YANKEE
Best
known of all national nicknames, perhaps, is "Yankee";
yet the origin of this famous name for Americana is a mystery.
Scholars once thought is came from "Yengees". That was supposed
to have been the way American Indians pronounced "English",
or the French equivalent "Anglais".
There is a theory that a Dutch nickname "Yankey" is the source,
because as early as 1683 it was used by Dutch sailors.
Yankey may have been derived from Janke, a diminutive of the
Dutch name Jan (John).
In
Colonial times, New Yorkers rather scornfully called New Englanders
"Yankees".
During
the Civil War, Southerners spoke of all Notherners as Yankees.
In
World Wars I and II, Europeans called United States soldiers
"Yankees" or "Yanks"
and the term gradually became popular as a nickname for all
Americans.
There was never any stigma connected with its use, and the
nickname was borne with good humor and even pride by Americans.
The
origin of "Yankee Doodle" is also uncertain.
The sprightly, impudent tune appears in America late in the
18th century as an instumental.
It was the favorite march of the Revoluntionary troops.
No authorship has been determined for the numerous verses.
Most of them it is believed to have originated in the United
States.
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