Taffy was a Welshman

"Taffy was a Welshman" is an English nursery rhyme built on an anti-Welsh slur, sung by English children to taunt their neighbours, often on St David's Day. It casts "Taffy" (from the Welsh name Dafydd) as a thief, and its popularity has rightly faded as a relic of old border prejudice.

Origins

The earliest documented printed version of the rhyme appeared around 1780 in Nancy Cock's Pretty Song Book. Oral versions likely circulated earlier in the eighteenth century, particularly in counties along the English-Welsh border. The rhyme was traditionally recited by English children on Saint David's Day, the national day of Wales, as a form of teasing. The song is cataloged under number 6806 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Due to its negative stereotyping, the rhyme's popularity declined significantly in the twentieth century.

Meaning & Interpretation

The lyrics describe a character named Taffy who is labeled a Welshman and a thief who steals beef, lamb, and other meats. The narrator responds by going to Taffy's house and retaliating through various mischievous acts, such as hitting Taffy on the head, damaging his hat, filling his shoes with clay, or burning his coat.

The term "Taffy" was a common English slang nickname for a Welsh person, derived from the Welsh name Dafydd, which corresponds to David. The rhyme's themes of theft and retaliation represent the historical animosity and border raids that occurred between the English and Welsh for centuries following the medieval conquest of Wales. While once considered a harmless playground song, the rhyme is now recognized as a historical artifact of cultural prejudice.

What is the history behind Taffy was a Welshman?

The rhyme is an English song first printed around 1780 in Nancy Cock's Pretty Song Book. It was historically sung by English children on Saint David's Day to mock Welsh border neighbors.

What is the meaning of the name Taffy?

Historically, Taffy was a colloquial English nickname for a Welsh person. It originated as a corruption of Dafydd, the Welsh form of the name David.