Why Is It Called "Great Britain"? The 1707 Act of Union Explained

The Origin of "Great Britain"

The name "Great Britain" came into official use on May 1, 1707, when the Acts of Union joined the Kingdom of England (including Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland into a single sovereign state: the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Historical Context

• Pre-1707: Two separate kingdoms sharing a monarch since 1603 (Union of Crowns under James VI/I), but with separate parliaments, laws, churches, and currencies.
• Drivers of Union:
  • England: Security (prevent Stuart restoration via Scotland), trade access to colonial markets.
  • Scotland: Economic crisis (Darien Scheme failure), access to English markets/colonies, debt relief (Equivalent).
• Negotiations: 1705–1706; Treaty of Union signed July 1706; ratified by both parliaments early 1707.

What the 1707 Acts Did

• Created a single Parliament of Great Britain (meeting at Westminster), replacing the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland.
• Established a unified currency (Pound Sterling), trade laws, flag (first Union Jack), and citizenship.
• Preserved Scottish distinctives: Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), Scots law, education system, royal burghs.
• Guaranteed Scottish representation: 45 MPs + 16 peers in new Parliament.

Why "Great"?

"Great" (from French Grande Bretagne) originally distinguished the larger island** (Britain) from **Brittany (Bretagne)** in France (Little Britain / Bretagne). The term was used geographically since the 12th century (Ptolemy's Megale Brettania). The 1707 Act adopted it as the political name for the new united kingdom.