Where Is the Isle of Man and How Was It Named?

The Isle of Man is an island in the Irish Sea, about halfway between Ireland and Great Britain. This 30-mile-long island is not part of the United Kingdom, but is actually a British dependency, or "British Crown Fiefdom," with a good deal of self government.

The people of the Isle of Man once had a language all their own. This language, called Manx, was related to Irish, but today it's just about extinct.

The name of this island has nothing to do with the word man. The Celtic people who lived in the British Isles called the island Manu or Manau, and the Norsemen who invaded the region called it Mon.

Eventually, the island became known as Mann, and then, as the Isle of Man.