Poll: Is it “a Maran” or “a Marans”?

[EEforMe]

Sooooo… I’ve seen it both ways and I got to wondering what the right way is. I personally think it’s “a Maran” but I’m open to being wrong (or being proven right ) If you don’t know please just say “I’m not sure” because I would like to see accurate numbers. Please elaborate on your choice below!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Doesn't matter to me how it's used.

 

[NatJ]

Sooooo… I’ve seen it both ways and I got to wondering what the right way is. I personally think it’s “a Maran” but I’m open to being wrong (or being proven right ) If you don’t know please just say “I’m not sure” because I would like to see accurate numbers. Please elaborate on your choice below!

Marans is the name of a town in France, and the chicken is named after the town.

The US has place names like Kansas and Minneapolis that end in "s"
If we name things after them, we don't drop the s. ("a Kansa" or "a Minneapoli" would sound really odd!)

So "a Marans" should be correct for one chicken from Marans.

 

[EEforMe]

Marans is the name of a town in France, and the chicken is named after the town.

The US has place names like Kansas and Minneapolis that end in "s"
If we name things after them, we don't drop the s. ("a Kansa" or "a Minneapoli" would sound really odd!)

So "a Marans" should be correct for one chicken from Marans.

Would the plural be Maranses or just Marans?

 

[NatJ]

Would the plural be Maranses or just Marans?

I always see the plural as Marans, but I don't have a specific reason that it would have to be.

I know English has words like sheep (plural sheep), so I assumed it works like that (because "Maranses" would certainly be awkward!)

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I think it's spelt "maran" but is pronounced with an 's'
I think ppl will understand either way so I change how I say it too

 

[Shadrach]

It's spelt Marans and as NatJ notes, these chickens come from Marans in France.
The French are quite fussy about it, both the spelling and their chickens.
Maybe we could start calling Boston, Bosto, or New York New Yor.

 

[SpicyDisaster]

I've only seen "marans" when referencing plural. We were sold a Cuckoo Maran so to me it's always been Maran. Though I voted unsure as I'm not very educated on the situation.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

@NatJ Is correct. Here in the US, we are of course able to bastardize it, as we have with so much else in our ignorance, but it's Marans. At least until we deny history enough that the error becomes the norm.

Plural, Marans.

 

[AusHen]

Marans when typed, Maran when spoken. Just like the town they are names after the S is silent