Menzies is a Scottish surname, originally the name of the Clan Menzies (Gaelic Mèinnearach). The name is correctly pronounced /ˈmɪŋɪs/ since the <z> is in fact a surrogate for the letter <ȝ> (yogh). It is, however, often pronounced incorrectly as /ˈmenziz/. 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.)
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.
- Peter Menzies Jr., Director of Photography.
- 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 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 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.
