List of ethnic sports team and mascot names
Many sports team mascots are named for an ethnic group or similar category of people. Though these names typically refer to a group native to the area in which the sports team is based, many teams take their names from groups which are known for their strength (such as Spartans or Vikings ), despite not being located near the historic homes of these groups.
Professional teams
American
Allen Americans (ECHL ) – Allen, Texas , USA Houston Texans (National Football League ) – Houston , Texas , USA New York Knicks (NBA), the name "Knick" is a shortened version of the word "Knickerbocker", a term which comes from a pseudonym used by Washington Irving in his book, A History of New York . The term was used to refer to the descendants of the original Dutch settlers of New York. Later, by extension, the term was used to describe New Yorkers in general.New York Yankees (Major League Baseball) – New York City , New York , USA Rochester Americans (American Hockey League ) – Rochester, New York , USA Tri-City Americans (Western Hockey League ) – Kennewick, Washington , USA
Canadians in general
Fighting Irish University of Notre Dame, USA
Italian
School and youth teams
Athenians
Dutchmen
Norse
Alma College , Alma, Michigan – ScotsCarlmont High School , Belmont, California – ScotsCollege of Wooster , Wooster, Ohio – Fighting ScotsCovenant College , Lookout Mountain, Georgia – ScotsEdinboro University , Edinboro, Pennsylvania Gordon College , Boston , Massachusetts – Fighting ScotsIncline High School , Incline Village, Nevada - HighlandersLyon College , Batesville, Arkansas – ScotsMacalester College , Saint Paul, Minnesota – Fighting ScotsMcHenry County College , McHenry County, Illinois – ScotsMaryville College , Maryville, Tennessee – ScotsMonmouth College , Monmouth, Illinois – Fighting ScotsNew Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, New Jersey Ohio Valley University , Vienna, West Virginia – Fighting ScotsPresbyterian College , Clinton, South Carolina – Nickname is Blue Hose , mascot is Scotty the ScotsmanRadford University , Radford, Virginia Rochester Adams High School , Rochester Hills, Michigan - HighlandersShadle Park High School , Spokane, Washington – Highlanders (Based on the Henderson Clan)University of California , Riverside, California Augustana College , Rock Island, Illinois Augustana University , Sioux Falls, South Dakota Bethany Lutheran College , Mankato, Minnesota Cleveland State University , Cleveland , Ohio Downey High School , Downey, California Homewood-Flossmoor High School , Flossmoor, Illinois Lynbrook High School , San Jose, California Miamisburg High School , Miamisburg, Ohio Northern Kentucky University , Highland Heights, Kentucky – Nickname is Norse ; mascot is Victor E. Viking.Portland State University , Portland, Oregon Western Washington University , Bellingham, Washington
Defunct names
Atlanta Black Crackers – (Negro league baseball team)C.D. Euzkadi (los vascos Basques ") - Mexican football team (1938-1939)Cleveland Indians - (Major League Baseball team), Cleveland , Ohio , now the GuardiansCincinnati Cubans – (Negro league baseball team)Edmonton Eskimos – (Canadian Football League ) – Edmonton , Alberta . Name use discontinued in 2020. Team rebranded as Edmonton Elks in 2021 after interim period as "EE Football Team."Hermosillo Seris Hofstra Flying Dutchmen , now the "Pride"MacMurray College , Jacksonville, Illinois – mascot was the HighlanderNebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen , today the "Prairie Wolves"New York Americans – (National Hockey League , 1925–1941)New York Black Yankees – (Negro league baseball team)New York Cubans – (Negro league baseball team)Pekin High School (Pekin, Illinois) Chinks , now the "Dragons"Quebec Nordiques – (WHA 1972–1979, NHL 1979–1995)San Antonio Black Indians – (Negro league baseball team)Sonoma State University Cossacks, now the SeawolvesWashington Redskins (National Football League ) – Washington, D.C. , USA , now the CommandersWayne State Tartars , now the Warriors.
See also
References