Mancunian
A Mancunian is a person from Manchester, and the adjective for anything from the city; the everyday short form is Manc. The word comes from Mancunium, a Latin form of the name of the Roman fort that stood where Castlefield is today.
In practice
You will see "Mancunian" in formal and civic use - the Mancunian Way, the city's elevated ring road, is named after it - and hear "Manc" everywhere else, often with pride: a Manc accent, Manc humour, "proper Manc". Strictly the City of Manchester is one of ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, and people from Salford, Stockport or Bolton may answer to their own town first, though many will call themselves Mancs when they are away.
Why it matters to newcomers
Manchester's identity is strong and fast to adopt: people who moved here as adults are commonly accepted as Mancs within a few years if they stay. Be careful with Salford, which is a separate city with its own council and history, right across the River Irwell from Manchester city centre.
Related
- Our kid - the most Manc phrase of all
- Cottonopolis - the city's industrial nickname
- Worker bee - the symbol Mancunians wear
Source: Wiktionary: Mancunian.