1. Names

Geographical Names

Britain/Albion: The earliest names, likely Celtic/Indo-European. Albion (meaning "white," possibly for chalk cliffs) was used by Greeks, who also recorded Pretannike, which became Latin Britannia (land of the Britons/painted people).

England/English: From the Engle (Angles), Germanic tribes who settled in the 5th century, naming their land Engla land (Land of the Angles).

Celtic Influences: Welsh (Cymraeg) and Gaelic names also shaped place names, though less obviously than Anglo-Saxon.

Norse/Viking Influences: Added names with suffixes like -by (village) or -thorpe (farm), especially in the North and East.

Anglo-Saxon/Old English: Dominant layer, with elements like -ham (homestead, e.g., Birmingham), -ton (enclosure/town), -bury (fortified place, e.g., Canterbury), -ford (river crossing, e.g., Oxford).

Roman Influences: Latin castra (fort) became -chester, -caster, -cester (e.g., Manchester, Leicester).

Political Names

Union of Crowns (1603): James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne (James I), uniting the crowns but not parliaments, leading to the term "Great Britain" (from French la Grande Bretagne) for the shared landmass.

Kingdom of Great Britain (1707): Acts of Union merged the English and Scottish parliaments, forming a single kingdom named "Great Britain".

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801): Ireland joined Great Britain via another Act of Union.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1927): After the Irish Free State's independence in 1922, the name was officially changed to reflect Northern Ireland remaining in the Union.

Historical Names

Albion: The earliest known name for the main island (Great Britain), used by Greco-Roman writers like Ptolemy, possibly meaning "white" or "mountainous". It was first used by Greek geographers in the 4th century BCE, possibly derived from Celtic or Latin for "white land," referring to the white chalk cliffs of Dover, though it might predate Greek usage. It was later used by Romans and classical writers like Isidore of Charax (1st century BC – 1st century AD) before being replaced by Britannia but revived poetically, notably by Geoffrey of Monmouth and William Blake. The earliest recorded references come from Greek sources, distinguishing Albion from Ireland (Ierne). Avienius used insula Albionum in his Ora Maritima.

Prettanikē/Britannia: From the Celtic Pretani or Priteni, referring to the "painted" or "tattooed" people; evolved into the Latin Britannia and Welsh Prydain.

According to Barry Cunliffe:

It is quite probable that the description of Britain given by the Greek writer Diodorus Siculus in the first century BC derives wholly or largely from Pytheas. What is of particular interest is that he calls the island "Pretannia" (Greek "Prettanikē"), that is "the island of the Pretani, or Priteni". "Pretani" is a Celtic word that probably means "the painted ones" or "the tattooed folk", referring to body decoration – a reminder of Caesar's observations of woad-painted barbarians. In all probability the word "Pretani" is an ethnonym (the name by which the people knew themselves), but it remains an outside possibility that it was their continental neighbours who described them thus to the Greek explorers

England: Derived from the Angles (Angli), one of the Germanic tribes, meaning "Land of the Angles" (Engla Land).

Great Britain: The "Great" was added in French (Grande Bretagne) to distinguish it from Brittany (Bretagne) in France, later becoming official in the Union with Scotland.

United Kingdom: The formal name established by the Acts of Union (1707/1801), uniting England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland (later Northern Ireland).

Poetical names

Ancient & Classical Names

Albion: An ancient name for Britain, possibly Celtic, derived from a word meaning "white" (referencing chalk cliffs) or from a giant in myth.

Britannia: From the Celtic Pretani (painted people); the Romans adopted this for their province.

Anglo-Saxon & Germanic Names

England: From the Angles, a Germanic tribe, meaning "Land of the Angles" (from Angli).

Scotland: Named after the Scoti, a Gaelic tribe.

Celtic Names

Cymru: The Welsh name for Wales, meaning "fellow countrymen" or "our people".

Alba: The Gaelic name for Scotland, related to the same root as Albion, meaning "white".

Poetic & Mythical Names

The Isles/British Isles: General terms for the archipelago.

Blitain/Blighty: A colloquial, affectionate, or nostalgic term for Britain, derived from Britannia.

The Emerald Isle: A popular epithet for Ireland, emphasizing its green landscape.

2. History of the name of the flag of the uk

In the 16th century the flag was known as the British flag or the flag of Britain and included the red cross of St George (England) and the blue saltire of St Andrew (Scotland). The name ‘Union’ first appeared in 1625. There are various theories as to how it became known as the ‘Union Jack’. The most plausible one is that when a small flag was mounted on the front of a warship (and a selected number of other ships) it was called ‘the Jack’. Sometime around 1674 the British flag became formally known as the ‘Union Jack’ when mounted on a warship and the ship was not in harbour. At the same time the British flag was referred to as the ‘Union flag’ on land. This rule was relaxed by the early nineteen century when the sailing term could be used when referring to the national flag everywhere. The first version of the flag was created in 1606, featuring only the English and Scottish flags.

The Union Jack was amended in 1801 to incorporate the cross of St. Patrick (Ireland). And if you’re wondering why the Welsh flag was never incorporated into the Union Jack, it is because it was already a principality of England by 1801. In Wales you may see two flags flying including the yellow St David’s Cross and the red dragon on a green background.

Union Jack and Union Flag. Most folks mix up Union Jack and Union Flag, yet they've got different past uses. Back then, ships flying it on a front mast called it "Union Jack." When used ashore, though, people named it the "Union Flag" instead. Still, as years passed, folks everywhere started calling it the Union Jack more often. Right now, the British government says either name works fine - but sailors stick to the old rule when they talk about it. This mix of old ways and change reflects how British culture adapts - honoring the past while moving into who it is now.

The current Union Jack mixes sharp shapes with a nod to history. It's made up of three different crosses:

The Cross of St. George (England): Red slash across a pale field, standing for bravery - linked to strength by old tales - simple design, strong meaning - draws eyes fast - not flashy but clear - a mark built on grit instead of show.

The Cross of St. Andrew from Scotland shows a pale slash across a dark sky-like background - symbolizing quiet strength along with steady belief.

The Cross of St. Patrick from Ireland shows a bold red slash across a pale canvas - hinting at courage, speaking of loss. It stands tall in history, tied to struggle, marked by pain. Not just a sign, but a story etched in color and line.

Union — «союзный», то есть союз под эгидой одного монарха.

Jack — есть несколько версий происхождения этой части названия:

dzen.ru

Первая версия связана с морским термином «гюйс» — носовым флагом корабля или судна, который обозначает государственную принадлежность. По-английски «гюйс» — jack.

По другой версии, «Джек» — производное от имени короля, при котором появился флаг — Якова I. На французском языке «Яков» звучит как «Жак». Таким образом, Union Jack — «союз Якова».

lingua-airlines.ru

dzen.ru

Название стало официальным в 1908 году, когда его утвердил парламент.

3.National stereotypes

British people. Politeness and charm

Both historically and in the present day, the British have often been associated with good manners by many people around the world. In countries such as the United States there is a widely held belief in the concept of a "fancy British man" who is charming, suave, and well-dressed with an attractive accent. Perhaps the most famous fictional example of this is James Bond, with the stereotype being bolstered by other fictional characters such as Lucifer Morningstar?. There is also a preference for American media (usually Hollywood films) to portray villains as British, with some studies suggesting that the British accent unconsciously leads audiences to believe the character possesses superior intelligence, thus making it easier to buy into the idea that the character's evil plan is plausible.[5] The English actor Alan Rickman garnered a reputation as Hollywood's favourite villain during his career.

Queueing

The act of queueing holds a significant place in British culture and is often viewed as a quintessential British activity. Historically rooted in the British values of fairness, orderliness, and respect for social norms, not only is the adherence to queues seen in day-to-day activities such as waiting for public transport or purchasing goods in a shop, but it also symbolises deeper cultural ideals about patience and propriety.

This penchant for forming and respecting queues has become a commonly referenced stereotype in both domestic and international media. While some scholars and commentators argue that the stereotype may be exaggerated, it remains an enduring symbol of British cultural identity. It has also been a source of self-deprecating jokes, with the British often acknowledging their habit of forming orderly lines even in the most informal settings. The social implications of queue-jumping are profound in Britain, and such actions are often met with silent disapproval, tutting or direct confrontation, underlining the cultural importance of this unspoken rule.

Sense of humour

British humour is well known for its use of absurdity, awkwardness, dark comedy, self-deprecation, dry comedy, innuendo, irony, sarcasm, satire, wit and word play.[7] Monty Python was a famous British comedy troupe, and some of the most highly regarded comedies worldwide, such as Fawlty Towers and Mr. Bean, are British. Banter and mocking in a friendly manner are commonplace in British culture. Making fun of one another is considered a form of bonding, particularly in working-class environments.[8]

Stoic nature

The British are often seen as reserved and unemotional, but in a pragmatic sense rather than an overtly negative one.[9] This perspective has been bolstered by numerous popular British phrases such as "stiff upper lip", which means displaying an emotionless and determined exterior in the face of hardship; "keep calm and carry on", which was taken from a motivational poster produced by the British government in preparation for the Second World War; and "always look on the bright side of life", a popular Monty Python comedy song about persevering in the direst situations.[10]

Pluckiness

British athletes are stereotypically described as "plucky", meaning brave and determined, especially when success is unlike The term is used in popular culture. Success in the 2012 Summer Olympics challenged the stereotype of the British plucky loser.The cyclist Chris Hoy stated, "I think the Brits historically have got used to being the plucky losers. The attitude has been we'll support our lads and our lasses but we don't expect them to win anything. The teams go to the world cup in football and there are the usual tales of woe – losing penalty shoot-outs. It's like inevitable that the Brits are going to get beaten at some point. But I think that's there's a change in that culture in sport."

Tea

Drinking tea, specifically black tea,[25] is seen as a key part of British culture. Originally introduced as a luxury product in the 17th century, cheap imports from colonial India allowed its consumption to increase significantly during the second half of the 19th century. Surveys in 2017 showed that Britain had the 12th-largest tea consumption per capita in the world,[27] and that almost 75 per cent of Britons who drank tea daily had at least two cups a day.[28] Other hot drinks, especially coffee, have become as popular as tea

Negative

Anti-social behaviour abroad

In Spain, Greece, Latvia and Malaysia,[30] British tourists have been associated with antisocial and violent behaviour in some countries, sometimes related to binge drinking. Barcelona blamed British tourism for an 18.5 per cent rise in complaints to police from 2015 to 2016, with offences including street drinking and public nudity.[31] Amsterdam launched a tourism campaign in 2023 discouraging British tourists from antisocial behaviour, following years of complaints from locals about public urination and drunken fights.[32]

Similarly to Americans and other English-speaking nationalities, British tourists have also been stereotyped as preferring to shout and talk slower in English when interacting with foreigners instead of making an effort to learn phrases in the local language.

Food

Jokes are often told about British food being either low-quality or inedible, with particular attention paid to dishes with unusual names (such as spotted dick, rumbledethumps, or bubble and squeak). While the image of British cuisine being bland was first formed in the post-Second World War period, globalisation and immigration has made food more diverse; in modern times, lists of the most popular cuisines in the United Kingdom usually include imported cuisines such as Chinese, Indian, Italian, Spanish, French, Japanese, Mexican and Brazilian.

Football hooliganism

Football hooliganism has a worldwide association with Britain; so much so that it is often dubbed the "British" or "English disease".[37] In 1985 the prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, established a "war cabinet" to combat football hooliganism.[38] Football hooliganism has been linked to such events such as the Heysel Stadium disaster. However, the British government has led a widespread crackdown on football-related violence since the 1980s, and British football fans now have a better reputation abroad. At the forefront of English football violence in Europe was West Ham United's Inter City Firm, who became well known for their strategy of steaming foreign home supporters out of their own ends and trying to dismantle the stadium.[39][40]

Monolingualism

There is a common stereotype that the British are only able to speak English.[41][42] This has some truth to it, as levels of bilingualism amongst them are relatively low, but this is also the case in the majority of English-speaking countries.[43][44][45][46][47] Additionally, the number of people who speak a language other than English as their first language is reasonably low, especially among those who were born in the United Kingdom—even among those with immediate immigrant ancestry.[48] However, British schoolchildren receive compulsory lessons in one or more of French, German, Spanish and other modern languages.[49] This used to happen during the first years of secondary school,[50] but teaching foreign languages at an earlier age has been viewed as increasingly important.

Teeth

Americans often joke about the British having bad teeth.[34] This stereotype appears to stem from a particularly American view of dental health in which artificially straightened and whitened teeth (sometimes referred to as "Hollywood teeth") are the healthiest,[55] but this primarily affects only the outer appearance of teeth and some evidence has shown that artificial whitening actually has a negative effect on dental health.[56] A report by the World Health Organization from 2000 on the dental health of 12-year-old children had the UK scoring only slightly higher than the US on the decay-missing-filled index, with an average of 1.4-1.5 decayed, missing or filled teeth per child in the United Kingdom, compared to 1.4 in the United States.

Jokes about British teeth appear in American popular culture. In "Last Exit to Springfield", an episode of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons, a strict dentist scares Ralph Wiggum into brushing his teeth by showing him a fictional book titled The Big Book of British Smiles that depicts a Queen's Guard member and Charles, Prince of Wales, with exaggeratedly crooked teeth. A Rimmel cosmetics television advertisement featuring the English fashion model Georgia May Jagger became an internet meme in 2014. In the advertisement, Jagger says "get the London look" and viewers ultimately associated the "London look" with the gap between her front teeth.

Unrelenting negativity

Many international observers, as well as some British people have found British people constantly negative.[60] British immigrants to Australia are sometimes called "whinging poms", meaning moaning English people.

Weather

British weather is often associated with rain[62] and fog,[63] although London's reputation for foggy weather dates from before the passing of the Clean Air Act 1956, which was brought in after the Great Smog of London in 1952.[63]

British people are often stereotyped for frequently discussing the weather.[64] A study in 2010 found that 94 per cent of British respondents said they had discussed the weather in the previous six hours.[65] British weather is noted for its unpredictability, and historically, with the United Kingdom's agrarian roots, the weather was important for farmers, making it a staple topic of discussion. Over time, this frequent dialogue about weather has evolved into both an ice-breaker and a cultural touchpoint, sidestepping potentially controversial subjects and fostering communal connections. This cultural phenomenon is reflected in various aspects of British culture, from literature and art riddled with references to rain and fog to traditional attire like trench coats and Wellington boots, which are tailored to combat the unpredictable British weather.

! Pea soup fog (also known as a pea souper, black fog or killer fog) is a very thick and often greenish-yellow fog caused by air pollution that contains tarry soot particulates and the poisonous gas sulphur dioxide. This very thick smog occurs in cities and is derived from the smoke given off by the burning of soft coal for home heating and in industrial processes. Smog of this intensity is often lethal to vulnerable people such as the elderly, infants, and those with respiratory problems. The result of these phenomena was commonly known as a London particular or London fog; in a reversal of the idiom, "London particular" became the name for a thick pea and ham soup.

Scotland: stereotypes

Tartans and kilts

There is nothing quite so Scottish as the image of a kilted, grizzled gent attached to some bagpipes amidst a Highland glen. For centuries, the design of tartans have represented the family lineage of the wearer. The idea being that Scots today wear the same tartan patterns as their ancestors did in centuries’ past. I’ve taken my well-travelled family kilt all over the planet with me and it’s amongst my proudest possessions. So forms an odd, ‘second skin-like’, attachment that I like to think Robertsons of old would have a chuckle over. Kilts are super-cool skirts for Scottish men. Given my travel blog name you’ll probably have guessed I’m pretty pro-kilts. Worn at weddings, ceilidhs (raucous traditional Scottish dancing events), football games or just for a really fun night out they are a great way to proudly and loudly show off Scottish heritage. They come with all sorts of groovy accompaniments including kilt pins, socks, shirts, jackets (tweed works best in my view), a sgian dubh (sock daggers) and sporrans (hairy pouches that compensate for the absence of pockets). And, yes, underwear is completely out of the question for a true Scot, regardless of the temperature.

Sport

We lose at everything. Well, no, that’s not quite true but we do lose with alarming regularity when it comes to team sports in particular. Football is the national sport and brings out the best and the worst in us. Fiercely passionate, this can sometimes overcome our supporters in the form of rivalries. Celtic vs Rangers has always been a legendary battle and is connected to Catholic vs Protestant origins. It is not always friendly unfortunately. The reputation of the Tartan Army (Scottish national supporters) has however always been magnificent and when we travel, Scottish fans tend to be regarded as fun and friendly rogues. Just keep the alcohol flowing! Then there’s our legendary Highland Games. Large-scale events, these are held all over Scotland over the summer season and involve Celtic music, dancing and fierce trials of strength. Tossing the caber is particularly sought-after and prestigious and involves burly kilted men (them again) chucking tree trunks through the air. We are also particularly big on rugby and, of course, golf. We do produce more than our fair share of world class athletes such as Andy Murray, Sir Chris Hoy and Stuart Hogg. In decades past we delivered loads of top footballers too but that’s dried up alarmingly these days.

Food

Haggis is indeed the national dish and yes we really do eat it on a semi-regular basis. Yes it is indeed a sheep’s stomach and the contents are better not known. But it does in fact taste fantastic and I thoroughly recommend it – amongst many other top Scotland travel tips.

As a fitting tribute to the huge influence of India and Pakistan on our culinary culture, curries have become as common as pizza in Italy on a Scottish night out. Nothing beats a Glasgow curry, ask me for details any time. Alternatively, get yourself a good fish supper (admittedly more of a generally British than Scottish stereotype). Haddock or cod, doused in salt and vinegar, is often the perfect end to a busy day or a boozy night. Scotland also has some of the world’s finest fish and seafood in our waters.

The drink

The Scottish stereotype that we drink a lot is….bang on. We don’t all like whisky however. We import all of the world’s best beers but Tennents is the cheapest local brew. It serves as the default lager of choice in most bars, although connoisseurs would probably tend to conclude that it is not the nicest pint in the world. Lager drinkers should aim for the likes of West Brewery’s St Mungos or Edinburgh’s Innis and Gunn. The craft beer revolution has benefited Scotland more than most and we’ve seen bar and inn fridges transform in recent years to accommodate the change in taste. BrewDog (originating in Aberdeenshire) is the biggest name in this regard and has taken the world by storm. Gin is another big hitter in Scotland – with us producing around 70% of the UK’s rivers of gin. The outstanding and rapidly growing producers in Harris, Shetland and Callander all spring to mind here. When it comes to the ‘water of life’, yes visitors will not have to look far to find a good single malt. Some of the top distilleries (and there are many) include: Talisker, Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Ardbeg and Laphroaig. If you are a super-knowledgable whisky drinker (or just want to appear to be one) make yours a single malt either neat or with a little spring water. Avoid ice. The north east malts are typically sweet and subtle with hints of spice, citrus and fruit. You can read more about renowned Speyside malts here and if the smoky-peaty variety of Islay is more your things, read on here.

Irn Bru is our non-alcoholic national drink. Radioactive orange in colour, your teeth will thank you not to get addicted to it. For hangovers, however, there’s few cures to match it.

Red Hair

Red (or ginger if you are being cruel) hair is more common here than almost anywhere but it is one of the Scottish stereotypes that has been overhyped. The idea that 90% of Scots have red hair is ridiculous and the figure is closer to 10%. What is true though is Scots’ aversion to the sun’s rays! Our pale skin does not respond well and results in an awful lot of red faces on the rare occasions that the big ball in the sky drops by. In fact, sunny days have taken on national holiday status, when we all lean from windows and proclaim “Taps aff!” like a demented war cry to anyone who’ll listen.

Rabbie Burns

Possibly Scotland’s most famous ever son. The poet’s mark is seen all over the world and Burns’ Suppers on the 25th of January every year are a salute to his work. Traditionally a haggis is carved and feasted on by hungry, kilted devotees and drinking goes on long into the night. Basically all of our stereotypes come crashing together in a simultaneous fest of Scottishness.

Scots don’t generally know all the words to every Burns poem, but we are taught it in schools and there are competitions to find the most vocal and skilled reciters of his work. Picture little boys and girls with shaky knees standing in front of their classmates giving it everything they have. Yeah, we do that. For fans of the Bard, Ayrshire or Dumfries are the places to go where you can visit several top Burns-related attractions.

Politics and Constant Historical Discontent

Messy subject. But, yes, years of conflict and political disquiet point to a country that is eternally divided on its political views. From the Jacobites (made famous once again thanks to Outlander) to our recent flirtation with independence from the United Kingdom, there’s been chapter after chapter of disagreement. I doubt a country in the world can match little Scotland when it comes to complex history. Reflecting on the 13th and 14th Century Wars of Independence and legends like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce fighting with our English neighbours, Scotland has found itself in scraps aplenty. The Scottish sterotype here being that we just never agree on very much of anything. I contest that to an extent and am proud that Scotland is generally a liberal and tolerant country. The 2014 Referendum was a 45-55% vote in favour of remaining in the UK, but the issue is still far from closed as long as the uncertainty over Brexit looms. Scots passionately disagreeing with each other isn’t going away any time soon. But, in today’s astonishing and alarming worldwide environment, we’re certainly not alone in being a hotbed of political chaos!

The Loch Ness Monster

This is the legendary snake/dragon/dinosaur type beast that terrorises one of Scotland’s most beautiful spots. Does Nessie exist? Probably not, but who really knows? He/She/It could fund the country’s economy on his/her/its own with the right marketing I suspect. Head up to moody and eerie Loch Ness with your binoculars and see if you get lucky/unlucky! Beware though, the Loch has become a tourist hub in every sense and is best avoided in peak season if you’re not a fan of queues.