British or English

[Dellspoem]

Currently having a conversation/ debate with a friend. Are you British or English? Do you consider one a nationality and one an ethnicity?

My Asian family members describe themselves as British Asian. Saying 'I'm English' is synonymous with something else, mainly because of the connotations with the English flag and nationalism.

They are both geographic locations, so technically this shouldnt be that different. And you don't get the same with Scottish or Welsh.

What are your thoughts?

Well he’s a fantasist. If his parents are British he may be British but he certainly isn’t English.

British. Born in Pembrokeshire but below the landsker line so definitely don't see myself or my children as any part Welsh.

Welsh.

I'm not English so would have to choose British out of those two options.

Of my 8 great grandparents, 1 was English and 1 was of Irish heritage. The rest were European. I regard myself as British.

Of DH's great grandparents: 1was Welsh, 1 was French, 6 were English. On his father's side all English and a name that can be traced to the 12 Century. DH regards himself as an English Francophile.

@biscuitandcake mine would be:

1. Touch
2. Pax
3. Roll

Any guesses? 😁

I learned on some lecture on BBC radio - that English is your heritage from way back generations is from England. Same for Wales/Welsh, IOM/Manx …
If you’re a “newcomer” and there’s no exact date but I’m guessing quite a few generations. Then you are British. It would be wrong to describe a person of non-English many generations descent to describe themselves as English. (Like you really need to be white and go back at least 200 y+ yrs to be English). Also, a no no if way way back, your forebears were Irish, or Scottish … then you still are not English.

The BBC guy was saying “English” can be racism. So really don’t say it, ever. . Like “you’re not English (to someone with UK citizenship), get out of my Shire”

After hearing Mr BBC … I was careful to never call anyone English again!

Don’t like the BBC, the really do like to a good brainwash.

I do wince, when travelling abroad now, when some says “you’re English?” Because it’s racist.

Thanks so much BBC.

Fuck this 'nationalistic'/'cultural' BS - the kind of BS that seeks to divide. I'm British - not pure Scottish like my father, nor pure English like my Mother. Just a mongrel purely belonging to neither country; with a Californian childhood too.

If I didn't look so much like both my parents I could be a by-product of the milkman or a sexy stewardess instead. But I'm fine with being British and am happy with that truth with no desire to obscure it.

Joanna Lumley would like a word...

I’m English, despite lots of Irish heritage. Saying I’m British strikes me as a bit odd, don’t quite know why.

British is a nationality. English an ethnicity.

I always say I'm British rather than English despite being born and brought up here. I do have some Welsh grandparent and above though.

I think you might need to do a little more research on what the "English" gene pool is made up of - and while past immigration is of course nowhere near post war and post EU experience in terms of numbers, the idea of ethnic stasis from 1080 or so until 1951 is fairly ahistorical...

And in thinking about the (smaller) waves of immigrants who for economic or asylum reasons came to England across those 900 years, don't forget the Scottish, Irish and Welsh immigrants - funny how "Englishness" bends itself to convenience. The Irish-born population of England was about 3% of the overall population in 1861 - and over 20% in cities like Liverpool.

English as far back as records go. I am therefore also British. Lived in Wales for a few years 20 years ago but as an adult so that doesn't make me Welsh. DC born in Wales but mostly lived in England with English parents so again English and British. 25% school children now not British and this is normal in many countries so the country will be very different.

I was born in Scotland to English parents who happened to be there for work for a couple of years. Lived in England since I was 2, went to school here. Grandparents and great grandparents all English. Does the fact of being born in Scotland mean I'm not English? Genuine question, have never thought about it before and would usually refer to myself as either English or British

Yes. You are British.

My DNA is pretty much 1/4 each English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish with a tiny bit of Swedish. I consider myself British.

It’s not something I consciously think about in general, but I do describe myself as British. Both my parents are English and was brought up and live in England (although I work in Wales and live very near the border).

His parents are English. He only has a British passport too - so he is adamant he is an Englishman born in France.

Both. I was born and brought up in England, hence I'm English. But I'm also British, both because England is part of Britain and also because I've got ancestors from all 4 countries in the UK within the last few generations so genetically I'm a bit of a miss mash. I guess if I had to pick one I'd say British, though I do support England in sports' competitions if they're playing other countries from the UK!

I think my response would depend on how the question was asked, asked my nationality I would say British, but asked which country I'm from I'd say England. I don't know why

1. It
2. I am probably being dense but I don't think I have a single word I'd use in both of these situations?
3. Roll

I'm interested to hear other people's second points because it might prompt me to recognise what mine is!

British, lived in 3 countries of the UK and have grandparents from 2 and great grandparents from all over UK and great great grandparents from further afield

Well it’s not unique to feel you are something you are not. It’s unusual for an expat not to understand the difference between British and English.

I'm British with an Irish parent, a Scottish parent and I was born in Germany (due to father in the RAF at the time). I have lived primarily in England. I'm not sure why but I'm always a bit 🙄 when I see people describe their nationality as English.