Why do the British refer to Americans as Yanks?

Question

I am not a Yank,I am from the Midwest.

My Grandfather fought for the south also.

Answer 1

Not just the British - I'm an Aussie and we do too

Answer 2

Many British Americans have ancestry in America that dates back to colonial times in the 17th and 18th centuries. Those who went to New England are known as Yankees. With their roots being in America for such a long period, many British Americans and a significant number of Irish Americans have begun to think of themselves ancestrally simply as "Americans."

Answer 3

The Native Americans (Red Indians) gave the name Yankies when Christopher Columbus landed in America.

Answer 4

I think the British started it to make fun of the Americans but it turned around to be a patriotic song back around 1776.

Yankee doodle.

Answer 5

Yankee Doodle referred to all Americans during the war

Answer 6

It wasn't that long ago that Americans referred to the British(?) as limeys.

Answer 7

I'm a yankee doodle dandy! Yankee doodle do or die. A reaal true nephew of my Uncle Sam, born on the fourth of July...

Answer 8

why do we refer to them as the bloody brits? and why do you yanks and brits think all southerners are hicks/rednecks

Answer 9

y do u yanks call us canucks?

i dont see where the problem is

Answer 10

We,re just as dumb too.I,M A YANKIE DOODLE DANDY .
No idea what one is but its the song we named you after sorry its sad ,i know.