People from Cornwall are called Cornish (in the Cornish language, they are the Kernowyon). In 2026, the Cornish are legally recognized as a national minority in the United Kingdom, placing them in a similar cultural and ethnic category as the Welsh, Scots, and Irish. This recognition stems from their distinct Celtic ancestry, unique language (Kernewek), and long-standing history as a separate duchy. While many Cornish people identify as British or English, a significant and growing number identify primarily as Cornish. You might also hear the term "Cousin Jack" or "Cousin Jenny," historical nicknames for Cornish miners and their wives who emigrated to work in mines around the world, from Australia to Mexico. However, in modern daily conversation, "the Cornish" or "Cornish people" is the standard and most respectful way to refer to the inhabitants of this rugged, southernmost tip of the British Isles.