Britain, Great Britain, United Kingdom, British Isles: What do they each refer to?

[citizenED]

Can anyone clear up what all these terms mean?

[Brendan]

Britain - Is from the Roman name for the province that was here.

Great Britain - Is a geographical term referring to the big island on which England, Scotland and Wales are found.

United Kingdom - Is the political union of Scotland and England (and their territories.)

British Isles - Are the group of islands including Great Britain, Ireland, Isle of Mann, Shetland, the Hebrides etc.

[Townleygreen]

Brendan, I agree except for your definition of the United Kingdom - this actually is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - ie England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

[Brendan]

That may be what it is called but the United Kingdom came into being when the Kingdoms of Scotland and England were united. Northern Ireland isn't a Kingdom. That's why it is, "The United Kindon of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" not "The United Kingdons of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"

[Otta]

I just call it England.

[Brendan]

Even Birmingham?

[Loz]

I'm with Townleygreen - in the modern sense UK is England, Wales, Scotland and NI.

Following the Act of Union, the UK was England, Wales (that were considered to be one kingdom) and Scotland. All of Ireland (which was also a kingdom at the time) was added a little later with another Act of Union, before the Republic separated at the time of the partitioning, leaving the UK as it is today.

[Brendan]

Like I said, The political union of Scotland and England (and their territories). I never suggested that NI, Wales and others aren't part of it. They aren't the Kingdoms which united to form the UK though. They aren't even Kingdoms.

Although this is interesting. I didn't realise that the facts about what countries are part of a political union could be established by opinion.

[Loz]

The Kingdom of Ireland was at the time of union, though, Brendan.

[Brendan]

I'm going to go read up on it and will get back to you.

[Brendan]

So when Ireland joined the party, some 200 years after United Kingdom of Great Britian had formed out the union of Scotland and England, it was known (to protestant Europe at least) as the Kingdom of Ireland. I didn't know that.

So it all comes down to the meaning of words which is really just semantics.

[Loz]

No, 93 years.

Act of Union 1707 - England and Scotland

Act of Union 1800 - UK and Ireland

[Brendan]

What's the word for, "meaning of numbers"?

[citizenED]

So, I'm from all of them, right? I'm United Kingdomish.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

sowhat'sAlbionthen?

[Brendan]

That's the Greek name for a football team from West Bromwich.