British police officers are often called "bobbies". Why?

Player #581161, according to the encyclopedia Britannica both bobbies and peelers were used to describe the London metropolitan police force established by Robert Peel. Both descriptions came from his name.

FunkyMonkey, you and LittleDucky52 are both apparently incorrect. I looked it up on Snopes and this is what it said: Instead, the police-specific use of “cop” made its way into the English language in far more languid fashion. “Cop” has long existed as a verb meaning “to take or seize,” but it didn’t begin to make the linguistic shifts necessary to turn it into a casual term for “police officer” until the mid-19th century. The first example of ‘cop’ taking the meaning “to arrest” appeared in print around 1844, and the word then swiftly moved from being solely a verb for “take into police custody” to also encompassing a noun referring to the one doing the detaining. By 1846, policemen were being described as “coppers,” the ‘-er’ ending having been appended to the “arrest” form of the verb, and by 1859 “coppers” were also being called “cops,” the latter word a shortening of the former. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cop-talk/

Bobby is short for ROBERT and in his honour his officers carried on his name.... for those sat saying they a are unsure of the answer 🙄

Named after the founder of the police force. sir Robert peel, who was born in Leicester but became MP for Tamworth. His statue is in Market Street, and there is also the Robert Peel hospital in Mile Oak Tamworth staffs

The 'Peel Tower' on Holcombe Hill, near Bury, was built for his recognition.

They were called "Peelers" Originally

Very easy beig British.

dolphinmn, CONSTABLE

FunkyMonkey, Cop isn't short for coppers. the term COP is short for citizens on patrol.

FunkyMonkey, No Worries! It seems most of these definitions are correct, depending on what source is used. Have a good day and behave to avoid, no matter the name!

FunkyMonkey, Constable on patrol.

called peelers.

in Ireland many years ago they were called peelers after Robert peels surname

I was told here in Australia the term Copper or Cop came from the reference of the Police back in the early days that the public would say, Police aren't worth 2 bob (copper coin) which were made of that metal.

Player #581161, peeler and hobbies, I am english

FunkyMonkey, Constable On Patrol. That's what Cop means.

FunkyMonkey, Actually, "cop" comes from Constable on Patrol.

Also called the raw lobsters, the blue devils and bludgeon men in their early days.

Not so sure about that one. I know the police were called peelers after Sir Robert Peel