Addressing boys and girls differently in (Victorian?) English schools
7
In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë I read:
“Burns” (such it seems was her name: the girls here were all called
by their surnames, as boys are elsewhere)...
So my question is: were there (or are there) different rules for addressing
boys and girls in English schools? And if so, how were the girls usually
called if not by their surname?
honorifics vocatives forms-of-address victorian-english
edited 1 hour ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked 10 hours ago
v_2e
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v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
7
In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë I read:
“Burns” (such it seems was her name: the girls here were all called
by their surnames, as boys are elsewhere)...
So my question is: were there (or are there) different rules for addressing
boys and girls in English schools? And if so, how were the girls usually
called if not by their surname?
honorifics vocatives forms-of-address victorian-english
edited 1 hour ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked 10 hours ago
v_2e
1363
New contributor
v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Hi, welcome to ELU! Are you wondering specifically about schools in England in Charlotte Brontë's time (Jane Eyre was published in the mid-1800s), or were you also asking about schools in other English-speaking locales and/or in the current era?
– 1006a
9 hours ago
@1006a I was surprised to learn about such custom in England at that time, and it would certainly be interesting to know if there still is such custom of different addressing nowadays in England or other countries.
– v_2e
9 hours ago
add a comment |
7
7
7
In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë I read:
“Burns” (such it seems was her name: the girls here were all called
by their surnames, as boys are elsewhere)...
So my question is: were there (or are there) different rules for addressing
boys and girls in English schools? And if so, how were the girls usually
called if not by their surname?
honorifics vocatives forms-of-address victorian-english
edited 1 hour ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked 10 hours ago
v_2e
1363
New contributor
v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë I read:
“Burns” (such it seems was her name: the girls here were all called
by their surnames, as boys are elsewhere)...
So my question is: were there (or are there) different rules for addressing
boys and girls in English schools? And if so, how were the girls usually
called if not by their surname?
honorifics vocatives forms-of-address victorian-english
honorifics vocatives forms-of-address victorian-english
edited 1 hour ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked 10 hours ago
v_2e
1363
New contributor
v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked 10 hours ago
v_2e
1363
New contributor
v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
edited 1 hour ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
edited 1 hour ago
tchrist♦
108k28290463
108k28290463
asked 10 hours ago
v_2e
1363
New contributor
v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 10 hours ago
v_2e
1363
asked 10 hours ago
v_2e
1363
1363
New contributor
v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
v_2e is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Hi, welcome to ELU! Are you wondering specifically about schools in England in Charlotte Brontë's time (Jane Eyre was published in the mid-1800s), or were you also asking about schools in other English-speaking locales and/or in the current era?
– 1006a
9 hours ago
@1006a I was surprised to learn about such custom in England at that time, and it would certainly be interesting to know if there still is such custom of different addressing nowadays in England or other countries.
– v_2e
9 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Hi, welcome to ELU! Are you wondering specifically about schools in England in Charlotte Brontë's time (Jane Eyre was published in the mid-1800s), or were you also asking about schools in other English-speaking locales and/or in the current era?
– 1006a
9 hours ago
@1006a I was surprised to learn about such custom in England at that time, and it would certainly be interesting to know if there still is such custom of different addressing nowadays in England or other countries.
– v_2e
9 hours ago
1
1
Hi, welcome to ELU! Are you wondering specifically about schools in England in Charlotte Brontë's time (Jane Eyre was published in the mid-1800s), or were you also asking about schools in other English-speaking locales and/or in the current era?
– 1006a
9 hours ago
Hi, welcome to ELU! Are you wondering specifically about schools in England in Charlotte Brontë's time (Jane Eyre was published in the mid-1800s), or were you also asking about schools in other English-speaking locales and/or in the current era?
– 1006a
9 hours ago
@1006a I was surprised to learn about such custom in England at that time, and it would certainly be interesting to know if there still is such custom of different addressing nowadays in England or other countries.
– v_2e
9 hours ago
@1006a I was surprised to learn about such custom in England at that time, and it would certainly be interesting to know if there still is such custom of different addressing nowadays in England or other countries.
– v_2e
9 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
11
British schoolboys were traditionally addressed by their surnames (if two brothers attended the same school they would be 'Jones major' and 'Jones minor'). I went to a girls' school in the 1960s, but I attended some classes at a mixed school where boys were called by surnames and girls by their first names. I don't know if this custom is still observed; I guess probably not, and it's first names all round.
Jane Eyre evidently found it surprising that the girls at Lowood School were not called by their Christian names. I believe Charlotte Brontë based the school on one she attended in real life.
answered 10 hours ago
Kate Bunting
5,68931416
1
It was certainly the practice in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to address women in a softer tone than men, and as you rightly say that was the custom in schools in our time (mine being the 1950s). At Wimbledon, women players are still addressed as Miss or Mrs by the umpires, whilst men simply receive surname treatment. Wimbledon has never recognised Ms as a form of address. Serena Williams, who is married, but hasn't taken her husband's surname is described as Mrs Williams. And in the 1970s, "Advantage Miss Goolagong" must have been enough to strike terror into any opponent.
– WS2
8 hours ago
1
However on becoming the first mother to win the Ladies singles, Yvonne was happy to accept "Game, set and match to Mrs Cawley".
– WS2
7 hours ago
I was "Harvey" at Alleyn's School in the 1960s. I sometimes got accused of not turning up for Dave Harvey's detentions if the awarding teacher's writing was poor. When I met my best pal's dad, it became clear that he thought Harvey was my first name.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
5
There were twins in my form with the surname Hope. One was twenty minutes older than the other, and to begin with they were designated Hope major, and Hope minor. However, when it became clear to the form master that they had an older brother in the school, "major" became "minor" and "minor", initially became "minimus". However the last was subsequently changed to "tertius".
– WS2
5 hours ago
I was at a boys school so I don't know how girls were addressed, but in the 1960s it was still surname-only for boys. You didn't want people to know you had a first name, it was almost as embarrassing as admitting you had a mother. And of course adult men would also refer to each other by surname: "Smith" was less formal and more "familiar" than "Mr. Smith".
– Michael Kay
3 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
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11
British schoolboys were traditionally addressed by their surnames (if two brothers attended the same school they would be 'Jones major' and 'Jones minor'). I went to a girls' school in the 1960s, but I attended some classes at a mixed school where boys were called by surnames and girls by their first names. I don't know if this custom is still observed; I guess probably not, and it's first names all round.
Jane Eyre evidently found it surprising that the girls at Lowood School were not called by their Christian names. I believe Charlotte Brontë based the school on one she attended in real life.
answered 10 hours ago
Kate Bunting
5,68931416
1
It was certainly the practice in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to address women in a softer tone than men, and as you rightly say that was the custom in schools in our time (mine being the 1950s). At Wimbledon, women players are still addressed as Miss or Mrs by the umpires, whilst men simply receive surname treatment. Wimbledon has never recognised Ms as a form of address. Serena Williams, who is married, but hasn't taken her husband's surname is described as Mrs Williams. And in the 1970s, "Advantage Miss Goolagong" must have been enough to strike terror into any opponent.
– WS2
8 hours ago
1
However on becoming the first mother to win the Ladies singles, Yvonne was happy to accept "Game, set and match to Mrs Cawley".
– WS2
7 hours ago
I was "Harvey" at Alleyn's School in the 1960s. I sometimes got accused of not turning up for Dave Harvey's detentions if the awarding teacher's writing was poor. When I met my best pal's dad, it became clear that he thought Harvey was my first name.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
5
There were twins in my form with the surname Hope. One was twenty minutes older than the other, and to begin with they were designated Hope major, and Hope minor. However, when it became clear to the form master that they had an older brother in the school, "major" became "minor" and "minor", initially became "minimus". However the last was subsequently changed to "tertius".
– WS2
5 hours ago
I was at a boys school so I don't know how girls were addressed, but in the 1960s it was still surname-only for boys. You didn't want people to know you had a first name, it was almost as embarrassing as admitting you had a mother. And of course adult men would also refer to each other by surname: "Smith" was less formal and more "familiar" than "Mr. Smith".
– Michael Kay
3 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
11
British schoolboys were traditionally addressed by their surnames (if two brothers attended the same school they would be 'Jones major' and 'Jones minor'). I went to a girls' school in the 1960s, but I attended some classes at a mixed school where boys were called by surnames and girls by their first names. I don't know if this custom is still observed; I guess probably not, and it's first names all round.
Jane Eyre evidently found it surprising that the girls at Lowood School were not called by their Christian names. I believe Charlotte Brontë based the school on one she attended in real life.
answered 10 hours ago
Kate Bunting
5,68931416
1
It was certainly the practice in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to address women in a softer tone than men, and as you rightly say that was the custom in schools in our time (mine being the 1950s). At Wimbledon, women players are still addressed as Miss or Mrs by the umpires, whilst men simply receive surname treatment. Wimbledon has never recognised Ms as a form of address. Serena Williams, who is married, but hasn't taken her husband's surname is described as Mrs Williams. And in the 1970s, "Advantage Miss Goolagong" must have been enough to strike terror into any opponent.
– WS2
8 hours ago
1
However on becoming the first mother to win the Ladies singles, Yvonne was happy to accept "Game, set and match to Mrs Cawley".
– WS2
7 hours ago
I was "Harvey" at Alleyn's School in the 1960s. I sometimes got accused of not turning up for Dave Harvey's detentions if the awarding teacher's writing was poor. When I met my best pal's dad, it became clear that he thought Harvey was my first name.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
5
There were twins in my form with the surname Hope. One was twenty minutes older than the other, and to begin with they were designated Hope major, and Hope minor. However, when it became clear to the form master that they had an older brother in the school, "major" became "minor" and "minor", initially became "minimus". However the last was subsequently changed to "tertius".
– WS2
5 hours ago
I was at a boys school so I don't know how girls were addressed, but in the 1960s it was still surname-only for boys. You didn't want people to know you had a first name, it was almost as embarrassing as admitting you had a mother. And of course adult men would also refer to each other by surname: "Smith" was less formal and more "familiar" than "Mr. Smith".
– Michael Kay
3 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
11
11
11
British schoolboys were traditionally addressed by their surnames (if two brothers attended the same school they would be 'Jones major' and 'Jones minor'). I went to a girls' school in the 1960s, but I attended some classes at a mixed school where boys were called by surnames and girls by their first names. I don't know if this custom is still observed; I guess probably not, and it's first names all round.
Jane Eyre evidently found it surprising that the girls at Lowood School were not called by their Christian names. I believe Charlotte Brontë based the school on one she attended in real life.
answered 10 hours ago
Kate Bunting
5,68931416
British schoolboys were traditionally addressed by their surnames (if two brothers attended the same school they would be 'Jones major' and 'Jones minor'). I went to a girls' school in the 1960s, but I attended some classes at a mixed school where boys were called by surnames and girls by their first names. I don't know if this custom is still observed; I guess probably not, and it's first names all round.
Jane Eyre evidently found it surprising that the girls at Lowood School were not called by their Christian names. I believe Charlotte Brontë based the school on one she attended in real life.
answered 10 hours ago
Kate Bunting
5,68931416
answered 10 hours ago
Kate Bunting
5,68931416
answered 10 hours ago
Kate Bunting
5,68931416
answered 10 hours ago
Kate Bunting
5,68931416
5,68931416
1
It was certainly the practice in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to address women in a softer tone than men, and as you rightly say that was the custom in schools in our time (mine being the 1950s). At Wimbledon, women players are still addressed as Miss or Mrs by the umpires, whilst men simply receive surname treatment. Wimbledon has never recognised Ms as a form of address. Serena Williams, who is married, but hasn't taken her husband's surname is described as Mrs Williams. And in the 1970s, "Advantage Miss Goolagong" must have been enough to strike terror into any opponent.
– WS2
8 hours ago
1
However on becoming the first mother to win the Ladies singles, Yvonne was happy to accept "Game, set and match to Mrs Cawley".
– WS2
7 hours ago
I was "Harvey" at Alleyn's School in the 1960s. I sometimes got accused of not turning up for Dave Harvey's detentions if the awarding teacher's writing was poor. When I met my best pal's dad, it became clear that he thought Harvey was my first name.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
5
There were twins in my form with the surname Hope. One was twenty minutes older than the other, and to begin with they were designated Hope major, and Hope minor. However, when it became clear to the form master that they had an older brother in the school, "major" became "minor" and "minor", initially became "minimus". However the last was subsequently changed to "tertius".
– WS2
5 hours ago
I was at a boys school so I don't know how girls were addressed, but in the 1960s it was still surname-only for boys. You didn't want people to know you had a first name, it was almost as embarrassing as admitting you had a mother. And of course adult men would also refer to each other by surname: "Smith" was less formal and more "familiar" than "Mr. Smith".
– Michael Kay
3 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
1
It was certainly the practice in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to address women in a softer tone than men, and as you rightly say that was the custom in schools in our time (mine being the 1950s). At Wimbledon, women players are still addressed as Miss or Mrs by the umpires, whilst men simply receive surname treatment. Wimbledon has never recognised Ms as a form of address. Serena Williams, who is married, but hasn't taken her husband's surname is described as Mrs Williams. And in the 1970s, "Advantage Miss Goolagong" must have been enough to strike terror into any opponent.
– WS2
8 hours ago
1
However on becoming the first mother to win the Ladies singles, Yvonne was happy to accept "Game, set and match to Mrs Cawley".
– WS2
7 hours ago
I was "Harvey" at Alleyn's School in the 1960s. I sometimes got accused of not turning up for Dave Harvey's detentions if the awarding teacher's writing was poor. When I met my best pal's dad, it became clear that he thought Harvey was my first name.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
5
There were twins in my form with the surname Hope. One was twenty minutes older than the other, and to begin with they were designated Hope major, and Hope minor. However, when it became clear to the form master that they had an older brother in the school, "major" became "minor" and "minor", initially became "minimus". However the last was subsequently changed to "tertius".
– WS2
5 hours ago
I was at a boys school so I don't know how girls were addressed, but in the 1960s it was still surname-only for boys. You didn't want people to know you had a first name, it was almost as embarrassing as admitting you had a mother. And of course adult men would also refer to each other by surname: "Smith" was less formal and more "familiar" than "Mr. Smith".
– Michael Kay
3 hours ago
1
1
It was certainly the practice in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to address women in a softer tone than men, and as you rightly say that was the custom in schools in our time (mine being the 1950s). At Wimbledon, women players are still addressed as Miss or Mrs by the umpires, whilst men simply receive surname treatment. Wimbledon has never recognised Ms as a form of address. Serena Williams, who is married, but hasn't taken her husband's surname is described as Mrs Williams. And in the 1970s, "Advantage Miss Goolagong" must have been enough to strike terror into any opponent.
– WS2
8 hours ago
It was certainly the practice in Victorian and Edwardian Britain to address women in a softer tone than men, and as you rightly say that was the custom in schools in our time (mine being the 1950s). At Wimbledon, women players are still addressed as Miss or Mrs by the umpires, whilst men simply receive surname treatment. Wimbledon has never recognised Ms as a form of address. Serena Williams, who is married, but hasn't taken her husband's surname is described as Mrs Williams. And in the 1970s, "Advantage Miss Goolagong" must have been enough to strike terror into any opponent.
– WS2
8 hours ago
1
1
However on becoming the first mother to win the Ladies singles, Yvonne was happy to accept "Game, set and match to Mrs Cawley".
– WS2
7 hours ago
However on becoming the first mother to win the Ladies singles, Yvonne was happy to accept "Game, set and match to Mrs Cawley".
– WS2
7 hours ago
I was "Harvey" at Alleyn's School in the 1960s. I sometimes got accused of not turning up for Dave Harvey's detentions if the awarding teacher's writing was poor. When I met my best pal's dad, it became clear that he thought Harvey was my first name.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
I was "Harvey" at Alleyn's School in the 1960s. I sometimes got accused of not turning up for Dave Harvey's detentions if the awarding teacher's writing was poor. When I met my best pal's dad, it became clear that he thought Harvey was my first name.
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
5
5
There were twins in my form with the surname Hope. One was twenty minutes older than the other, and to begin with they were designated Hope major, and Hope minor. However, when it became clear to the form master that they had an older brother in the school, "major" became "minor" and "minor", initially became "minimus". However the last was subsequently changed to "tertius".
– WS2
5 hours ago
There were twins in my form with the surname Hope. One was twenty minutes older than the other, and to begin with they were designated Hope major, and Hope minor. However, when it became clear to the form master that they had an older brother in the school, "major" became "minor" and "minor", initially became "minimus". However the last was subsequently changed to "tertius".
– WS2
5 hours ago
I was at a boys school so I don't know how girls were addressed, but in the 1960s it was still surname-only for boys. You didn't want people to know you had a first name, it was almost as embarrassing as admitting you had a mother. And of course adult men would also refer to each other by surname: "Smith" was less formal and more "familiar" than "Mr. Smith".
– Michael Kay
3 hours ago
I was at a boys school so I don't know how girls were addressed, but in the 1960s it was still surname-only for boys. You didn't want people to know you had a first name, it was almost as embarrassing as admitting you had a mother. And of course adult men would also refer to each other by surname: "Smith" was less formal and more "familiar" than "Mr. Smith".
– Michael Kay
3 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
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1
Hi, welcome to ELU! Are you wondering specifically about schools in England in Charlotte Brontë's time (Jane Eyre was published in the mid-1800s), or were you also asking about schools in other English-speaking locales and/or in the current era?
– 1006a
9 hours ago
@1006a I was surprised to learn about such custom in England at that time, and it would certainly be interesting to know if there still is such custom of different addressing nowadays in England or other countries.
– v_2e
9 hours ago