Washingtonians vs New Yorkers

Question

I just heard the conference held in Washington due to the roit in the Congress Capitol

The mayor referred to the people who live in Washington as Washingtonians

and I remember people who live in New York are caller New Yorkers.

Similarly in Australia, people of Melbourne are Melbournians

but people of Syndey are Syndeysiders?!!

What is the rule of using -ian, -er, or -siders? for the people belong to a city?

People from Liverpool are Liverpudlians. That always makes me smile. — Weather Vane, Jan 06 '21 at 22:06
@WeatherVane My great-auntie from Liverpool (b. 1917) distinctly disliked that term "Liverpudlians"...she was a Frasier, from the meat-packing plant. — Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_, Jan 06 '21 at 23:18
Erm..no, her family founded the plant. She was a Frazier before marrying the Guatemalan vice-counselor to the Court of whatever it was at the time at the time of the coronation QE II...is this going somewhere? @WeatherVane Don't diss my fam. — Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_, Jan 06 '21 at 23:52

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 06 '21 at 22:07

2

Such names are known as a Demonym.

Here are a few more:

The rule is that there is no rule.

You have to look up what each city has decided to call its citizens.

answered Jan 06 '21 at 22:07

Ray Butterworth

Ever since two of my children moved to Nashville, I've called them Nashvillains. – Andreas Blass Jan 07 '21 at 04:49

1 Answers1