The name Hibs

[Austinho]

When did we start being known as ‘Hibs’? And ‘Hibees’ for that matter? Has this always been the case? Hector Nicol sang both ‘the Hibs go marching on’ and ‘Glory Glory to the Hibees’, so presumably it’s been around since at least the 1960s. How far back does it go?

Does anyone even use ‘Hibernian’ regularly in conversation? Sometimes I find in OZ if I say ‘Hibs’ people are confused, or haven’t heard of us until I use our proper name, even the English - I guess non Scots are more familiar with seeing the full name from league tables, Sky Sports News, FIFA etc.

Hibernian sounds more grand, and the fact it is a long lost Latin name for ‘land of winter’ and originates from around 320BC, long long before the English language even began is poetic in itself. Very few other ancient Roman country names failed to be established in modern languages, Hibernia and Caledonia being two of them. Something to be proud of, as it’s prerty unique. Because of this, never liked ‘Hibs’ as much in comparison - always found it to be a little soft.

The Harps would have been a good nickname, if not for sounding a bit too close to those across the city.

And a wee point on the ‘Hibees’ name. Almost seems like we’re calling out to have a green Bee as a mascot instead of a ‘Leith Lynx’ - tenuous link indeed.

[BILLYHIBS]

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When did we start being known as ‘Hibs’? And ‘Hibees’ for that matter? Has this always been the case? Hector Nicol sang both ‘the Hibs go marching on’ and ‘Glory Glory to the Hibees’, so presumably it’s been around since at least the 1960s. How far back does it go?

Does anyone even use ‘Hibernian’ regularly in conversation? Sometimes I find in OZ if I say ‘Hibs’ people are confused, or haven’t heard of us until I use our proper name, even the English - I guess non Scots are more familiar with seeing the full name from league tables, Sky Sports News, FIFA etc.

Hibernian sounds more grand, and the fact it is a long lost Latin name for ‘land of winter’ and originates from around 320BC, long long before the English language even began is poetic in itself. Very few other ancient Roman country names failed to be established in modern languages, Hibernia and Caledonia being two of them. Something to be proud of, as it’s prerty unique. Because of this, never liked ‘Hibs’ as much in comparison - always found it to be a little soft.

The Harps would have been a good nickname, if not for sounding a bit too close to those across the city.

And a wee point on the ‘Hibees’ name. Almost seems like we’re calling out to have a green Bee as a mascot instead of a ‘Leith Lynx’ - tenuous link indeed.

The HIBS go marching on and glory glory are one and the same song by Hector Nicol

He also sung the Hearts Song

I have waited all my life to sing “I only want to say the Scottish Cup is in the bag” at Hampden

The founders of HIBS took their name from the Roman name for Ireland Hibernia as they were all either Irish or from Irish descent.

[SRHibs]

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The HIBS go marching on and glory glory are one and the same song by Hector Nicol

He also sung the Hearts Song

I have waited all my life to sing “I only want to say the Scottish Cup is in the bag” at Hampden

The founders of HIBS took their name from the Roman name for Ireland Hibernia as they were all either Irish or from Irish descent.

He knows they’re in the same song, he’s just citing the fact that both terms were used in the song, so have been around for a while.

[SirDavidsNapper]

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When did we start being known as ‘Hibs’? And ‘Hibees’ for that matter? Has this always been the case? Hector Nicol sang both ‘the Hibs go marching on’ and ‘Glory Glory to the Hibees’, so presumably it’s been around since at least the 1960s. How far back does it go?

Does anyone even use ‘Hibernian’ regularly in conversation? Sometimes I find in OZ if I say ‘Hibs’ people are confused, or haven’t heard of us until I use our proper name, even the English - I guess non Scots are more familiar with seeing the full name from league tables, Sky Sports News, FIFA etc.

Hibernian sounds more grand, and the fact it is a long lost Latin name for ‘land of winter’ and originates from around 320BC, long long before the English language even began is poetic in itself. Very few other ancient Roman country names failed to be established in modern languages, Hibernia and Caledonia being two of them. Something to be proud of, as it’s prerty unique. Because of this, never liked ‘Hibs’ as much in comparison - always found it to be a little soft.

The Harps would have been a good nickname, if not for sounding a bit too close to those across the city.

And a wee point on the ‘Hibees’ name. Almost seems like we’re calling out to have a green Bee as a mascot instead of a ‘Leith Lynx’ - tenuous link indeed.

Richard Gordon on the radio is the only one i know that regularly uses it in normal chat

[ian cruise]

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Richard Gordon on the radio is the only one i know that regularly uses it in normal chat

I use usually Hibs but I quite like the fact he uses Hibernian as it's our name and I'm proud of it. I'm generally just being lazy when I use Hibs.

[BILLYHIBS]

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He knows they’re in the same song, he’s just citing the fact that both terms were used in the song, so have been around for a while.

Too early in the morning for me.....I’ll get my coat!

Always been HIBS or Hibees as far back as I can remember and I have been supporting HIBS and going to matches for fifty years

To complicate matters even further and this may be of interest to the OP but nothing to do with the football club there is also Hutt International Boys School in NZ known as HIBS

Impersonation is the sincerest form of flattery and there is also at one time or another been Cork HIBS Malta HIBS and Dundee HIBS I wonder what ever happened to them?

[Austinho]

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The HIBS go marching on and glory glory are one and the same song by Hector Nicol

He also sung the Hearts Song

Just to confirm, I am aware they are lyrics from the same song ;)

When Hector Nicol released both tracks, The Hearts Song was the B Side, with Glory Glory to the Hibees the A side - Natural Order indeed.

[Peevemor]

"On 18th September 1886 a crowd of 1,000 attended at Glengarry Park, the home of the teams most closely associated with Brother Walfrid – Eastern Rovers and Columba – to see Edinburgh Hibernians reserve team take on a parish team from St. Peter’s RC Church in Partick. It was the St. Mary’s Dinner Tables who were the beneficiaries of this tie."

st-peters-v-hibs-glengarry-match-report.jpg

From https://the-shamrock.net/tag/celtic/

[Hibernian32]

I thought Hibernia/Hibernian was latin for catholic Irish not land of winter.
are you getting us confused with game of thrones?

[ian cruise]

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I thought Hibernia/Hibernian was latin for catholic Irish not land of winter.
are you getting us confused with game of thrones?

Dictionary.com and Wikipedia seem to agree it translates to "Land of Winter"

hibernia: definition from Dictionary.com: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/hibernia

[Thief]

Without meaning to drag politics into it, The term Hibs has often been used as an abbreviated version of Hibernians.
Many years before our football club was formed, the ancient order of Hibernians existed and their clubs, marches, members etc were commonly shortened to Hibs. e.g Hibs March, Hibs club, Hibs man etc
Don’t know for certain, but this, along with the press cutting someone posted above would indicate that they were probably referred to as Hibs from day one.


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[Austinho]

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I thought Hibernia/Hibernian was latin for catholic Irish not land of winter.
are you getting us confused with game of thrones?

Nothing whatsoever to do with Catholics. Hibernia was the name aptly given to the land of Ireland, originally by the ancient Greeks, and then adapted by the Romans, which roughly translates to 'land of winter'.

[Peevemor]

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I thought Hibernia/Hibernian was latin for catholic Irish not land of winter.
are you getting us confused with game of thrones?

Given that the name dates from 4 centuries BC, catholicism doesn't come into it.

[Killiehibbie]

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Without meaning to drag politics into it, The term Hibs has often been used as an abbreviated version of Hibernians.
Many years before our football club was formed, the ancient order of Hibernians existed and their clubs, marches, members etc were commonly shortened to Hibs. e.g Hibs March, Hibs club, Hibs man etc
Don’t know for certain, but this, along with the press cutting someone posted above would indicate that they were probably referred to as Hibs from day one.


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I was told our name came from the AOH and their motto of Friendship, Unity and True Christian Charity sounds about right.

[Hibbyradge]

I've been calling us, "The Famous and Mighty Hibernian" for about 30 years.

The fact that our noiseless neighbours have nicked part of the phrase doesn't stop me.

I say Hibs most of the time and I would describe someone as a Hibby, never a Hibee.

I usually shout "Come on the Hibs" or "Hibbies", rarely Hibees, I think.

[Renfrew_Hibby]

In our early years, in fact right into the 1930s I believe, the written press would refer to us as Hibernians, 'Hibs' is just a shortened version of that.

[GibbytheHibby2]

Some time ago at Hampden museum there was a newspaper print which had our name displayed as HI B's . I've always assumed that's where Hibs came from. I'm unaware if we were known as Hibees before this abbreviation came into use.

[southern hibby]

Found the above very interesting. Was told years ago that Hibees was what we called anyone playing for Hibs. I’ve always thought this was the case for that name.

I’m actually now very interested to know if this is true or just something I was told because it kept a young lad from pestering someone who didn’t know
The true meaning of it.


GGTTH

[Hibbyradge]

Do you pronounce it "High-bernian" or "Hi-bernian" (as in hit).

I'm the latter, I think.

[Austinho]

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Do you pronounce it "High-bernian" or "Hi-bernian" (as in hit).

I'm the latter, I think.

As the song goes:

High-bee High-bernian ZOOM ZOOM HUUWHHHH
High-bee High-bernian
High-bee High-berrrrrrrrnnnnnniiiiiiiiaaaaan ZOOM ZOOM
Hiiiiiigh-bee High-berniiiiaa ZOOM ZOOM HUUWHHHH ZOOM ZOOM

[BILLYHIBS]

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As the song goes:

High-bee High-bernian ZOOM ZOOM HUUWHHHH
High-bee High-bernian
High-bee High-berrrrrrrrnnnnnniiiiiiiiaaaaan ZOOM ZOOM
Hiiiiiigh-bee High-berniiiiaa ZOOM ZOOM HUUWHHHH ZOOM ZOOM

When I was five my Daddy took me down to Easter Road
He lifted me up high upon his shoulder
High-bernian!
High-bee
High-bernian

Got the best name best strip and best songs of any other club
Ooh to be a HIBBY
Hibees here Hibees there Hibees every ****ing where
We scored one we scored two we scored seven more than you
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Hibees! Hibees!Hibees! Hibees!

[Renfrew_Hibby]

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Do you pronounce it "High-bernian" or "Hi-bernian" (as in hit).

I'm the latter, I think.

I think I'm the former. Imaging supporting a club for over 30 years and I'm now doubting how to even say our name!

[G B Young]

In a letter home from America in 1896 James Connolly wrote:

“A little Scotsman told me Hearts were in the final of the Scottish Cup and they were knocking hell oot the Hibs, whereat I felt very much depressed”.

Based on that I'd suggest we've been known as Hibs pretty much since we were founded.

[CropleyWasGod]

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Do you pronounce it "High-bernian" or "Hi-bernian" (as in hit).

I'm the latter, I think.

That depends on whether one uses it as a noun or an adjective.

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[IWasThere2016]

I use:

Collective - Hibs not Hibernian

Plural - Hibees not Hibbies .. eg I'd yell "Come on the Hibees"

Singular - Hibby not Hibee .. eg I'd describe myself as a Hibby not a Hibee


In summary, I am seriously mucking fuddled up

[Hibbyradge]

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That depends on whether one uses it as a noun or an adjective.

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I've been saying it out loud for a while to check.

It actually sounds like "Ha-bernian" so halfway in between both.

[CropleyWasGod]

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I've been saying it out loud for a while to check.

It actually sounds like "Ha-bernian" so halfway in between both.

LTHF

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[LaMotta]

In France we are known as Hibernian Edimbourg, which I quite like.

or Heebz for short

[cabbageandribs1875]

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I use:

Collective - Hibs not Hibernian

Plural - Hibees not Hibbies .. eg I'd yell "Come on the Hibees"

Singular - Hibby not Hibee .. eg I'd describe myself as a Hibby not a Hibee


In summary, I am seriously mucking fuddled up

this is all correct

[pollution]

Very good question.

I thought we were The Hibernians ie of the land of Ireland.