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 playerAlex Menzies (footballer, born 1882), Scottish international football playerArchibald Menzies, (1754–1842), British medic and biologist; ship's doctor and naturalist on board George Vancouver's voyage to the North PacificCharles Menzies, anthropologistCharles Menzies, (1783–1866), Royal Marines officerDouglas Menzies, former Justice of the High Court of AustraliaGavin Menzies, retired British submarine captain and authorGeorge Menzies, New Zealand rugby league footballerGina Menzies, Irish media personalityHeather Menzies, actressHenry Menzies, (1867–1938), Scottish rugby playerHugh Menzies, (1857–1925), Australian politicianIvan Menzies, (1896–1985), singer and actorJames Menzies, New Zealand politicianJames Menzies (Wisconsin), (1830–1913), American politicianJohn A. Menzies, Manitoba judgeJohn K. Menzies, former US-Bosnian ambassador and academicKarl Menzies, Australian cyclistMark Menzies, Scottish Conservative MPNeal Menzies, Australian Professor of Soil SciencePeter Menzies Jr., Australian cinematographerRobert Gordon Menzies, Australia's longest serving Prime MinisterSteve Menzies, Australian rugby league playerStewart Menzies, Head of British Secret Intelligence Service 1939–1952Ted Menzies, Canadian politician (MP)Tobias Menzies, actorWilliam Cameron Menzies, (1896–1957), American film directorWalter Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the United KingdomIain Menzies Banks, Scottish writer, penname used for his science fiction works.Hundred of Menzies, a cadastral unit on Kangaroo Island in South AustraliaMenzies, Western AustraliaMount Menzies, AntarcticaShire of Menzies, Western Australia