History of North America

Where did the term Yankee come from?

The term "Yankee" has several possible origins. One theory is that it comes from the Dutch word "Janke," meaning "Little John," which was used by the Dutch to refer to the English colonists in the New World. Another theory is that it comes from the Algonquian word "yankwee," meaning "coward," which was used by Native Americans to refer to the English colonists. It may also have come from the Dutch "Jan Kees" or "Jan Kaas" meaning "John Cheese", a derogatory term for the Dutch when it was used in a foreign context; or from the term "Yengee" which was the local pronunciation of English in Canton, China, where American traders were active in the 18th century. Over time, the term "Yankee" became associated with all Americans, and is still used today to refer to people from the United States.