I have learned to my sorrow, prefer Alabamian."
  3. Web site: 2024-02-12 . Русский орфографический словарь: аляскинец. 2024-02-12 . Academic. ru.
  4. Web site: 2020-02-10 . Arizonan vs Arizonian: which one is right? . 2023-10-15 . ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV) . en.
  5. Encyclopedia: Arkansawyer definition - Dictionary - MSN Encarta . https://web.archive.org/web/20091115034859/http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861695659/Arkansawyer.html . 2009-11-15 . dead .
  6. Web site: Ar•kie . Dictionary.infoplease.com . 2012-07-22.
  7. Book: Kincheloe, Joe L. . White Reign: Deploying Whiteness in America . St. Martin's Press . 2000 . 9780312224752 . New York . 239.
  8. News: Trombley . William . 12 August 1985 . Boom Area's Missing Link--Jobs : Lack of Local Employment a Major Problem for 'Inland Empire' . The Los Angeles Times .
  9. News: King . Susan . 6 December 2007 . Cowboy, biker ... rabbit? . The Los Angeles Times .
  10. Book: Armstrong . Bill . Surf, Sun and Prune Pickers . 20 May 2014 . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform . 978-1499629552.
  11. Web site: 19 January 1981 . CALIFORNIA ODYSSEY: The 1930s Migration to the Southern San Joaquin Valley . 2020-06-18 . University of California Bakersfield.
  12. Hadden, B. . Luce, H.R. . 1991 . Time Magazine . Time . Time Incorporated . 138 . 0040-781X . 25011669.
  13. Book: Writers Style Guide . Colorado State University . 62 . The correct name for a person from Colorado is Coloradan (not Coloradoan). . 2009-01-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181226000419/https://creativeservices.colostate.edu/ . December 26, 2018 . dead.
  14. News: Quillen . Ed . 2007-03-18 . Coloradan or Coloradoan? . .
  15. Web site: Connecticut's Nicknames . 2017-04-20 . 2020-04-29 . Connecticut State Library.
  16. Web site: Connecticut's Many Nicknames . 2005-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051108012814/http://roadescape.com/nutmeg.html . 2005-11-08 . dead .
  17. Web site: The State of Delaware - An Introduction to the First State from . Netstate.Com . 2012-07-22.
  18. Web site: Netstate. The State of Florida.
  19. Web site: The State of Georgia . Netstate . 2017-07-22.
  20. Web site: The State of Hawaii - An Introduction to the Aloha State from . Netstate.Com . 2012-07-22.
  21. Book: Christian . Darrel . Jacobsen . Sally A. . Minthorn . David . The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law . 2013 . Basic Books . New York, NY . 9780465082995 . 112. AP Stylebook .
  22. Web site: A Friend Escapes To Illinois . . . And Now Is A Flatlander!. ChicagoTribune.com. 1987-10-06. Jim Fitzgerald.
  23. Web site: The State of Illinois - An Introduction to the Prairie State from . Netstate.Com . 2012-07-22.
  24. Web site: Indianian. https://web.archive.org/web/20181025110211/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/indianian. dead. October 25, 2018. Oxford Dictionaries.
  25. Web site: The State of Iowa. Netstate.com.
  26. Web site: The State of Kansas - An Introduction to the Sunflower State from . Netstate.Com . 2012-07-22. People who live in or come from Kansas are called Kansans. Kansans are sometimes referred to as Jayhawkers. Kansans have also been referred to as Grasshoppers and Sunflowers, names derived from some of the state nicknames described above..
  27. Web site: Definition of CORNCRACKER. www.merriam-webster.com.
  28. Book: The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2007 . registration . New York . World Almanac Books . 2006 . 978-0-88687-995-2.
  29. Mainiac . Time . 1938-06-20. (term used in reference to Maine author Kenneth Roberts)
  30. Web site: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 2, Section 35: Designation of citizens of commonwealth . 2008-02-29 . The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

    "Bay Staters shall be the official designation of citizens of the commonwealth."

  31. News: On Language. The New York Times. 1982-06-06. Safire. William.
  32. Book: 435 . Collections . . Boston. 1877.
  33. Book: Jones, Thomas . 465 . History of New York During the Revolutionary War . . Edward Floyd . DeLancey . New York . 1879.
  34. Nagy. Naomi. Irwin. Patricia. Boston (r): Neighbo(r)s nea(r) and fa(r). Language Variation and Change. July 2010. 22. 2. 270. 10.1017/S0954394510000062. 147556528.
  35. Web site: 'Masshole' among newest words added to Oxford English Dictionary. masslive.com. 2016-10-27. 2015-06-25.
  36. Web site: The State of Michigan - An Introduction to the Great Lakes State from . Netstate.Com . 2012-07-22.
  37. Marckwardt . Albert H. . Wolverine and Michigander . Michigan Alumnus Quarterly Review . LVIII . 1952 . 203–8.
  38. Sperber . Hans . Words and Phrases in American Politics: Michigander . American Speech . 29 . 1 . February 1954 . 21–7 . 10.2307/453592. 453592 .
  39. Web site: MDE - Michigan Glossary . Michigan.gov . 2008-01-30 . 2012-07-22.
  40. News: Football Players to Eat Corn, Not Bugs. History Nebraska. 2023-02-19. en.
  41. Web site: The State of New Hampshire - An Introduction to the Granite State from . Netstate.Com . 2009-04-13 . 2012-07-22.
  42. http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=neomexicano Neomexicano definition
  43. Web site: Definition of KNICKERBOCKER. www.merriam-webster.com. March 26, 2024 .
  44. New York Knicks, What's a Knickerbocker?
  45. Powell . William S. . March 1982 . What's in a Name?: Why We're All Called Tar Heels . Tar Heel . Tar Heel Magazine, Inc. . 005457348 . 2009-07-17.
  46. Web site: The State of Ohio - An Introduction to the Buckeye State . Netstate.Com . 2012-07-22.
  47. Web site: Ohian . Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online.
  48. News: Stewart . Roy P. . Postal Card Proves Sooners Were 'Okies' Way Back In 1907 . The Daily Oklahoman . 1968-12-20 . p. 9, col. 2 . Now comes Mrs. Agness Hooks of Thomas with a postal card mailed at Newcastle, Ind. in 1907, address to a Miss Agness Kirkbridge, with the salutation: 'Hello Okie — Will see you next Monday night.' Signed: Myrtle M. Pence. Mrs. Hooks says Agness Kirkbridge was an aunt of hers. The Kirkbridge family came to Oklahoma Territory in 1904 and settled south of Custer City..
  49. Web site: The State of Oklahoma - An Introduction to the Sooner State from . Netstate.Com . 2012-07-22.
  50. Web site: History of . Luzerne County . 2012-07-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130327175011/http://www.luzernecounty.org/living/history_of_luzerne_county . 2013-03-27 . dead .
  51. Book: The Penn Germania: A Popular Journal of German History and Ideals in the United States, Volumes 14 to 15 . 1913 . 231.
  52. Web site: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 2015-09-02.
  53. Web site: The Providence Journal | Rhode Island breaking news, sports, politics, business, entertainment, weather and traffic - providencejournal.com - Providence Journal . Projo.com . 2012-07-17 . 2012-07-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629020040/http://www.projo.com/ri/charlestown/content/SC_SWAMPCOL_02-29-08_UH95CTL_v43.1d42eee.html . 2011-06-29 .
  54. Web site: South Carolina - Origin of the Terms Sandlapper, Sand-lapper, and Sand Lapper.
  55. Web site: The State of Tennessee - An Introduction to the Volunteer State from . Netstate.Com . 2012-07-22.
  56. Book: de la Teja, Jesus F. . Myths, Misdeeds, and Misunderstandings: The Roots of Conflict in U.S.–Mexican Relations . Rodriguez O. . Jaime E.. Vincent . Kathryn . Wilmington, DE . 1997 . Scholarly Resources Inc. . 0-8420-2662-2 . The Colonization and Independence of Texas: A Tejano Perspective . 79.
  57. Web site: Keck . Nina . Where Do The Terms 'Woodchuck' And 'Flatlander' Come From? . Vermont Public . December 17, 2020 . 5 October 2022.
  58. Web site: Do You Want to Be a Badger?. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
  59. Book: Kapler, Joseph Jr. . On Wisconsin Icons: When You Say 'Wisconsin', What Do You Say?. Wisconsin Historical Society. Spring 2002. 18–31. 2009-04-29.
  60. Book: Foamation . Foamation: About Us . 2009-04-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090302092337/http://www.cheesehead.com/aboutus.asp . March 2, 2009 .
  61. Book: Partridge, Eric. The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: J-Z. Taylor & Francis. 2006. 1678. 9780415259385. 2020-05-04.
  62. Web site: Chicago Daily Tribune . 1903-06-02 . 2017-03-09 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20170312042841/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/28518826/ . 2017-03-12 .

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