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A demonym describes the inhabitants of a place. With so many cities and counties in Texas, it’s hard to keep track of who is what from where. Word scholar W.F. Strong has a helpful list to keep you on track.
For places ending in “s”, add “-ites”
Dallas – Dallasites
Dumas – Dumasites
For places ending in “on,” add “-ian”
Houston – Houstonians
Denton – Dentonians
Sinton – Sintonians
For places ending in “o,” add “-an”
El Paso – El Pasoans
San Angelo – San Angeloans
Amarillo – Amarilloans
For places ending in “i,” add “-an”
Corpus Christi – Corpus Christians
Bucareli – Bucarelians
Miami – Miamians
For places ending in “y,” drop the “y” and add “-ian” or “-an”
Bay City – Bay Citians
Wimberley – Wimberleans
Albany – Albanians
For places ending in consonant or silent “e,” add “-er” or “-ite”
Edinburg – Edinburgers
Rosenberg – Rosenbergers
Fredericksburg – Fredericksburgers
Alpine – Alpine or Alpinites
Commerce – Commerceites or Commercians
Comfort – Comforters
For places ending in “polis,” change “polis” to “-politans”
Montopolis – Montopolitans
For places ending in “a,” add “ns”
Odessa – Odessans
Riviera – Rivierans
Victoria – Victorians
A few unusual demonyms to keep in mind:
Alice – Alicians
Naples – Neoplitans
Liverpool – Liverpudlians
Oxford – Oxonians
Leander – Leanderthals
Martin – Martinites or Martians
Palestine – Palestinians
Marfa – Marfans or Marfalites
Moscow – Muscovites
London – Londoners
Refugio – Refurians
Falfurrias – Falfurrians or Falfurrianos
Mission – Missionaries or Missionites
Paris – Parisians
San Antonio – San Antonians
W.F. Strong is a Fulbright Scholar and professor of Culture and Communication at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. At Public Radio 88 FM in Harlingen, Texas, he’s the resident expert on Texas literature, Texas legends, Blue Bell ice cream, Whataburger (with cheese) and mesquite smoked brisket.
