| DrBuck Posted on 13/11 11:05 | |
| Geordies ans Mackems | |
The question has probably been asked before, but no-one at work seems to be able to tell me where or why the names Geordie and Mackem originated from. Anybody know? | |
| Spoff_MFC Posted on 13/11 11:06 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
Geordies - Newcastle Mackems - Sunderland 
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| wirralred Posted on 13/11 11:08 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
try this | |
| Link: ... | |
| the_broken_fridge Posted on 13/11 11:08 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
The origins of the term are somewhat obscure. A common belief is that it was an insult coined by shipyard workers in the 19th century in Newcastle (see Geordie), to describe their Wearside counterparts. The Geordies would "take" the ship to be fitted out that the Mackems "made", hence "mackem and tackem" ("make them" and "take them"). Alternatively, this phrase may refer to the making and tacking into place of rivets in shipbuilding, the main method of assembling ships until the mid-twentieth century. Another similar theory is that the coal miners in Newcastle were provided with "Geordie" safety lamps designed by George Stephenson in 1815, while the coal miners in Wearside would make them (mack'em) themselves. However, these theories are possibly both nothing more than folk etymology. The earliest use of the term, as applied to people from Sunderland, found by the Oxford English Dictionary occurred in 1980 [1], although "we still tak 'em and mak 'em" was found in a sporting context in 1973, implying that the phrase was older, but with nothing to suggest that "mak 'em" had come to be applied to people from Sunderland. Not all Sunderland residents accept the adoption of the term, pointing out its supposed roots as an insult, and its use as a derisory term by Geordies. The two cities have a history of rivalry beyond the football pitch, dating back to the early stages of the English Civil War (see Tyne-Wear Rivalry). | |
| the_broken_fridge Posted on 13/11 11:08 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
One explanation is that it was established during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. The Jacobites declared that the natives of Newcastle were staunch supporters of the Hanoverian kings, in particular of George II during the 1745 rebellion. This contrasted with rural Northumbria, which largely supported the Jacobite cause. If true, the term may have derived from a popular anti-Hanoverian song ("Cam ye ower frae France?"), which calls the first Hanoverian king "Geordie Whelps", meaning "George the Guelph". An alternative explanation for the name is that local miners used "Geordie" safety lamps, designed by George Stephenson in 1815, rather than the "Davy lamps" designed by Humphry Davy which were used in other mining communities. Newcastle publisher Frank Graham's Geordie Dictionary states: "The origin of the word Geordie has been a matter of much discussion and controversy. All the explanations are fanciful and not a single piece of genuine evidence has ever been produced." In Graham's many years of research, the earliest record he has found of the term's use was in 1823 by the famous local comedian, Billy Purvis. Purvis had set up a booth at the Newcastle Races on the Town Moor. In an angry tirade against a rival showman, who had hired a young pitman called Tom Johnson to dress as a clown, Billy cried out to the clown: "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!") Judging by this account, Geordie meant "fool" in 1823. | |
| the_broken_fridge Posted on 13/11 11:09 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
all off the top of my head that. | |
| BoroMutt Posted on 13/11 11:10 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
Or possibly cut and paste from wiki? | |
| Link: Mackems on wiki (search for gerodies) | |
| wirralred Posted on 13/11 11:18 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
no mutt...i actually got my link from the broken fridge...he is a walking library mate! thanks for the help their fridge mate 
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| the_broken_fridge Posted on 13/11 11:19 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
what's wiki? All in my brains that mate! | |
| borowally Posted on 13/11 11:19 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
Before Newcastle even existed A Scotsman called George went looking for love He owned two sheep, (his ladies) he shagged the sheep and they had babies ! named after George and "his ladies" So, if it wasn't for a Scotsman shagging a sheep, there wouldn't be any geordies ! | |
| towz Posted on 13/11 11:41 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
Geordie meant fool in 1823 eh? Nothing much changes then. | |
| chorleyphil Posted on 13/11 12:27 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
All well and good, However, its the term TOON that I have trouble comprehending! Where did that 'phrase' come from that the media love to quote so often? | |
| the_broken_fridge Posted on 13/11 12:33 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
it is the local pronunciation of 'town' isn't it? Which actually doesn't make sense, what with it being a city and a 'united' football club. | |
| towz Posted on 13/11 12:34 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
You can't expect geordies to make sense | |
| chorleyphil Posted on 13/11 12:37 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
TOON ARMY.....wtf | |
| BroughtonLad Posted on 13/11 13:26 | |
| re: Geordies ans Mackems | |
I thought it came from LOONEY TOONS | |
