From what I've heard, the term Geordie originally referred to people from County Durham and not to Newcastle itself, and that the term Mackem is of very recent (1970s-80s) coinage. It wasn't long ago all people from Tyneside, Wearside, Durham and Northumberland identified as Geordies.
Has there been a "split" per se? Does all of County Durham identify with Sunderland or do parts of it identify more as Geordies and with Newcastle?
Is the difference between a Geordie and a Mackem meaningful outside of soccer/football or would you say all of the North East is essentially the same people?
Has there been a "split" per se? Does all of County Durham identify with Sunderland or do parts of it identify more as Geordies and with Newcastle?
Is the difference between a Geordie and a Mackem meaningful outside of soccer/football or would you say all of the North East is essentially the same people?