What do you consider your nationality to be?

[AntiFlag]

Do you think it’s where you’re born? Or your parentage? Or your grandparentage?

For example, if you were born in Scotland, but your mum was Russian and your dad Venezuelan, what would you class yourself as?

Someone I know says they’re Irish because they have an Irish grandparent, but how far do you got back? AIBU to think only a couple of generations defines your nationality? Or do you think it can be longer?

And how much does it mean to you? I’m generally curious, I live in a place where locals are very fierce about their roots and I am a bit of a mongrol from my heritage and it’s never really bothered me, I just say ‘British’ because I was born and live here.

Welsh.

Irrespective of the passport I hold, I don’t identify as British. To me, British is a byword for English.

I’m the only one of my family not born in England, but I was less than 2 years old when we moved back so I don’t remember that country at all. All ethnically white British, so I consider myself British/English depending on the context eg. British when watching the olympics, English when watching the 6 Nations… Mostly I would say British though.

[quote CutePanda]**@AntiFlag* For example, if you were born in Scotland, but your mum was Russian and your dad Venezuelan, what would you class yourself as?*

Your nationality would be Scottish/British. However, ethnicity is different. If your mum is full Russian and dad full Venezuelan then you would be half Russian and half Venezuelan, but your nationality is Scottish/British (British born, British passport).

Someone I know says they’re Irish because they have an Irish grandparent, but how far do you got back? AIBU to think only a couple of generations defines your nationality? Or do you think it can be longer?

No, they are NOT Irish. I’d only count whatever your parents are. If your dad is half Irish half English and your mum is English, then you would be 3/4 English and 1/4 Irish.[/quote]
That's not right about the Russian/Venezuelan citizenship. If you were born in Scotland with a Russian and a Venezuelan parent, you would be entitled to either Russian or Venezuelan citizenship and might be entitled to British citizenship depending on the residency status of your parents, the date of your birth and where you lived subsequently.

Cornish is an ethnicity. You were able to select it on the recent census.
It doesn't matter that it's not a country. My husband is Ashkenazi Jew and that's not a country either. It still shows in his DNA test.

Sorry, that was to @CutePanda

I should say I'm British nationality.

Ethnicity is more complex. I'm half Welsh, half Irish - the more I research probably 1/4 traveller 1/4 Irish. So half British half Irish/European?

I oscillate between human and European, but my European identity is more political.

I think a focus on nationality is a very concerning thing that leads to hatred, wars and fascism. I cannot for the life of me understand how I am more entitled to live, to eat, to have clean water and be educated because I was born in a particular location.

If the world’s resources were shared more equally, there would be less need for people to traipse across the globe to find a reluctant safety. We are all human and that should be the defining identity when considering global policies.

Welsh

On forms I just tick white british is it really a big deal? Not claiming I'm something else because I might of had a cousin twice removed who was Irish some of the distant links here are ridiculous.

Depends on the tick box no? I'm Scottish, my passport says British though eh? So I'm british. I do usually tick British though.

New Zealander of English and a smattering of Irish descent.

British / New Zealand citizenship.

We live in Canada.

I usually just say British because I am Scottish with an English accent (move to England at 9 and basically had my accent bullied out of me). It's easier than saying Scottish and the inevitable "Oh, you don't sound Scottish". I am 100% Scottish though.

My DH is English and both our children were born in England. My DS has always said he feels Scottish though and gets genuinely conflicted when he has to 'pick a side' (eg at football games). I think this may be because my family is so much more open and welcoming than DH's though and whenever we go to Scotland we have a wonderful time and feel at home.

British, though I have dual Australian nationality. I spent most of 65+years in England, so consider it would be very silly to claim to be Australian at this late stage.

My nationality is British. But hoping to have dual nationality soon!

My nationality is Canadian.

My ancestry is a mix.

On my Dad's side, a mixture of Scottish and English who came to the US and Canada at various times starting very early on (Mayflower type stuff). Most ended up in the Canadian maritime provinces. My surname comes from a man that came from Gloucestershire to P.EI. When they were offering land grants.

On my Mother's side, I am Finnish and Swedish. Mostly Finnish.

My grandparents came (separately) to Canada from Finland. My Mum was born in Vancouver. My grandparents were Swedish speaking Finns.

This has all been confirmed by two different DNA tests.

It is interesting that despite the passage of time, my two sides of the family retained many aspects of their cultural heritage. I am as familiar with Yorkshire pudding as I am with pickled herring and Maple syrup.

@DaisyWaldron I said that your nationality is where you’re born/passport (if your parents are legal citizens of that country). Ethnicity is different, hence why someone can ethnically be half Russian half Venezuelan but their nationality is British.

Irish/American
Born in the US but raised in Ireland. Both parents born in Ireland but my father grew up in the US.

Irish, with ancestors born in Ireland, England, Canadian maritime provinces, the Caribbean and South America.

Scottish

To those saying nationality is based on your passport what happens when you have citizenship and are entitled to multiple passports from birth? I consider myself to have triple nationality as I was eligible for three passports from birth.

Oh, I misunderstood and thought when you said that the parents were Russian and Venezuelan that you meant that they were Russian and Venezuelan nationals rather than British people of Russian and Venezuelan descent.

Because if a Russian and a Venezuelan national met during their PhDs at a Scottish university and had a baby together, the baby wouldn't automatically be a British citizen unless it was born before 1983.

Although I am British because I was born here and it is what I tick on forms but I don’t really consider myself British as parents and grandparents are immigrants from Europe/Middle East.
When I think about it I don’t have any British friends. My friends have either been born in other countries or their parents have.

@brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Earth. And only because leaving it presents a similarly high barrier to that of leaving your country in the past. Countries and borders should no longer be required, nor should establishing your identity by their bounds - given the ability to travel anywhere on the planet in a matter of hours. Those identities used to be forged by limitations which no longer exist.

Nope, you forget the role of taxes and socialised services. To have those things you need borders. Read up on the Progressives Dilemma.

@RedEagles15

To those saying nationality is based on your passport what happens when you have citizenship and are entitled to multiple passports from birth? I consider myself to have triple nationality as I was eligible for three passports from birth.

Like many people. Your eligibility for passport(s) is due to your nationality(ies)

European