Menzies is a Scottish surname. It is probably derived, like its Gaelic form Méinnearach, from the Norman name Mesnières. The last name Menzie was changed to Mingie for all immigrants to the US because it was easier for Americans to pronounce.
This Scottish name is traditionally pronounced, as it still is in Scotland, /ˈmɪŋᵻz/ MING-iz, since the English letter <z> was used as a substitute for the now obsolete letter <ȝ> (yogh) in the Scots language (Menȝies). However, many now do not know this, and today it is often pronounced as if it were an English word and hence it is often pronounced /ˈmɛnziːz/ MENZ-eez. A Scottish limerick plays on the traditional pronunciation:
The second and fifth lines are pronounced as though the <z> were a <ȝ>, making "thing is" and "sting is", to rhyme with "Menzies". "Wasp" rhymes with "gasp" in Scots.
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
Charles Menzies, anthropologist
Charles Menzies, (1783–1866), Royal Marines officer
Douglas Menzies, former Justice of the High Court of Australia
Gavin Menzies, retired British submarine captain and author
George Menzies, New Zealand rugby league footballer
Gina Menzies, Irish media personality
Heather Menzies, 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), (1830–1913), American politician
John A. Menzies, Manitoba judge
John K. Menzies, former US-Bosnian ambassador and academic
Karl Menzies, Australian cyclist
Mark Menzies, Scottish Conservative MP
Neal Menzies, Australian Professor of Soil Science
Peter Menzies Jr., Australian cinematographer
Robert Gordon Menzies, Australia's longest serving Prime Minister
Steve Menzies, Australian rugby league player
Stewart Menzies, Head of British Secret Intelligence Service 1939–1952
Ted Menzies, Canadian politician (MP)
Tobias Menzies, actor
William Cameron Menzies, (1896–1957), American film director
Walter Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom
Iain Menzies Banks, Scottish writer, penname used for his science fiction works.
Hundred of Menzies, a cadastral unit on Kangaroo Island in South Australia
Menzies, Western Australia
Mount Menzies, Antarctica
Shire of Menzies, Western Australia
