Why is United Kingdom also known as Great Britain; is there any difference?

Answer 1

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the name of the Nation or country and includes, England, Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK is a shortened version.

Great Britain is the name of the island that England, Scotland and Wales are on.

The Great is because it is the largest of the British Isles.

So one is the name of a country the other an island.

Answer 2

Great Britain is England, Wales and Scotland, along with the Channel Islands.
The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland

Answer 3

The United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Great Britain: England, Scotland, Wales

Answer 4

From an earlier answer I have given...

OK then quite simply...
England is the largest country within Great Britain and The United Kingdom.

Great Britain =
England (country, capital = London)
Wales (a principality, capital = Cardiff)
Scotland (country, capital = Edinburgh)

UK =
England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland (a province known as Ulster, capital = Belfast)

Commonly known as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Because I was born in England my nationality is English, but because England is part of Great Britain I am also British...thankfully there isn't another name for us being born in the United Kingdom! (although I expect quite a few people could come up with some choice words for us all)

Edit
Bella, I did not give you the thumbs down for your answer but with all due respect it is not entirely correct....the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are NOT part of the United Kingdom, they are Crown Dependencies...take a look here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_dependency

Answer 5

The United Kingdom is a country that consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In fact, the official name of the country is "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
Great Britain is the name of the island northwest of France and east of Ireland that consists of three somewhat autonomous regions: England, Wales and Scotland.

Therefore, England is part of Great Britain, which is part of the United Kingdom. The U.K. includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are not countries but the United Kingdom is. The remaining portion of the island of Ireland (that which is not the U.K.'s Northern Ireland) is an independent country called the Republic of Ireland (Eire).

Answer 6

Just to make a comment about the Great part of Great Britain, Great Britain may well be a translation of the French term Grande Bretagne, which is used in France to distinguish Britain from Brittany (in French: Bretagne), which had been settled in late Roman times by Romano-Celtic troops from Maximus' army and later by refugees from Roman Britain, who were then under attack by the Anglo-Saxons. Since the English court and aristocracy was largely French-speaking for about two centuries after the Norman Conquest of 1066, the French term may have naturally passed into English usage.

Answer 7

Great Britain is one island and comprises England, Scotland and Wales. The UK includes the 6 counties in Northern Ireland. Take a look at an EU British passport. On the cover you will read: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Since I'm English/Welsh it doesn't disturb me too much, but my foreigner's identity card in Switzerland says GB and I have already made it clear that this is incorrect.

Answer 8

Great Britain includes Wales, Scotland and England. UK includes Northern Ireland.

Answer 9

The name of the country is actually: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I asked the same question when I moved here and my husband explained. The United Kingdom is the everything including Isle of Man, Chanel Islands, Northern Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland....everything. It even includes Gibraltar in the Southern tip of Spain.
Great Britain is Just England Scotland and Wales.

Answer 10

OK so United Kingdom is made up of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is only England Scotland and Wales.

here a link to explain it:

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1075299800869