Scotlandshire Explained

Scotlandshire is a term used^{[1] [2] [3]} to denote either the anglicisation of Scotland or the subordinate political relationship with England. It is recorded as early as 1706 in James Hodges's anti-Union Third Treatise.^[3]

By placing the suffix -shire after the country's name, the term parodies the early modern tendency to place the word -shire after some ancient Scottish regions, as well as implicating in a tongue-in-cheek manner that Scotland has the status of an English county, rather than that of a distinct nation. Hence, the term is political in nature.

Several historic regions of Scotland have at times had the suffix -shire added when Scotland broadly adopted English-style county councils during the 19th century.

• Argyll - Argyllshire
• Bute (County of) - Buteshire
• Fife - Fifeshire
• Moray - Morayshire (or Elginshire)
• Ross - Ross-shire
• Sutherland - Sutherlandshire

Others have alternative names ending in -shire.

• Angus - Forfarshire
• East Lothian - Haddingtonshire
• Midlothian - Edinburghshire
• West Lothian - Linlithgowshire

See also

• Scottish cultural cringe
• Scottish national identity
• Tartanry
• North Briton

External links

• Lyrics of "Scotlandshire" - Jim Malcolm, archived from the original at http://www.jimmalcolm.com/html/main_cly3.htm

Notes and References

1. The Scottish World: History and Culture of Scotland;p.168; by Harold Orel, Marilyn Stokstad, Henry Leonard Snyder, Published 1981 Abrams;
2. Old Men in Love: John Tunnock's Posthumous Papers; p.146; By Alasdair Gray; Published 2007 Bloomsbury;
3. Scotland's Relations with England: A Survey to 1707; p.243; By William Ferguson; Published 1994 Saltire Society;