First 'white person' and 'white people'
What is the earliest printed use in English, including relevant context, of 'white person' or 'white people'? As nearly as I have been able to discover, the term is first found in print in these contexts:
'white person': I don't have ready access to what seems to be the earliest appearance in print of this phrase, and am unable to determine what the context is. The term may be found in The lives, actions, and execution of the prime actors, and principall contrivers of that horrid murder of our late pious and sacred soveraigne, King Charles the First, by George Bate, published in 1661.
'white people' first appears in a translation of The discouerie and conquest of the prouinces of Peru, and the nauigation in the South Sea, along that coast, by Agustin de Zárate. The translation was published in 1581.
...hee warned him, that whe[n] a white people, bearded, should come into that Countrey, that hee should submit him selfe vnto them, because (said hee) they shalbe Lords ouer this Countrey...
My research queried only the orthographic forms shown in the question; information on other, earlier forms would be welcome.
After having the original question closed as "too broad", I split it into three questions, White Noises, Person or People, Man or Men, Woman or Women, and posted them separately. This is one of those.
etymology racism
asked Feb 28 at 2:12
JELJEL
27.6k45293
This question has an open bounty worth +100
reputation from JEL ending in 6 days.
Looking for an answer drawing from credible and/or official sources.
|
show 8 more comments
What is the earliest printed use in English, including relevant context, of 'white person' or 'white people'? As nearly as I have been able to discover, the term is first found in print in these contexts:
'white person': I don't have ready access to what seems to be the earliest appearance in print of this phrase, and am unable to determine what the context is. The term may be found in The lives, actions, and execution of the prime actors, and principall contrivers of that horrid murder of our late pious and sacred soveraigne, King Charles the First, by George Bate, published in 1661.
'white people' first appears in a translation of The discouerie and conquest of the prouinces of Peru, and the nauigation in the South Sea, along that coast, by Agustin de Zárate. The translation was published in 1581.
...hee warned him, that whe[n] a white people, bearded, should come into that Countrey, that hee should submit him selfe vnto them, because (said hee) they shalbe Lords ouer this Countrey...
My research queried only the orthographic forms shown in the question; information on other, earlier forms would be welcome.
After having the original question closed as "too broad", I split it into three questions, White Noises, Person or People, Man or Men, Woman or Women, and posted them separately. This is one of those.
etymology racism
asked Feb 28 at 2:12
JELJEL
27.6k45293
This question has an open bounty worth +100
reputation from JEL ending in 6 days.
Looking for an answer drawing from credible and/or official sources.
1
I'm not sure if the phrase "white person" was used because I haven't read the original texts, but wasn't one of the Knights of the Round Table biracial, and depicted as being black on one side of his body, and white on the other half? It seems likely that the Arthurian mythos stories where he appears might have some terminology that is germane to your research.
– nick012000
Feb 28 at 4:13
1
The translation of Peter Martyr of Angleria that you cite in your question about "white man/men" includes this: "Of these lands, Iacobus Gastaldus wryteth thus: The newe lande of Baccalaos, is a coulde region, whose inhabytauntes are Idolatours and praye to the soonne and moon and dyuers Idoles. They are whyte people and very rustical. For they eate flesshe and fysshe and all other thynges rawe."
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
1
It's just a suggested source that you might be able to include in a real answer. As matters stand, i don't have anything like enough information to build a satisfactory answer from. So instead, I decided to point out for your use some results that appear when you replace "white" with "whyte" in Early English Books Online searches.
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
2
+1 what does a well researched question have to do to earn an upvote here??
– Mari-Lou A
yesterday
3
Did it every occur to anyone that not everything has been made available on the internet? Early books online or not.
– Lambie
11 hours ago
|
show 8 more comments
What is the earliest printed use in English, including relevant context, of 'white person' or 'white people'? As nearly as I have been able to discover, the term is first found in print in these contexts:
'white person': I don't have ready access to what seems to be the earliest appearance in print of this phrase, and am unable to determine what the context is. The term may be found in The lives, actions, and execution of the prime actors, and principall contrivers of that horrid murder of our late pious and sacred soveraigne, King Charles the First, by George Bate, published in 1661.
'white people' first appears in a translation of The discouerie and conquest of the prouinces of Peru, and the nauigation in the South Sea, along that coast, by Agustin de Zárate. The translation was published in 1581.
...hee warned him, that whe[n] a white people, bearded, should come into that Countrey, that hee should submit him selfe vnto them, because (said hee) they shalbe Lords ouer this Countrey...
My research queried only the orthographic forms shown in the question; information on other, earlier forms would be welcome.
After having the original question closed as "too broad", I split it into three questions, White Noises, Person or People, Man or Men, Woman or Women, and posted them separately. This is one of those.
etymology racism
asked Feb 28 at 2:12
JELJEL
27.6k45293
What is the earliest printed use in English, including relevant context, of 'white person' or 'white people'? As nearly as I have been able to discover, the term is first found in print in these contexts:
'white person': I don't have ready access to what seems to be the earliest appearance in print of this phrase, and am unable to determine what the context is. The term may be found in The lives, actions, and execution of the prime actors, and principall contrivers of that horrid murder of our late pious and sacred soveraigne, King Charles the First, by George Bate, published in 1661.
'white people' first appears in a translation of The discouerie and conquest of the prouinces of Peru, and the nauigation in the South Sea, along that coast, by Agustin de Zárate. The translation was published in 1581.
...hee warned him, that whe[n] a white people, bearded, should come into that Countrey, that hee should submit him selfe vnto them, because (said hee) they shalbe Lords ouer this Countrey...
My research queried only the orthographic forms shown in the question; information on other, earlier forms would be welcome.
After having the original question closed as "too broad", I split it into three questions, White Noises, Person or People, Man or Men, Woman or Women, and posted them separately. This is one of those.
etymology racism
etymology racism
asked Feb 28 at 2:12
JELJEL
27.6k45293
asked Feb 28 at 2:12
JELJEL
27.6k45293
edited 5 hours ago
JEL
asked Feb 28 at 2:12
JELJEL
27.6k45293
asked Feb 28 at 2:12
JELJEL
27.6k45293
asked Feb 28 at 2:12
JELJEL
27.6k45293
27.6k45293
This question has an open bounty worth +100
reputation from JEL ending in 6 days.
Looking for an answer drawing from credible and/or official sources.
This question has an open bounty worth +100
reputation from JEL ending in 6 days.
Looking for an answer drawing from credible and/or official sources.
1
I'm not sure if the phrase "white person" was used because I haven't read the original texts, but wasn't one of the Knights of the Round Table biracial, and depicted as being black on one side of his body, and white on the other half? It seems likely that the Arthurian mythos stories where he appears might have some terminology that is germane to your research.
– nick012000
Feb 28 at 4:13
1
The translation of Peter Martyr of Angleria that you cite in your question about "white man/men" includes this: "Of these lands, Iacobus Gastaldus wryteth thus: The newe lande of Baccalaos, is a coulde region, whose inhabytauntes are Idolatours and praye to the soonne and moon and dyuers Idoles. They are whyte people and very rustical. For they eate flesshe and fysshe and all other thynges rawe."
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
1
It's just a suggested source that you might be able to include in a real answer. As matters stand, i don't have anything like enough information to build a satisfactory answer from. So instead, I decided to point out for your use some results that appear when you replace "white" with "whyte" in Early English Books Online searches.
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
2
+1 what does a well researched question have to do to earn an upvote here??
– Mari-Lou A
yesterday
3
Did it every occur to anyone that not everything has been made available on the internet? Early books online or not.
– Lambie
11 hours ago
|
show 8 more comments
1
I'm not sure if the phrase "white person" was used because I haven't read the original texts, but wasn't one of the Knights of the Round Table biracial, and depicted as being black on one side of his body, and white on the other half? It seems likely that the Arthurian mythos stories where he appears might have some terminology that is germane to your research.
– nick012000
Feb 28 at 4:13
1
The translation of Peter Martyr of Angleria that you cite in your question about "white man/men" includes this: "Of these lands, Iacobus Gastaldus wryteth thus: The newe lande of Baccalaos, is a coulde region, whose inhabytauntes are Idolatours and praye to the soonne and moon and dyuers Idoles. They are whyte people and very rustical. For they eate flesshe and fysshe and all other thynges rawe."
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
1
It's just a suggested source that you might be able to include in a real answer. As matters stand, i don't have anything like enough information to build a satisfactory answer from. So instead, I decided to point out for your use some results that appear when you replace "white" with "whyte" in Early English Books Online searches.
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
2
+1 what does a well researched question have to do to earn an upvote here??
– Mari-Lou A
yesterday
3
Did it every occur to anyone that not everything has been made available on the internet? Early books online or not.
– Lambie
11 hours ago
1
1
I'm not sure if the phrase "white person" was used because I haven't read the original texts, but wasn't one of the Knights of the Round Table biracial, and depicted as being black on one side of his body, and white on the other half? It seems likely that the Arthurian mythos stories where he appears might have some terminology that is germane to your research.
– nick012000
Feb 28 at 4:13
I'm not sure if the phrase "white person" was used because I haven't read the original texts, but wasn't one of the Knights of the Round Table biracial, and depicted as being black on one side of his body, and white on the other half? It seems likely that the Arthurian mythos stories where he appears might have some terminology that is germane to your research.
– nick012000
Feb 28 at 4:13
1
1
The translation of Peter Martyr of Angleria that you cite in your question about "white man/men" includes this: "Of these lands, Iacobus Gastaldus wryteth thus: The newe lande of Baccalaos, is a coulde region, whose inhabytauntes are Idolatours and praye to the soonne and moon and dyuers Idoles. They are whyte people and very rustical. For they eate flesshe and fysshe and all other thynges rawe."
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
The translation of Peter Martyr of Angleria that you cite in your question about "white man/men" includes this: "Of these lands, Iacobus Gastaldus wryteth thus: The newe lande of Baccalaos, is a coulde region, whose inhabytauntes are Idolatours and praye to the soonne and moon and dyuers Idoles. They are whyte people and very rustical. For they eate flesshe and fysshe and all other thynges rawe."
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
1
1
It's just a suggested source that you might be able to include in a real answer. As matters stand, i don't have anything like enough information to build a satisfactory answer from. So instead, I decided to point out for your use some results that appear when you replace "white" with "whyte" in Early English Books Online searches.
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
It's just a suggested source that you might be able to include in a real answer. As matters stand, i don't have anything like enough information to build a satisfactory answer from. So instead, I decided to point out for your use some results that appear when you replace "white" with "whyte" in Early English Books Online searches.
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
2
2
+1 what does a well researched question have to do to earn an upvote here??
– Mari-Lou A
yesterday
+1 what does a well researched question have to do to earn an upvote here??
– Mari-Lou A
yesterday
3
3
Did it every occur to anyone that not everything has been made available on the internet? Early books online or not.
– Lambie
11 hours ago
Did it every occur to anyone that not everything has been made available on the internet? Early books online or not.
– Lambie
11 hours ago
|
show 8 more comments
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1
I'm not sure if the phrase "white person" was used because I haven't read the original texts, but wasn't one of the Knights of the Round Table biracial, and depicted as being black on one side of his body, and white on the other half? It seems likely that the Arthurian mythos stories where he appears might have some terminology that is germane to your research.
– nick012000
Feb 28 at 4:13
1
The translation of Peter Martyr of Angleria that you cite in your question about "white man/men" includes this: "Of these lands, Iacobus Gastaldus wryteth thus: The newe lande of Baccalaos, is a coulde region, whose inhabytauntes are Idolatours and praye to the soonne and moon and dyuers Idoles. They are whyte people and very rustical. For they eate flesshe and fysshe and all other thynges rawe."
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
1
It's just a suggested source that you might be able to include in a real answer. As matters stand, i don't have anything like enough information to build a satisfactory answer from. So instead, I decided to point out for your use some results that appear when you replace "white" with "whyte" in Early English Books Online searches.
– Sven Yargs
2 days ago
2
+1 what does a well researched question have to do to earn an upvote here??
– Mari-Lou A
yesterday
3
Did it every occur to anyone that not everything has been made available on the internet? Early books online or not.
– Lambie
11 hours ago