Why is it called Queens’ College with the apostrophe after the ‘s’? The story goes that Queens’ College was founded by two Queens. These were Margaret of Anjou and Elizabeth Woodville. Margaret of Anjou was the wife of King Henry VI. She founded the college in 1448. Elizabeth Woodville was the wife of King Edward IV. She refounded it in 1465.
But how true is this story about the apostrophe in Queens’ College? It turns out the story isn’t very accurate. The use of the apostrophe to indicate possession is not that old. It wouldn’t have been used after the college’s second founding. The position of the apostrophe wouldn’t have mattered at that time. For its first two centuries, the name of Queens’ College was spelled without any apostrophe. In 1592, John Hamond spelled it Quenes college.
Even as late as 1655, Thomas Fuller used Queens Colledge. He did not use apostrophes in his History of the University of Cambridge. After the apostrophe began to appear, the college name was spelled in the singular form. Early examples consistently spelled it Queen’s. The earliest example of an apostrophe in the name dates from 1660. It appeared in John Smith’s Select Discourses. The name appeared as Queen’s, with the apostrophe before the ‘s’.
The name remained spelled in the singular form for at least 160 years. The earliest example of the name spelled in the plural form as Queens’ was in 1823. It was in the Form of Service for the Commemoration of Benefactors. In this document, the plural spelling Queens’ is used consistently. Yet, only a year earlier, the same editor had used the form Queen’s in his 1822 edition of the college Statutes.
This appears to have been a one-off reform attempt. In 1827, the spelling reverted to the singular form in the Library Catalogue. Elsewhere, outside the college, the singular spelling continued to be used for some years more. The spelling changed from Queen’s to Queens’ in the Cambridge University Calendar of 1831. Many guide-books and histories followed this change during the 1830s.
In early editions of Le Keux’s Memorials of Cambridge the name is spelled Queen’s College. A footnote says that writing Queens’ College is an unnecessary refinement. Despite this complaint, the spelling change to Queens’ became well established in the 19th century.
The formal corporate title of Queens’ College is now “The Queen’s College of St Margaret and St Bernard, commonly called Queens’ College, in the University of Cambridge.” The name of the college is spelled in the singular when qualified by the patron saints. The short-form common name is spelled in the plural.
Queens’ Lane is named after the College. Therefore, it should be spelled in the same way. Queens’ Green is presumably named for its proximity to the College. So it should be spelled in the same way. Queen’s Road is named after Queen Victoria. It is correctly spelled Queen’s in the singular form.
Queens’ College continues to evolve. It maintains its traditions. It embraces modernity, educating students from around the world. Its buildings and grounds offer a glimpse into centuries of history. They provide a vibrant setting for learning and growth. Remember the story behind the name Queens’ College as you explore. It is a reminder of the college’s unique past. It’s a testament to its enduring legacy.