As a result of its complex history, Modern English has several different ways of deriving names of national or ethnic groups from the names of the cities, countries, or regions associated with them. Choice among these different ways is, to a great extent, made on the basis of phonological considerations having to do with the last syllable of the relevant place-name or with the overall phonological shape of the entire place-name, but other considerations may occasionally have an impact. Among these, derogation usually plays at most a very small role.
