Menzies

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Menzies is a Scottish surname, originally the name of the Clan Menzies (Gaelic Mèinnearach).

The name is correctly pronounced /ˈmiŋɪz/, but previously /ˈmiɲɪz/, since the <z> is in fact a surrogate for the letter <ȝ> (yogh). It is, however, often pronounced incorrectly as /ˈmɛnzɪz/. 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.)

[edit] People, places and entities called "Menzies"

• Menzies is the surname of the following people:
  • Alex Menzies, Scottish professional footballer
  • Archibald Menzies, (1754–1842), British medic and biologist.
  • Charles Menzies (anthropologist)
  • Gavin Menzies, author.
  • John A. Menzies, a Manitoba judge
  • John K. Menzies, former US-Bosnian ambassador and academic
  • Neal Menzies, an Australian Professor of Soil Science.
  • Robert 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.
  • Charles Mingus, (1922-1979), American jazz musician, spelled his name phonetically rather than historically. It is

Menzies, David, Hospital Corpsman believed that his forebears also did so.

• As a forename (often shortened to Ming):
  • (Walter) Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom.

• As a place name:
  • Menzies, Western Australia.
• Menzies High School, West Bromwich, England
• Division of Menzies, electoral division, Melbourne, Australia

• Names of companies:
  • John Menzies, Scottish news-distribution and aviation business, and former retailer.