is this an insult

[softmusk]

is tthe word taffy an insult to welsh people or is it just form of daffyd

To me, it's the same as calling a Scot "Jock" or an Irishman "Mick". It can be insulting, I think.

It depends on the context I suppose. Its derivation may come from the river Taff that runs through Cardiff. I guess it's about as offensive as me being called Jock as a Scot? I don't know. Do you find it offensive?

I would not call anyone taffy.
Depending on context and who, some people might not find it offensive, but some might...and I don't normally refer to anyone as a generic nickname for their cultural, ethnic or national background.

I suppose it ddepends how it is used and in what context. I work with a couple of men who use Taffy as their nicknames, and they do expect everyone to call them that. So they would not see it as an insult for example.

i save it on a baby name site and thought it sounded quite nice as a name

but dh is welsh and said was insult just wondered what every one else thought

I am (mostly) english and live in wales and would never call anyone I know here a taff at risk of a slapping, same as I wouldn't call an Irishman a paddy.
I say it's an insult.

so is southern softy conclusive to a slap too?

depends who you said it to I suppose, my FIL would not be pleased to be called that...!

But then I do have some scary neighbours! (not you nicjay!)

Apparently the name derives from the Celtic God Amaethon
who stole from god Arawn, the Lord of the Otherworld, hence the origin iof the 'Taffy was a thief' rhyme.

my best friend who's welsh calls himself taff and introduces himself as that though so not everyone can find it derogitary

I had a crush on a Welsh teacher when I was 16 and used to refer to her as Taffy in my diary. It was afectionately meant.

I wouldn't use the word to describe anyone now unless I knew them well and it was understood to be an affectionate term. I don't think as a name in itself it is insulting.

wasn't expecting that confession, dg!

Consider it unsaid!

I wouldn't use it. What's wrong with "Welsh"?!

you confessed without any prompting at all - has it been on your mind lately?

I've known of 2 people who were known as Taff/Taffy (by their own choice) -one was a child the same age as me (many years ago), the other was a grown man.
So, like Hulababy said in her post, they wouldn't see it as insulting.
Its not a name/term I would use for anyone unless they introduced themselves by it though

No not at all! (although dh and I have just been having our usual discussion about my dreadful education, prompted by the A level results coming out and our eldest son being on the brink of starting secondary school, so I suppose that put me in mind of my teachers.)

But if the truth be known, I hear the name Taffy and it only means one person to me.

it depends on the way it would be used, if you were using it to label people then its an insult, but i know a few people who call themselves taff/taffy.

(chirpygirl) which one would you say was more scary?

I once knew someone called Taff.

He was the most miserable old bastard I've ever met. He was 18 and looked about 40 and acted like a grumpy old man.

But that may all be irrelevant.

I often wonder if anyone was enough of a victim to marry him.

I'd forgotten about him until this thread. Thank you so much for awakening my memories.

He was Welsh, btw.

i have honestly not name changed for this - i am welsh and i think of it as an affectionate term!

(notdoneyet, it's a toss up between the plumber on one side and this really dodgy family with loads of kids that live 3 doors up )

If I knew someone well then I might use it but not with a relative stranger IYSWIM...

chirpygirl, not the one that was yelling at you about someone putting notes about parking on 'my' car window? She was really scary!!!

although in my defense i have calmed down a little bit since then!