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iswim15:58 UTC11 Oct 2009

Hello,
why are people from Liverpool called Liverpudlians and people from Blackpool are called Blackpoolians, and not Blackpudlians. Or, Why are not those from Liverpool not called Liverpoolians?

thanks,
Antony
(one has idle moments)

nutraxfornerves17:01 UTC11 Oct 2009

The Concise OED says "Liverpudlian belonging to (a native of) Liverpool, of which the final syll. was joc. altered to puddle." Other sources agree. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it's attested it to 1833 (apparently getting that from the full OED).

I can't find who started it or how it was popularized or why the folks in Blackpool weren't equally jocular.

Edited to add--there are all sorts of notions about the etymology of "Liverpool" itself.
>Debate has ranged from meanings coming from the large pool, or natural harbour, which sat beside the town, to the influence of a variety of languages and references to the local plant or bird life, and even to the influence of a local family.

Edited by: nutraxfornerves

tonya00119:32 UTC11 Oct 2009

Good question. No idea. But I note a puddle is a pool; and vice versa+; and I note too that +Liver+ has two syllables whereas +Black is one. Maybe the synonym is chosen for the ease with which it trips off the tongue?

n_rb19:42 UTC11 Oct 2009

You get Hartlepudlians though

tonya00120:27 UTC11 Oct 2009

Indeed! What, I wonder, do folks frae Poole in Dorset say?

bjd07:14 UTC12 Oct 2009

Poodles?

iviehoff08:29 UTC12 Oct 2009

and people from Blackpool are called Blackpoolians

Maybe you're right, but I've never heard it before. Wikipedia gives three possibilities, one of which (admitted rare) is Blackpudlian, and none of which is Blackpoolian.

Indeed! What, I wonder, do folks frae Poole in Dorset say?

Most places don't have a special name for people from there.

Liverpool/Blackpool Interest forums / Speaking in Tongues
iswim15:58 UTC11 Oct 2009	Hello, why are people from Liverpool called Liverpudlians and people from Blackpool are called Blackpoolians, and not Blackpudlians. Or, Why are not those from Liverpool not called Liverpoolians? thanks, Antony (one has idle moments)
nutraxfornerves17:01 UTC11 Oct 2009	The Concise OED says "Liverpudlian belonging to (a native of) Liverpool, of which the final syll. was joc. altered to puddle." Other sources agree. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it's attested it to 1833 (apparently getting that from the full OED). I can't find who started it or how it was popularized or why the folks in Blackpool weren't equally jocular. Edited to add--there are all sorts of notions about the etymology of "Liverpool" itself. >Debate has ranged from meanings coming from the large pool, or natural harbour, which sat beside the town, to the influence of a variety of languages and references to the local plant or bird life, and even to the influence of a local family. Edited by: nutraxfornerves	1
tonya00119:32 UTC11 Oct 2009	Good question. No idea. But I note a puddle is a pool; and vice versa+; and I note too that +Liver+ has two syllables whereas +Black is one. Maybe the synonym is chosen for the ease with which it trips off the tongue?	2
n_rb19:42 UTC11 Oct 2009	You get Hartlepudlians though	3
tonya00120:27 UTC11 Oct 2009	Indeed! What, I wonder, do folks frae Poole in Dorset say?	4
bjd07:14 UTC12 Oct 2009	Poodles?	5
iviehoff08:29 UTC12 Oct 2009	and people from Blackpool are called Blackpoolians Maybe you're right, but I've never heard it before. Wikipedia gives three possibilities, one of which (admitted rare) is Blackpudlian, and none of which is Blackpoolian. Indeed! What, I wonder, do folks frae Poole in Dorset say? Most places don't have a special name for people from there.	6

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