Strange - I thought all English folk called their mothers Mummy when they were little and Mum or Mother (with a little attitude for accent) when they were adult. However, I think the original question was "Does anyone know when people started using the term" - however you want to spell it. Did people call their mothers and fathers by diminutive terms such as Mum and Dad a century ago? two centuries ago?? Does anyone know?? Sher at Ontario, Canada At 07:41 PM 2/22/04, you wrote: >Same for Yorkshire and Cumberland "Mam" >or Mammy when we where very young > > >Patricia Clews > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Janis" <2zpool@charter.net> >To: <ENG-DURHAM-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 11:51 PM >Subject: [ENG-DUR] Mum's the word - non-gen > > > > Eric, > > > > You'll find "mum" probably in most parts of England except Co. Durham and > > Northumberland where the word usage is mam. > > > > Which can cause a stir if you tell a female in the area "Yes, Ma'am, or No > > Ma'am" (ma'am is short for madam), which might get you the reply "I am not > > your mother" and you don't know where that is coming from. > > > > I wonder if the American expression "Mums the word" means the same? > > > > Janis > > > > > > ==== ENG-DURHAM Mailing List ==== > > query board for Durham gen web > > http://www.britishislesgenweb.org/cgi-bin/data/durham.cgi > > > > >==== ENG-DURHAM Mailing List ==== >Browse the ENG-DURHAM archives >http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/eng-durham