English Regional Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scouser

A 'Scouser' is a person from Liverpool, who should really be known as a Liverpudlian, but 'Scouse' is the more usual term.
There are many reasons given for the nickname, the most popular being that it is derived from the term 'Lobscouse' which is said to have been a seafarer's dish of lamb stew eaten with hardtack - a cheap, filling dish easily adapted to feeding a family by the prudent housewives of the town.
Another suggestion is that 'lobscouse' might have its origins in the Viking background of the area.

Answer: Mackem

The nickname is thought to be based on the local accent - instead of 'take' and 'make', 'Mackems' tend to say 'tack' and 'mack', for example: 'What are you mackin'? (What are you making?)
This is not considered an affectionate nickname when screamed by fifty thousand Geordies at the Tyne-Wear football derby! ;)

Answer: Moonraker

According to my husband, this nickname came from local smugglers who would hide their swag in ponds - according to the legend one of them, accosted by a Customs Officer while using a rake to retrieve his haul, banked on the premise that most country people at the time were considered to be foolish, and told the officer that he was trying to catch the moon which was reflected in the pond.

Answer: Brummie

This is a nickname for both the inhabitants and accent of people from Birmingham, although it tends to be wrongly applied to all Black Country accents and is (unfairly) often judged by folk from other regions as being unattractive.
Conversely, foreign listeners often register 'Brummie' as one of the most attractive and lilting of the various English accents.
The term is said to be derived from Brummagen or Bromwicham which are historical variants on 'Birmingham'.

Answer: Smoggie

The nickname' Smoggie' is of fairly recent invention and was (allegedly) first used to taunt Middlebrough FC fans by the fans of their local rivals, Sunderland and Newcastle football clubs, at derby matches. It was based on the fact that so much heavy and chemical industry was once based in the Middlesbrough and surrounding area that the air was polluted with smog.
Many people seem quite proud of the nickname now - I've seen football fans carrying banners proclaiming 'Smoggies on Tour' when attending Sunderland FC games as the visiting team fans.

Answer: Geordie

Strictly speaking, a 'Geordie' is a person born on Tyneside, although (to their fury as they have their own regional nicknames) other residents of the North-East of England are often mistakenly called 'Geordies'.

There are many sources for the origin of the nickname, some citing the name as being a derogatory name given to the residents of Newcastle-upon-Tyne by the Jacobites at the time of the rebellion (1745) who claimed that the people of the city were loyal to the Hanoverian King George.

Another suggestion is that the nickname came from the safety-lamps the coal-miners used which had been invented by George Stephenson and were christened 'Geordies' by the men .

The 'broad Geordie' accent is amazing - I worked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for many years and still could occasionally be baffled, especially when the speaker was excited and talking quickly! ;)

Here's an example I found on Wikipedia, cited as being taken from the 'act' of the local comedian, Billy Purvis, in 1823:-
"Ah man, wee but a feul wad hae sold off his furnitor and left his wife. Noo, yor a fair doon reet feul, not an artificial feul like Billy Purvis! Thous a real Geordie! Gan man an hide thysel! Gan an' get thy picks agyen. Thou may de for the city, but never for the west end o' wor toon."

(Rough translation: "Oh man, who but a fool would have sold off his furniture and left his wife? Now, you're a fair downright fool, not an artificial fool like Billy Purvis! You're a real Geordie! Go, man, and hide yourself! Go and get your pick (axes) again. You may do for the city, but never for the west end of our town!")

Answer: Sand-dancer

The only explanation I can think of is that South Shields is a seaside town! :D

Answer: Monkey-hanger

This nickname's acceptance by the residents depends very much on the mood of the person it is applied to - some don't mind and laugh about it, others react crossly to the challenge, "Who hung the monkey' and may be moved to ask, "Why, is your little brother missing?" or offer physical violence.
The old story goes that a French vessel was wrecked off the coast of Hartlepool and a (dressed) monkey was washed ashore at the Headland where, the people being simple folk who had never seen a Frenchman before, mistook its chattering for French, and, believing it a spy, hung the poor creature.
A more sinister interpretation identifies the 'monkey' in question as possibly being a 'powder-monkey' - a young boy trained to assist the ship's gunners in firing their cannons.

Answer: Yellow-belly

I hadn't heard of this one before I was researching this quiz and the suggestion that it refers to the yellow waistcoats worn by some of the Lincolnshire army regiments or the yellow bellies of sheep grazing in the mustard fields of the county and having their undersides dusted by pollen are among many interesting reasons pertaining to its origin which are given in Wikipedia.

Answer: Tyke

Most Yorkshiremen and women are quite proud to be thought of as 'Tykes' - tough, determined and bluntly spoken people - I was born in that county although I now live in 'The Land of the Prince Bishops'.

My paternal Grandfather always used to recite this little rhyme to make my sister and me laugh when we were little girls:-
"Yorksheer born and Yorksheer bred
Strong in t'arm and thick in t'head!"