2006-09-10 04:42:12 · 8 answers · asked by hazyp 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I have a theory about this, no idea how much truth is in it.
Years ago I studied the way languages develop through the ages. It's interesting to note how words are pronounced in modern times compared to, say, the way actors spoke in old movies.
Think of the English word 'water' - many people don't pronounce the 't', it's just wa'er, with a so-called glottal stop where the 't' used to be.
It seems that in modern times it is becoming difficult to pronounce 'please', it's so often pronounced 'perlease'. There are many other similar examples.
Hamsters are nearly always referred to as hampsters. Yet there is no 'p' in the middle of the word.
I think Hampshire used to be called Hantshire but it got too difficult for people to pronouce it (or they got too lazy) so it became known as Hampshire. The abbreviation Hants would not have been changed, even the the full spelling of Hampshire was modernised.
2006-09-10 04:58:32 · answer #1 · answered by used to live in Wales 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have done a google search, and it seems Hampshire was historically known as Southamptonshire of which Hants became the abbreviation.
In the 9th Century it was referred to as Hamtunscir meaning "Shire based on Hamtun"
I don't really follow the logic of the abbreviation personnally, I was expecting it to be an abbreviation of the Latin name. However, perhaps some oracle will give a better answer.
2006-09-10 11:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by Raymo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hampshire" is often abbreviated in written form to "Hants" and which sometimes gives rise to puzzlement. The abbreviated form is derived from the Old English Hantum plus Scir (meaning a district governed from the settlement now known as Southampton) and the Anglo-Saxons called it Hamtunschire. At the time of the Domesday Book (1086) this was compressed to Hantescire.
2006-09-10 11:49:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well Hampshire was originally called Undershire. That reminded people of underpants, but pants was ruled out as a name so they called it hants. (That sounded better than just under)
2006-09-10 11:44:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently it's because the original county was called Hantshaving.
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/HAMPSHIRE/2002-07/1026248132
2006-09-10 11:48:13 · answer #5 · answered by LostHippo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No idea, but maybe it's the same reason why Shropshire is abbreviated to Salops! Its just plain bonkers to me!
2006-09-10 12:10:19 · answer #6 · answered by Chris H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not.
2006-09-10 11:50:16 · answer #7 · answered by Bob The Builder 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is easier
2006-09-10 11:43:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋