2006-12-27 07:43:17 · 11 answers · asked by surveyman5285 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
The term redneck started with the Scottish, attempting to break away from the Church of England. The wanted to start their own Presbyterian church. The orginal documents to bring this church into being was generally known to be signed in blood. Later, church members wore red scarfs or rags around their necks to indicate that they were Scottish Presbyterians. After many early Scottish of this belief moved to America, they continued to wear the red scarfs/rags, and thus many of their descendants were known as "rednecks". The term redneck also comes from the hardworking outdoorsmen and women, who had sunburned necks from bending and working in the sun all day. There are other origins for the word, including striking miners in the early 1900's who wore red bandanas in protest. But the most common usage generally refers to a Southerner, and is an acronym for a "hick" or a "hickabilly".
2006-12-27 13:15:06 · answer #1 · answered by Suzy Q 59 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two schools of thought in regards to the word 'redneck'. The one school of thought is that a redneck is somebody who works outside on a farm all day in the summer and burns the back of their neck. The other meaning of the term has been used to refer to very devout Catholics, who, after having very faithfully 'prayed the rosary' have red necks due to the fact that the beads burn their necks as they go around.
2006-12-27 17:34:54 · answer #2 · answered by icebuilderjon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well most white people burn when they are in the sun. and usually the part that gets hit from the sun when your shirt is on is the neck or the arms. Also that's where the Farmers tan comes from too. But when the neck burns it turns red. Thus the term REDNECK
2006-12-27 15:47:11 · answer #3 · answered by kalebs_daddy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rednecks are usually county folk who work outdoors. Farmers, ranchers, highway and construction workers, etc. Their arms, face and necks get really sunburned. These laborers were usually 90% caucasion and rarely choose to live in big urban areas. Hence, the name redneck was born. They aren't bad people. Thats just an urban legend.
2006-12-27 16:15:43 · answer #4 · answered by Angel W 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
From what I heard, there was this battle in West Virginia. One group wore red bandannas or whatever around their necks and that's what they were called. So, that's supposed to be where to term came from.
Sorry that I don't remember the whole story...
2006-12-27 17:12:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Redneck commonly refers to those (cowboy types) who worked in the sun, and therefore the back of their necks was always sunburned.
2006-12-27 15:46:33 · answer #6 · answered by Dr. Karen 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Silly Question. Apparently its because the natives had red skin, when the cowboys came and took over the land.
2006-12-27 21:04:50 · answer #7 · answered by cclleeoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am in the south and this is what I understand it. When farmers would work out in the fields all day and they got sun burned on the back of their necks
2006-12-27 15:52:27 · answer #8 · answered by tnbadbunny 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it came about because the men always worked outside jobs, in the hot sun, which gave them "red necks."
2006-12-27 15:47:57 · answer #9 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when i first heard it, i thought it was because it was refering to white people in the south (closer to the sun) who get sunburnt on the back of the neck because theyve been out in the cornfields too long
2006-12-27 15:47:07 · answer #10 · answered by Nemo Credete 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋