Menzies

Menzies is a Scottish surname probably derived, like its Gaelic form Méinnearach, from the Norman name Mesnières.^[1][2][3]

The name is historically pronounced ⁱ/ˈmɪŋɨz/, since the <z> was a surrogate for the letter <ȝ> (yogh). Today it is often given its spelling pronunciation /ˈmɛnziːz/. A Scottish limerick plays on the spelling–pronunciation problem:

There wis a young lassie named Menzies,

That asked her aunt whit this thenzies.

Said her aunt wi a gasp,

"Ma dear, it's a wasp,

An you're haudin the end whaur the stenzies!"

(The second and fifth lines are pronounced as though the <z> were a <ȝ>, making "thing is" and "sting is", to rhyme with "Menzies". "Wasp" does rhyme with "gasp" in Scots.)

(Curiously, the American Heritage Dictionary, which lists only Robert Menzies, gives the "incorrect" pronunciation.)

People with this name

As a surname

• Alex Menzies, Scottish professional footballer
• Archibald Menzies, (1754–1842), British medic and biologist; ship's doctor and naturalist on board George Vancouver's voyage to the North Pacific
• Charles Menzies (anthropologist)
• David Menzies, Canadian freelance writer
• Douglas Menzies, a former Justice of the High Court of Australia
• Gavin Menzies, submarine captain, amateur Chinese historian
• George Menzies, New Zealand rugby league footballer
• Henry Menzies, (1867 - 1938), Scottish rugby player.
• Ivan Menzies, (1896–1985), singer and actor
• John A. Menzies, a Manitoba judge
• John K. Menzies, former US-Bosnian ambassador and academic
• Neal Menzies, an Australian Professor of Soil Science.
• Robert Gordon Menzies, Australia's longest serving Prime Minister
• Steve Menzies, Australian rugby league player
• Stewart Menzies, Head of British Secret Intelligence Service 1939–1952
• Tobias Menzies, actor
• William Cameron Menzies, (1896–1957), American film director
• Heather Menzies, actress
• Gina Menzies, Irish media personality

As a given name

• Walter Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom
• Iain Menzies Banks, Scottish writer, penname for the Culture series

As a toponym

• Mount Menzies

See also

• Clan Menzies, Scottish clan
• Menzies (disambiguation), other meanings
• Mingus, pronounced similarly

References

1. ^ Clan Menzies website
2. ^ BBC Alba - Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (554)
3. ^ David Hey: Family names and family history, pp 37-38

This page or section lists people with the surname Menzies. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.