glenjay
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2009
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I am doing some research on the etymology of shoe type names such as:
Oxford
Balmoral
Blucher
Derby
Gibson
I am not concerned with what the differences are between the shoe types (such as open lacing or closed lacing) I am trying to focus on where the names actually came from.
My research thus far is as follows:
Balmoral:
The style became popular when Prince Albert wore them at Balmoral Castle in the mid-1800's.
I do not know if the Prince had anything to do with the design, or if he simply made them popular by wearing them. I do not know when the actual design came in to being, or it simply evolved from a side lace boot to a front lace boot.
Oxford:
At the start of the 1900's it started becoming popular to wear shoes, rather than boots, at the universities. Being a common sight at Oxford University, the shoe gained the name of the university.
This does not explain how Oxford boots, which Oxford shoes were derived from, got their name.
Blucher:
Named after the Prussian field marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher when he ordered the design for the boots his troops wore.
Again, I am not sure if he had anything to do with the design, or did he just make them popular.
Derby:
As far as I can tell this is the exact same thing as a Blucher. And, I suspect it is named after the town of Derby in England, but I am not sure why.
Gibson:
As far as I can tell the name Gibson is given to Bluchers made for women. I have no idea where the name Gibson comes from.
If anyone could give me some direction where I could find more specific information, or would like to give me more detail on where any of these names come from, I would really appreciate it.
-Glen
Oxford
Balmoral
Blucher
Derby
Gibson
I am not concerned with what the differences are between the shoe types (such as open lacing or closed lacing) I am trying to focus on where the names actually came from.
My research thus far is as follows:
Balmoral:
The style became popular when Prince Albert wore them at Balmoral Castle in the mid-1800's.
I do not know if the Prince had anything to do with the design, or if he simply made them popular by wearing them. I do not know when the actual design came in to being, or it simply evolved from a side lace boot to a front lace boot.
Oxford:
At the start of the 1900's it started becoming popular to wear shoes, rather than boots, at the universities. Being a common sight at Oxford University, the shoe gained the name of the university.
This does not explain how Oxford boots, which Oxford shoes were derived from, got their name.
Blucher:
Named after the Prussian field marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher when he ordered the design for the boots his troops wore.
Again, I am not sure if he had anything to do with the design, or did he just make them popular.
Derby:
As far as I can tell this is the exact same thing as a Blucher. And, I suspect it is named after the town of Derby in England, but I am not sure why.
Gibson:
As far as I can tell the name Gibson is given to Bluchers made for women. I have no idea where the name Gibson comes from.
If anyone could give me some direction where I could find more specific information, or would like to give me more detail on where any of these names come from, I would really appreciate it.
-Glen
