Menzies is a Scottish surname, with Gaelic forms being Méinnearach and Méinn, and other variant forms being Menigees, Mennes, Mengzes, Menzeys, Mengies, and Minges. Derivation and history The name and its Gaelic form are probably derived from the Norman name Mesnières, from the town of Mesnières-en-Bray in Normandy. Pronunciation The name is traditionally pronounced — and still is in Scotland — . The current spelling arose when the similar-looking tailed variant of the letter (i.e., ) was used as a substitute for the now obsolete letter (yogh) in the Scots language (). However, outside Scotland it is often erroneously given the spelling-pronunciation . A Scottish limerick plays on the traditional, correct pronunciation: There wis a young lassie named Menzies, That askit her aunt whit this thenzies. Said her aunt wi a gasp, "Ma dear, it's a wasp, An you're haudin the end whaur the stenzies!" The second and fifth lines are pronounced as though the <z> were a <>, making "thing is" and "sting is", to rhyme with "Menzies". "Wasp" rhymes with "gasp" in Scots. As a surname Alan W. C. Menzies, Scots-born chemist and professor of Chemistry at Princeton University Alex Menzies, Scottish football player Alex Menzies (footballer, born 1882), Scottish international football player Archibald Menzies (1754–1842), British medic and biologist; ship's doctor and naturalist on board George Vancouver's voyage to the North Pacific Beryl Menzies (married name Beryl Fowler, 1881–1963), English painter Charles Menzies, anthropologist Charles Menzies (1783–1866), Royal Marines officer Danni Menzies, British presenter of A Place in the Sun David Menzies, Canadian journalist Douglas Menzies, former Justice of the High Court of Australia Sir Frederick Menzies, British physician Gavin Menzies, retired British submarine captain and author George Menzies, New Zealand rugby league footballer Gina Menzies, Irish media personality Heather Menzies (1949–2017), Canadian actress Henry Menzies (1867–1938), Scottish rugby player Hugh Menzies (1857–1925), Australian politician Ivan Menzies (1896–1985), singer and actor James Menzies, New Zealand politician James Menzies (Wisconsin politician) (1830–1913), American politician John Menzies, businessman John A. Menzies, Manitoba judge John K. Menzies, former US-Bosnian ambassador and academic Karen Menzies (born 1962), Australian footballer Karl Menzies, Australian cyclist Mark Menzies, Scottish Conservative MP Neal Menzies, Australian Professor of Soil Science Peter Menzies Jr., Australian cinematographer Sir Robert Menzies (1894-1978), Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister, who pronounced his own name in the Scottish fashion Sadie Menzies (1914–1996), founder member of the Revolutionary Workers Group Steve Menzies, Australian rugby