What do folks of regions call themselves?

[Loghar]

After discovering, to my dismay, that people from Iowa seem to actually be willing to put up with being called "Iowans"

Exactly what is wrong with "Iowan"? Can you suggest something better? Iowite? Cornhead? Hawkeye<shudder>? All it says is that I'm from Iowa, that New Yorker? ...from New York. If you picture me as a 6' 3" 320# farmer, you're just following stereotypes. And besides...

Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet?

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

i moved here to New Jersey almost 3 years ago, and i still have no idea what you call us. New Jerseyian? New Jerseyite? i don't think i've ever heard anyone use any kind of term like that...

wait, i've got it... Italian American! "Wanna make sumthin' of it?"

The family I have in NJ would say "WTF you talkin about? I'm from Jersey." And the proper response is "Yeah? What exit?"

 

[msd]

I think if you're from Massachusetts, you're just "from Mass". All the really distinguishing names for people from MA are given to us by people from the surrounding New England states.

People from northern New England will refer to people from Mass as "flatlanders"...if they're trying to be nice. Otherwise, they will use a more typical name for people from Mass (typically in reference to our somewhat unique driving habits) that, were it to be mentioned, has a better than average chance of getting me in trouble with Eric's grandma.

I have a personal policy about angering grandmas...I don't do it.

That said, maybe "New Englanders"?

 

[Dinkeldog]

Either Illinoisan or Illini. (I don't care if the UofI mascot is the Illini. Ultimately, our state name is the Anglicization of the Francization of the name of the Illini tribe.)
Chicagoan.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Rhode Island = Rhode Islanders (at least that's always been how I've done it...I'll wait to be corrected by someone from RI).

And, msd's right, Massachusetts doesn't really translate into anything all that well. On a more localized level, there's Bostonians, which I've heard some (although I've never really heard a lot of people in Boston using it). Cape Codder has always been a drink to me (or a hotel).

Nick

 

[msd]

...(although I've never really heard a lot of people in Boston using it)...

That's the thing...you'd never hear someone from Boston call another resident of Boston a "Bostonian".

Maybe you're from "the Hub" or the "Metrowest" area...or if you're really lucky (my personal favorite)...you're a "Barney" (ah Bahnee in Bostonese).

Among my friends, someone from Boston is a chowda head.

 

[CombatWombat51]

I've mostly been a Californian and a San Diegan, but now I'm an Indianianin. Yes, I'm the only one I know around here who says that

 

[Dinkeldog]

Oh, and Dogbrain, the sucker is a part of the corn plant. Illinois is the sucker state because you can go miles seeing nothing but corn (and occasionally soybeans)

 

[Davelozzi]

That's the thing...you'd never hear someone from Boston call another resident of Boston a "Bostonian".

I don't think that "Bostonian" is not a generally accepted term around here, I think it's just the kind of thing that there's no need to use when you're here. Why would two people in Boston need to call each other "Bostonian"?

"Why, hello my fellow Bostonian, how are you today?"

Nah, it makes more sense to cut to the chase with a "what's up?", or better yet, a "hey" and a curt nod.

But I agree that there is no common term for a resident of Mass other than just "of Mass".

My local favorite is for a resident of Cambridge: Cantabridgian (spelling?)

 

[reanjr]

After discovering, to my dismay, that people from Iowa seem to actually be willing to put up with being called "Iowans", I started to wonder what folks from the various states of the USA and sub-regions of other countries preferred to be called. So, what are the names? Remember, these are what we call ourselves, not what we call the folks "over there". If the name is only used by students or atheletes at a university or college, it doesn't count. (So "wolverine" is disqualified for Michigan). The "State nickname" does not count, either.

California: Californian
Idaho: Idahoan
Illinois: Sucker (archaic?)
Indiana: Hoosier
Iowa: Iowan
Michigan (Mitten): Michigander
Michigan (Upper): Yooper
New York: New Yorker
North Carolina: Tar Heel
Ohio: Buckeye
Virginia: Virginian
Oklahoma: Okie
Texas: Texan (archaic: Texian)

Please help fill up the list.

Actually, Wolverine doesn't count because it is what the Ohioans called us. That's where the state got its animal and the school got its name. It dates back to the Michigan-Ohio war (which was more of an example of federally sponsored theft of land rather than a war). Yoopers are Michiganders as well. Yooper is like saying Detroiter for people in the Detroit area. And Buckeye, I'm pretty sure is not universal. It's more of a nickname.

And officially (if you listen to our governor, which most try to avoid) we are called Michiganians.