My theory is the most plausible explanation you will find: When the Normans arrived in London it was a Monday so they gave the town the name Lundi Town, which over time developed into London Town. They then headed north and arrived on Tyneside on a Thursday and named the area Jeudi Land, which, because of the mix of both Anglo-Saxon and French accents developed over time into Geordieland. So really, it's all down to Norman wisdom, though what he was doing there I've no idea.
I hope this is a joke, because London was originally called after an ancient British chief named Lud, Dun Lud. The Romans called it Londinium, a thousand years before the Normans.
This is a really good one, though! Funny as F! Very clever, Intelligent humour!! 👍👍👍👍 Edit: Should have also said the Norman Wisdom bit was brilliant as well.. LOLOL
I'm a soft southerner, I even take a cardie on the beach in Spain just in case, but the two times I've had a couple of hours spare on Tyneside I've ended up in The Cooperage and never felt so 'at home' or been so amused.
One of the best films I've ever seen about what a Geordie is. I am a Durham lad born in the 1950s and this thing of Geordies being just from Newcastle is something I don't ever remember hearing when I was a kid. It's new and I think you're probably right that it's down to football. I love the thing about a term hundreds of years old being specific to being born 3 miles from a bridge that was built in the 1920s.
Agreed. You'll remember Scott Jobson's book "Larn Yersel Geordie". He even, in his own way, goes into "dialects of the Geordie language" and points out the use of "thee" in County Durham - something the older generation of my family used consistently.
@@bernadettemurray8260 I bought a copy from Dressers in Darlington as a present for my Dad. It was everywhere in the NE, thanks in large part to George House and Mike Neville. RIP guys.
As a new subscriber I'm really enjoying your video's Eddie. As a person who spent his first 20yrs of life growing up in Deckham Gateshead, the next 5yrs in Willington Quay Wallsend, the following 25yrs in Heaton Newcastle and for the last 5yrs in Leith Edinburgh I'm always looking to learn something from my heritage and you deliver it in such an engaging and enjoyable way. Thank you.
I've always thought that being a Geordie is a state of mind, love of the area, it's history, the characters we cherish, the wonderful countryside and the worlds most open helpful people. Mind I'm born and bred so could have the rose tinted glasses. I always go back to when I took my Canadian wife home to Shields, went for a drink in a workingmen's club, before leaving I called my mum to ask if they wanted a take away, I was only gone 5 minutes but when I got back there was 10 people around our table quizzing the wife on Canada and the eeee she's Canadian ya na reverberated. I've sailed the world and visited many places but I think only in the NE would this happen, we are special and should be proud of our heritage. By the way Eddie you asked my age on your romping round Britannia channel, I'm in my 70th. year but don't feel it. Great video by the way, might go down as the definitive explanation of our oneness.
people just sometimes stereo type us geordies but we are a canny species very welcoming and approachable well the majority are every where ive been in this country i always find a geordie and there always good people
@@garyrigby21 Correct! I found out why, when I went there myself, to Drama School. Evryone was Cov, except me. So I got a lot of kidding.. well, drama students are not known for being catty. But that wasn't it, so much it was things like, at a bus stop, I asked the woman already waiting if there was a bus due... she totally stepped away from me. I was mystified. These things kept occurring. I was there for two years, and I have family there, but Covs are/were then xenaphobic 🤫
I'm from Gateshead - Geordie lass through and through and if anybody questions me I just use the "so Gazza isn't a Geordie?" It's all good fun. Great video Eddy!
Gateshead is defo still geordie land, I have loads of mates from Gateshead and I will wind them up and say they are from the wrong side of the Tyne but it’s just banter. I’m from walker and I can stand down the riverside literally meters away from Gateshead, my geo location on my phone actually always puts me in hebburn, I used to work in Gateshead and always wished there was a bridge from walker or wallsend over to Gateshead and even thought about getting a rowing boat 🚣♀️ 😂
Great detective work and logic and music to my ears Eddie, you old Jacobite you! Although born in South Shields my ancestry goes back to Culloden and the Bonny Prince and I feel I have a tartan heart.Really warm to the Scottish use of the word/name Geordie for a George. What is a Geordie? It's obvious - anyone who's been waiting 54+ years for their footy team to win a trophy and can still say 'Felt Nowt!'
Great video as always Eddie 👍🏻my dad was born in a Gateshead hospital in the 1920’s but always lived in Jesmond he would never tell anyone that because of the old myth you had to be born north of the Tyne to be a geordie I was born in the midlands and still call myself a geordie
Cracking video. I was born in Newcastle , my family originates from both Gateshead and Newcastle … my brother tho was born in Ashington…. Poor guy , I’ve made his life a misery for 40 years for being a half blood 🤣
Another classic Eddie ,I personally was born in Jesmond but brought up on the Gateshead side of the water in a town whose name is in the Geordie national anthem Blaydon but I am a very proud Geordie..... keep up the great work kidda well done again
I was born in Newcastle, but grew up in the coal mining village of Seghill.. Growing up we were told that you could claim to be a Geordie only if you could walk out into your back garden...and spit in the Tyne. 😀😃😄😊😆
I like your explanation and there was a rivalry concerning the lamps, I find it very convincing. The wire mesh fire screen was a bit different if I remember correctly. The Davy lamp eventually won out. There is a story behind the rise of iron making in London which is very interesting.
I'm 80yrs of age - female - born in Co.Durham, raised in Durham City. The common parlance at the time was that ,true Geordie is born "within spittin distance of the Tyne, and referred to as Tynesiders!! Myself and all that I came into contact with from around Durham were called Wearsiders - the river Wear horseshoes around Durham. There are distinct differences in the accents of both areas, but I was always referred to as a Geordie, and vehemently corrected people as to my roots.
Hi Mo, thanks for your great message! Of course, as I hope I articulate in this video, there’s actually no such thing as a ‘true Geordie’, only cultural trends that gave no distinct boundaries. As with all nicknames, there are many associated with the same areas. We’re all Tyneside’s, Geordies, Sand dancers, pit yakkers etc etc. you are what you identify yourself to be Mo and nobody has the right to correct it otherwise 👍🏻
Thanks Eddy, I was born in Gateshead and have always thought of myself as a Geordie. Your explanation makes total sense. Love your posts, keep up the good work.😊❤️🙏
Loved the video Eddie. I now have my video heaven; NE history, hill walking and NUFC. Thanks for brightening my days 👍. Hope the legs have recovered from the 3 Peaks, I did it when I was 17 and reasonably fit and it nearly killed me 😂😂
Living in Stanley it does boil my piss when ignorant people say im not a geordie. Ask people in the street in stanley and ask them and 90% consider themselves geordies.
My Uncle George who was born in Durham city, lived in Stanley and worked at Beamish Mary colliery before transferring to Wearmouth colliery. He was always known as Geordie all his life.
Excellent Eddie thank you and as always thought provoking and interesting. From now on I go with your version, George Stephenson’s lamp and miners. It just fits. Good effort Chief
Great video. One of the best discussions I've seen on the subject, particularly the part on the Jacobites, which makes some really solid common sense arguments.
Cheers Nick. I’ve actually tightened up on this topic even more since I released this video. There’s not a shred of evidence that suggests we were called Geordies, or referred to as ‘George’s Men’ during the time of the Jacobites. In addition it doesn’t actually make any sense since the soldiers of Newcastle didn’t face the Jacobites in battle, unlike Preston for example.
@@TynesideLife. Good bit of research underpinning it too then, excellent. I'm an academic so I'm super picky about that kind of thing, and you convinced me. Looking forward to seeing more 🙂
@@TynesideLife. Horrifying! Haha! I think you've got a real flair for the history stuff mate. Well argued, well presented, and well written. Not a huge amount of local history on RU-vid so it's good to see.
Great video mate. I think you might have hit the nail on the head with this. Subscribed! Now you need to do a video on North East humour, touching on characters like Bobby Thompson.
Each to their own, even though I've lived in Cramlington most of my life I'm not a Northumbrian, I'm not from Devon or Surrey, I was born in Newcastle General Hospital I'm 100% Geordie
@@DarthDianese i see everyone from south shields to hexham gateshead to blyth northumberland all geordies even durham and redcar all get called geordies
You may be right about Newcastle preferring the Jacobite links over the Hanoverian/German king who didn’t speak English, however, it’s amazing how much Geordie slang terms are almost direct comparisons to words in the German language such as Gannin Haem, for going home (gahen heim)
Cheers Brian 👍🏻 You’re in the right ball park but our slang comes from the other Germanic languages of Denmark and Norway and were brought across during the Viking invasions and settlements.
I was born in Rothbury in rural Northumberland. I was brought up in the coal mining town of Ashington and the mining and fishing town of Newbiggin by the sea both in Northumberland about 15 to 20 miles north of Newcastle. I’ve been a toon fan for at least 60 years and have always considered myself a Geordie, even now while living in Tennessee USA.
Christina do you still have your accent? A friend of my husband has visited over Xmas from Texas having married a Texan girl. He has an accent but over the days he has been here his Geordie is becoming broader.
@@heatherboardman7004 well I don’t think I have much of a geordie accent but whenever I say that my American friends burst out laughing. Whenever I go back to England my accent comes flooding back lol.
Very interesting Eddie from a Sunderland fan. I like your term what you think of as Geordies. In modern times today I think it's fair to say coming from Sunderland, County Durham when I was born we rightly can't use the word any more but back in the 1969s and 70s when I went on holiday to South of England my dad would refer to our family as Geordies. Times have changed though.
I certainly subscribe to the theory that George Stephenson's lamp was universally used down the mines until the advent of the much improved Davey lamp, the north east coal fields stuck with the George lamp, despite most of the country switching and hence got the nick name Geordie, Geordie being a pet name used for George in the north east and Scotland.
But slow to watch this interesting video. Coming from a mining family in Durham and growing up as a Newcastle fan (in a house full of Sunderland fans) - I was always called a Mackem, and would hotly contest this feeling that this connected to Sunderland. As a Toon fan (thanks to my late Uncle Steve) I always felt more Geordie especially on a Saturday in the late 60’s early 70’s, stood at the front of the Gallowgate. Very interesting delve, I always enjoy your social history videos. All the best, David.
The Geordie lamp was a safety lamp for use in flammable atmospheres, invented by George Stephenson in 1815 as a miner's lamp to prevent explosions due to firedamp in coal mines.
Another belta of a video! I had heard about the George Stephenson lamp and support of King George, but as usual I learned something in that King George was not popular and hence unlikely to be the source of the name Geordie. Kudos to you for not claiming to be (another) arbiter of Geordie-ship - there are too many ways in which we divide ourselves in this world and it only causes grief. Great work. Thanks!
Totally absorbing eddy and I agree , if you feel it in your heart then you're well qualified to say I'm a proud Geordie , but what a great explanation of possible reasons brilliant work fella 👍
My family history originated around the borders, I was born in Ashington (because that’s where the hospital was) grew up in a, mainly, mining community on the other side of the Wansbeck. I’ve never considered myself a Geordie, my older relatives always referred to themselves as Northumbrian. I suppose it’s similar to Cockneys and London- or more specifically a particular area in London. I’ve lived away from the region all of my adult life and accept the label of being a Geordie by southerners and their peculiar ways. Although I don’t class myself as a Geordie I support the team and fiercely proud of entire region. Great video by the way.
I'm a Bradfordian Bradford born & bred but my grandmother was born in Tynemouth i have lots of family in Newcastle...so I love the fact I have Geordie blood
I'm from Shipley, near Bradford. My mother was from Bradford, with some Irish in her, and my Dad came from County Durham, near Bishop Auckland, with some Irish in him I love having both Yorkshire and Durham in me.
Me and the wife did a show on Newcastle and the history couple weeks ago as she's a geordie (from Lemington). I gave your channel a plug and gave you a shout out in that show. Big up mate check us out the northern banter show with Richy and Clairey Big fan.
Love this mate. Been away from yem nearly 13 years now, but love learning of our history (ryton gateshead lad originally) I have a 5yo daughter here in New Zealand and I'm forever teaching her of where she comes from 🤍🖤🤍🖤
well researched, I'm a durham lad but are always called a geordie by other people out of the region and I always said "no I'm a durham lad"...... that said, I knew about the Geordie lamp but didn't realise that the miners in Durham used them too..... so, as an ex electrical engineer from the durham coalfield, and worked in the mines till 1985 from 1966, I suppose I have denied my heritage for years..... so now if anyone says I'm a geordie, I will say yes.
My Dad always said you had to be born within the sound of the Vickers Factory Buzzer, I would clarify this with him but he's sipping a pint of Exhibition in the big S&N pub in the sky. Great Vids by the way.
You can go on for ever all I no is they are good people good humour help people in strife genuine salt of earth 1million percent respect all the best Eddie
Great video mate keep them coming. Just looking on the comments of people calling people from South Shields sanddancers. And I’ve herd people called pit yakers before and monkey hangers and makems and smoggys its great to live in the north east with so much heritage
Being that my parents are from Winlaton and I grew up in Edinburgh until moving oversees in my teens, I'm happy that there is a closer connection between the Scots and the Geordies in this story.
Great video Eddy, cheers for recommending to watch it. The understanding that I had was that those outside of the North East called us North Easterners Geordies because of George Stephenson's invention of the safety lamp otherwise known as the Geordie lamp as they used the Davy lamp during the coal mining era. So that's where I thought the term Geordie or Geordies came from and then if you had the first name George you got called Geordie. Cheers for shining more light on the term thorough out this video though 👊⚫⚪
Great information video.. I’m from Durham and come from a mining family background so they all kinda talk pit mattic (if that’s how you spell it) 😂 doesn’t bother me people calling me a geordie xx
Born in Framwellgate Moor 1958. Growing up, all my relatives, and people locally, referred to themselves as Geordies. Gives some credence to the miner’s lamp theory. Although, the 1745 Jacobite march south did send out parties both east and west to probe local sympathies for their cause before rejecting the Great North Road through the North East (and eventually taking the western road to Derby).
Great message Dave 👍🏻 I plan to cover this topic again regarding the Jacobites and their two main incursions into England. I’m negligibly certain now that the ‘Georges Men’ theory is nonsense regarding Newcastle. It’s a narrative that has a poetic twist to it when you know now that we’re called Geordies. Back then, we were just the people of Newcastle who put the gates up. As you point out, the Jacobites ventured West before heading south to Derbyshire, meeting resistance in Preston. If anyone was going to be referred to as ‘Geordies’ back then, it was those who went into combat against the Jacobites. Of course there’s no record of this, giving more weight to the Stephenson lamp theory
Born in Framwellgate Moor 1957 - just beat you. Although we moved to Hebburn when I was a baby. All my family from there, Meadowfield and Brandon always referred to themselves as Geordies. I can't help feeling the Newcastle thing was influenced by the Cockneys' claims related to the sound of Bow Bells and an imitation Geordie definition grew up about the banks of the Tyne.
Class video, really enjoyed it. I'm born and bred in a mining community in the Midlands, therefore my area is a real melting pot. My Mums Welsh, my Dad's family is Irish and my childhood best friends Grand parents were Geordies, that's how I fell in love with Newcastle FC, the city and people. Can only be classed as an honorary Geordie at best 😂
I was born and bred in Crawley, but lived in Hull from 1987 to 2008 and now spent 15 years almost living in the Toon, I'd class myself therefore as an apoted Geordie 😁 Very interesting video, roll on Sat for your Brentford videos 😀
One thing you forgot to mention about George's ascension to the throne was that James II was deposed because of his favouritism toward Catholics. When Queen Anne died, George was something like 54th in line, but all before him were Catholics and weren't considered. The slamming of the gates against the Jacobites was more likely for religious and political reasons rather than support of George I. Also, James, the Old Pretender, was the son of James II.
@@keithdimmick3475 thanks Keith. As I mentioned at the beginning of the video, this wasn’t going to be an in-depth history video and that I was only going to touch on the broad points so as to align the content with the Geordie story.
Great informative insight. I was brought up on, if you lived, 3 miles from the tyne. You where a Geordie. Not set in stone. Just how you where brought up. on.
Hello Eddie, I’m a Loraine one of those descending from Kirkhale a little place on the road to Otterburn. We inherited the lands where we built a home through marriage but we are originally from the Lorraine family of the duke of Lorraine who had changed the family name from D’Anjou also in France. Well to go a bit further Mary Stewart, queen of Scot’s was a Lorraine as she was the granddaughter of the duke of Lorraine. She was the daughter of his second son the duke de guise. Now if you look a bit into the fighting and murdering of the Loraine family of Kirkharle you may understand the support in the region for the jacobites and the animosity in Newcastle itself towards the French Loraine’s and those from Kirkharle. You may also understand that it was the Lorraine family who also were the first crusaders who conquered Jerusalem. Take a trip up the road to Kirkharle. My grandfather was born up there but we now live in Sardinia italy which was once part of the kingdom of the Lorraine family. So I’m blood geordie and proud of it, please keep up on your fantastic videos.
@@TynesideLife it’s part of your history part of north east history, part of being a geordie, from north of the wall and south of the Cheviot hills. Neither Scot nor English, but same as all on our planet, different humans
Born in Jesmond , raised in Cramlington , moved from the area when I was young and inevitably lost my Geordie accent and identity . So I doubt I can call myself a Geordie anymore. But I never stopped supporting the Toon . And there is a spirit in the people from that place you can't get anywhere else .
I love newcastle and surrounding area's i have my hoildays there and i live and was born in the black country. I recon my guardian angel was a geordie when im up there i feel at home. Howay the lads and lassies
Love the video, I agree with what you said there is no true meaning of Geordie, I know that I am, born just off Westgate Rd I am proud of our History as a people and always look to te city as home no matter where I am in the world, well done Eddy
Good video mate. Personally, I’ve always agreed with the lamp theory and maybe the sharp Northumbrian brogue changing ‘Georgie’ into ‘Geordie’. Born and bred in Soo Sheelz, I’m comfortable with either Geordie or sand dancer, just like my Dad’s a proud Jarrovian, but also a proud Geordie. There’ll always be someone who sees themselves as ‘more Geordie’ than someone else, but unlike Scousers and Cockneys, who are from a particular city, Geordies are from a particular part of a region. There’s still people who think Shields is thirteen miles away from the town, all because of the GNR, when in reality, it’s under 4 miles from The East End. If the great Sir Bobby is ‘one of our own’ from twenty miles away in Sacriston, then any Tynesider certainly is too!
Tremendous video as usual. Me being a Houghton -Le- spring lad, when people have tried to wind me up and say I’m a Mackem, I’ll always refer to myself as a pit yacker ( mackems begin and end at the A19) . I,d be interested if you could do some research on Newcastle and when in around the 1300’s it became it’s own county. Reason being, one of my mates from Burnopfield said his address ended with Newcastle upon Tyne as do some other villages on the South side so it would be interesting to see if the county of Newcastle spread to South of the Tyne
Hi Brian, My wife was born and raised in Houghton le spring before having to move down to Doncater with her parents when all the pits closed down, they lived in Shiny Row, unfortunately my wife Maureen died young at the age of 29, I still remember visiting, and I believe most of Maureen’s relations still live there, what a lovely place, and the people were brilliant.
My dad was always a little sad that he couldn't call himself a Geordie, because he came from South Durham, between Bishop Auckland and Darlington, and they don't have a special name. He came down to West Yorkshire, which is why I'm a Yorkshire Lass.
Very interesting and good commentary. I've been watching football since the 60s and both Newcastle and Sunderland always referred to themselves as Geordies. The chants etc and haway the lads. If you watch old football highlights from the 60/70s you will hear that. It seem to change when Kevin Keegan was at Newcastle and we started to hear more about mackems. Do you think it was the football rivalry that started the separation? I'm from the West Midlands (the Black Country) where there are similar theories about where the area is or is not based on myths not facts.
Named after Wee Geordie a Centurion stationed at Wallsend. C 78; AD. In folklore he lost his Benka...a street marble used in play. He was kidnapped and held to ransom by the tribes of Pennywell. He was released after a tribute of 80 barrels of beer where paid.
