To find it weird when people volunteer that their family is extremely old / established in the area?

[CruCru]

I know that all families are old (technically). I’ve met a series of people who, when I asked how long they’ve lived in XYZ area or country, they tell me that they’ve been there since 1620 or for 17 generations.

AIBU to find this a bit of a weird thing to tell a relative stranger? It’s so specific - a bit like telling people their exact IQ.

I think it’s interesting.

I can’t stand small talk, though. I’d much rather hear how your great uncle was Richard 3rd’s poop monitor.

I can’t say I’ve ever come across this.

It’s a bit weird that you are asking strangers how long they have lived in a country or area and then you get annoyed that their answer is too long.

I’ve never come across this. Where do you live?

I don't think I've ever heard it either, but it is quite interesting I suppose and it's not weird to tell someone who has asked how long you've been living somewhere. Just an extension on 'born and bred'.

I've literally never heard this 😄, I must move in the wrong circles.

when I asked

AIBU to find this a bit of a weird thing

And yet you keep asking. If it's so bothersome I suggest you stop asking that particular question.

It's not wierd when you asked them how long they've lived there.

Oh, you asked them. That's the answer then, I'd never think to ask anyone this.

You’re annoyed because people answer a question you’ve asked them?

Ah, fair enough. One was a woman from Bermuda - we met on holiday and I asked how long she’d lived there. Pretty much everyone I’ve met in Bermuda is from somewhere else and is on a limited time visa. I think I’d probably just say that I’d always lived there and my family had been there for a long time. The idea of counting generations seems very strange to me - but my family is not posh.

I've never met anyone who's told me this kind of thing.

I used to live in an English village where this was definitely a thing. The ‘oldest’ families expected to be treated with a level of deference. Weird.

Well that's why she told you. It's vaguely interesting because she is absolutely, undeniably Bermudan and you didn't expect it.

Yes, I think that was it. I think I didn’t look suitably impressed enough when she told me.

I've never heard this but would find it fascinating.

None of my family have been in any one location for several generations, at least not in recent history! I am rather fascinated by families that are very rooted in one geographical location...dh's family are like this. He is the only one who has ever really moved away...

This.

I mean, like others, I have literally never had anyone tell me how long their ancestors have lived in a place in the whole of my life, but, in the situation you describe, it is sort of relevant, as it is a very unusual thing.

I would find it interesting!

I agree with @coffeerum - a) where on earth do you live that this is something that's happened more than once, and b) no, it would be weird if it was information that was volunteered out of the blue but it sounds like they are just responding to the question you've asked them!

Perfectly normal round here, and it’s usually quite interesting on a local history level. Local history is my idea of good, polite conversation though.

Would this be a good time to mention that I can trace direct ancestors back in the village where I still live to 1595 when my 8X Grandfather's baptism was recorded in the church registers. There were no registers before then so my lot probably go back much further.
Family history is a hobby of mine, due to this I have made contact with distance relatives spread around the world. I have a regular zoom chat with one distance cousin in the USA, I'm in England, who I wouldn't know existed if we weren't both interested in Ancestry.

I think that's rather wonderful!

It's quite common in Ireland. Some towns see you as a blow in even if your granny was born there🙄😂

My mum refers to them as rustics, which is probably an offensive term knowing her 😂