Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Is English a nationality/culture/ancestry?

35 replies

Dami090496 · 19/12/2023 10:48

I was born and raised in London to a totally immigrant background.

I currently still live in London.

I have a stronger attachment to English over British.

I identify with it more in terms of a national identity and culture.

Anyone agree or feel this way?

OP posts:
FortunataTagnips · 20/12/2023 15:37

I’m British, English and a Londoner. I have no English ancestry but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel English. If a foreigner asked me, I’d say I was British.

LlynTegid · 20/12/2023 16:41

England is a country, Britain three.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 20/12/2023 16:58

I'm English, I can't think of anyone I know who would describe themselves as anything other than English in this context. I sometimes qualify this with 'Black Country' but my accent usually give me away on that score Grin and I blame my Cornish mom when in heated debates over the correct way to deal with scones/jam/cream!

Abra1t · 20/12/2023 17:00

DumboHimalayan · 19/12/2023 11:49

I think that most people when asked the country they came from would say England, Scotland, Wales, Nothern Ireland (or Ireland.) I’m not sure many would say ‘I’m British’ outside the script of a kooky American sitcom.

I'd say "I'm from the UK" or "I'm British". That's what my passport says, and that's how I automatically think of myself. I rarely hear someone describe themselves as "English" unless someone wants to make a particular point.

We say we're British, or Brits. If asked further, one of us is Scottish by birth and blood and one English.

ErrolTheDragon · 20/12/2023 17:09

I'd say I'm British - my background is mostly northern English and some welsh.
I'm very fond of Scotland too and hope they don't split - I'm still sick that I, and my daughter, have been deprived of being European citizens.

While there certainly is 'English culture', some of it is shared with the other parts of the U.K. , and some is more regionally specific.

10yDrama · 20/12/2023 17:20

This is at least the third time you've started this same thread.

What answer aren't you getting that you need to before you stop asking?

Or are you a bot/troll?

Cupcakekiller · 20/12/2023 17:30

I'm English first, then British.

Lovethatforyouhun · 20/12/2023 17:35

I only use and feel English, asked where I am from its England 100%. Wales and Scotland are different nations.
Oh and I am not white, though I am not from an "immigrant background" either. On parent is from another country, but not an immigrant.

Thighdentitycrisis · 20/12/2023 17:48

@Wolvesart
interested what the Norman looked like?

cakeorwine · 20/12/2023 18:41

I have 2 parents - from Northern England
4 grandparents - Northern England
8 Great Grandparents - Irish, England
16 GG Grandparents
32 GGG grandparents....
And that's just generations - so about 150 years

Go back further and I have many many many ancestors - who will have come from all over England and no doubt abroad.

Norman Conquest was 1000 years ago. That's about 300 generations. Someone from that era will have a LOT of ancestors - and I have no doubt that if I did a family tree of every ancestor going back 300 years, that would be a lot of people.

So what does British or English mean? What does it mean to have an ancestor from Norman England? It means nothing as you have loads of ancestors.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page