In case you hadn't noticed, Michigan has been in the news a lot lately, what with a plot to kidnap its governor, disputes about the integrity of its election, and the summoning of its legislative leaders to the White House, presumably to discuss how to improve their golf games.

But these divisive events are nothing compared to a bitter debate that has raged among Michigan residents for two centuries: what to call themselves.

Ever since the 1820s, when Michigan was still a territory, its residents have been labeling one another "Michiganians," "Michiganites," "Michiganers" and a whole bunch of other names we can't print here.

Then, during the 1840s, a new term emerged: "Michigander." Legend has it that Abraham Lincoln coined "Michigander" in 1848 when, as a Whig congressman, he denounced Michigan Democrat Lewis Cass.

Because some people thought Cass resembled a goose, Lincoln slyly accused the Democrats of deceitfully trying to attach a brilliant military reputation "onto the great Michigander."

The name stuck, not only to Cass but also to his fellow Wolverines. In 1919, H. L. Mencken declared authoritatively in his classic book "The American Language," "A citizen of Michigan is a 'Michigander.'"

Nevertheless, the feud continued. Some claimed "Michiganite" sounded like some kind of rock or mineral, while others suggested that "Michiganer" sounded a little too much like "meshuggener," a Yiddish word for a foolish or crazy person. Still others wondered whether the sister of a male "Michigander" would be a "Michigoose." It got so bad that, in 1979, the Michigan state legislature felt it necessary to declare "Michiganian" the official state demonym.

My recent search of the four terms on Google Ngram (a digital tool that tracks the frequency of a term's use over time) shows that "Michiganian," "Michiganite" and "Michiganer" all appeared during the early 1800s but were quickly eclipsed by "Michigander" after it debuted during the 1840s.

"Michigander" quickly skyrocketed in popularity, dominating the other three terms from 1860 until the mid-1970s. Then, thanks to the aforementioned legislative decree, "Michiganian" suddenly spiked briefly to challenge "Michigander," only to fade during the 2000s and 2010s. By 2018, "Michigander" was being used seven times more often than "Michiganian" and 25 times more often than "Michiganite" and "Michiganer."

It would appear that Michiganders from Ypsilanti to Isle Royale have finally cast their votes — in more ways than one.

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

Photo credit: 12019 at Pixabay