Am I considered Spanish or Mexican?

Question

I have been doing my genelogy work and have found that I am 7th generation Californian. My family initally came from Spain in the 1500's to Mexico ( which was at that time considered a Spanish colony) they lived in Mexico until 1769, when they came to California ( which at that time was still considered a spanish colony) and became American when CA became a state in 1850, and have lived here ever since. So, what am I considered? Am I Spanish, Mexican....?

I don't mean where I was born, I mean my heretiage.

Answer 1

From the information given, you are definitely Spanish to some degree or another. Whether you're also considered "Mexican" by nationalista standards depends on whether your ancestors intermarried with natives or whether they continued marrying only pureblooded Spanish lines. If there's intermarriage, then you're considered to be both Spanish and Mexican. In fact, if you can figure out which tribe your ancestors belong to (Aztec,Mayan, Apache, etc) then you could also claim that affiliation.

Answer 2

If your family came from Spain your herritage is that of Spain. If your family has native indian blood from any of the indian cultures of Mexico or South America then it can be argued that your heritage is hispanic or Mexican. Many Spaniards however married into the local population of indians so you would be half indian and half Spaniard. If you can trace your male line back to Spain then you will also have a DNA makeup that is European.

Answer 3

"Spanish" is not a race, nor is "Mexican." They are nationalities.

Race-wise, if you have ONLY Spanish ancestory, you are Caucasian(white)...unless your Spanish relatives mixed with natives or "mestizos" (mix between Spanish and Native American) from Mexico, then in that case you would be a mix of some degree between Caucasian and Native American.

Nationality-wise you are AMERICAN because you were not born in California while it was still Mexico.

Answer 4

i imagine that is a huge difference of nationalism and lineage. i'm what some call an American, i replaced into born contained in the u . s ., i'm seen white, I easily have roots in England and Spain. i do not call myself Spanish/British except i take advantage of the word of Spanish/British descent. i understand on my fathers area my human beings got here into New Orleans in 1850, would not make me Louisianian.

Answer 5

Genealogically speaking you would have Spanish roots. If there was any intermarriage while in Mexico/California , then you would also include those. For simplicity sake you could say that you have a Spanish American lineage.

Answer 6

I wish, from the other side of the pond (UK), that this American habit of qualifying America citizens as African American, Italan American, Irish American and as you say Spanish/Mexican American is completely wrong. The sooner the better you all call yourselves Americans, and refer otherwise than in the first instance as 'of Spanish' origin, etc. It really annoys me and it only prolongs the possibility of racial issues. If you want to be Spanish, use that term, but do not qualify it as American.............

Answer 7

I would say that you are more likely Spanish Mexican- Both from Spain and Mexico.

Answer 8

I'd call you an American living in California, of Spanish descent.

Answer 9

I don't know, I have heard the term Hispanic alot but I don't really know what it means. I am half native American and half caucasion. So, which am I and should I be proud of Little Big Horn or sad? I think it is great you are researching your geneology, I am too and it is quite interesting and gives me a different look at history.

Answer 10

as for what is sounds like , you are MEXICAN... to have over 300 years backed up into mexico, that would mean 4 generations or more of mexican blood... which would deminish your spanish blood!!! so life heratige, you would be mexican...