Aussies,are you descended from convicts ?

Question

Clearly many currently living in Australia have emigrated there in more recent times. Then there is the Aboriginal population.But there must be a sizeable number who are descended from those convicted and transported to Australia. I just wondered if any Aussies had researched their family histories and found this to be true.I am interested in any details you have to share.By the way I am from Blighty.

Answer 1

Whoever it was, there must have been some really good athletes amongst them, since we can't seem to beat them at anything. If you are really interested, read Robert Hughes " The Fatal Shore" for a good analysis of the early Australians.

Answer 2

i think you are asking in the spirit of curiosity and geneology which is cool. i'd have to disagree with the answerer who said there would be "just as many" as there are in the U.S. the proportions would not seem to be too even, as i could imagine it, as Australia was clearly slated as a penal colony in the beginning and while some folks might have been sent to the U.S. as punishment, the numbers couldn't have been anywhere near as many--most of them were sent to Australia!! just a statistical aside.

Answer 3

I would guess that they are no more descended from convicts than alot of Americans are. There were alot of convicts sent to America-to get rid of them.

Answer 4

I reckon so but dont for get those persons and their families that came over to run the prisons

Answer 5

The Australians that I have met who are descendants of POME's (Prisoner of Mother England) have been very proud of it. I don't know what % they are. But they are there.

Answer 6

yes there are quite a few pommes there = Prisonners of mother england.