Dixie

Dixie is a nickname used for "the South" (i.e., the southern states of America). The origin of this moniker is a bit trickier. There are a couple theories as to when the South began to be referred to as Dixie or Dixieland. Most likely the name is derived from currency originally printed at a bank in the French Quarter of New Orleans; ten dollar bills were issued labeled with the word “dix” (French for “ten”) and the English-speaking locals started calling the money “Dixies”. The French speaking parts of New Orleans and Louisiana became known as “Dixieland” and eventually the term broadened to incorporate most of the South. Secondly, Dixie could have come from the Mason-Dixon Line (surveyed in the 1760s) which essentially separated the northern free states from the southern slave-owning states. In this case, the name would have come from one of the two eponymous surveyors, Jeremiah Dixon – a surname that means “Dick’s son” (Dick being a medieval pet form of Richard which means “powerful, strong”). Finally, we have read – but question the reliability of – yet another origin for Dixie. In this case, Manhattan (NYC) was regarded as the first Dixie Land in reference to a large landowner and slaveholder “Mr. Dixy” who had a reputation of ruling with a kind hand and providing creature comforts for his slaves. It came to be known as a utopia of sorts, so when the slaves were sent elsewhere they cried out to be back in old Dixy’s Land. What we do know is what caused the widespread usage of the term “Dixie” as another name for the South. That credit goes to a Northerner actually: songwriter Daniel Emmett wrote “I Wish I was in Dixie” for his blackface musical variety troupe in 1859. First performed in NYC, “Dixie’s Land” became an instant smash hit and Southerners adopted it as an anthem of sorts. In fact, after the Confederates surrendered the American Civil War, President Lincoln graciously instructed the military band to play Dixie. As a female given name Dixie has been around in American since the 19th century. We think it’s safe to assume the name has a longer and more persistent history of usage in the Southern states.