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I read an article about how ethnic minorities and white British people define themselves. Most, 51%, ethnic people said British, so their ethnic orgin could go along with British. 52% of white people called themselves English. Some ethnic minorities called themselves English. To my way of thinking I think those with a predominant Anglo-Saxon ancestry can only call themselves English. I'm not being racist, but my argument is that the Anglo-Saxons called England, England and thus you have to have a large precentage of Anglo-Saxon ethnic heritage to be classed as English. Of course people of say Indian or Chinese heritage and born and raised here are British, but their ethnic origin is Indian or Chinese, therefore they can't be by bloodline be called English. I know England was invaded by Romans, Saxons etc, but 90% of white people in England of of Anglo-Saxon heritage. I class myself as English and most of my family surnames are of Anglo-Saxon origin. Thanks for any input.

2007-02-20 08:29:03 · 7 answers · asked by star 2 in Society & Culture Cultures & Groups Other - Cultures & Groups

7 answers

well maybe soen classified themselves as english because that is there nationality. just like u hve white africans, or black mexicans a white person from africa and a black from mexico. race, ethinicity and nationality can be confusing. like italian can be an ethinicity and a nationality.

2007-02-20 08:33:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

It is my understanding that over the years, there has been a lot of inter mingling of the different groups in the British Isles. During the British Civil War, most of the Scots (Presbyterians) were opposed to the Puritans and loyal to the Stuarts. The Stuarts also happened to be very tolerant of Catholics, thus the support of the Irish and highland Scots. The religion issue was just one part of the issues. The Presbyterian Scots were not forcing their views on the Catholics, although they didn't want to live under a Catholic King either. The Puritans were forcing their views on everyone else, but at the same time, were placing democratic reforms in Parliament; albeit, they controlled Parliament. The result was massive immigration from Scotland to Northern Ireland (Ulster) and to the Colonies. After the restoration, the Scots-Irish didn't care for James II either, and supported William of Orange. However, they viewed the new house of Hanover as a foreign government. A great number of the Scots-Irish settled in the Southern Colonies and particularly Appalachia. They had no love loss with King George when the American Revolution broke out. However, the old cultural differences between them and the Puritans showed up as in the cultural differences between the North and South here in America. These cultural differences were one factor that lead up to the America Civil War. Many Southerners today will tell you their ancestry is Irish when in fact it is Scots-Irish and their ancestors came here before the American Revolution. Particullary in the 1740's. May I recomment the book "Cracker Culture" - Celtic Ways in the Old South by Grady McWhiney.

2016-05-23 23:35:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Some ppl class themseles as British like Indian origin, Pakistani origin Chinese origin etc all who are born here and wud say their origins are from their forefathers, BUT that is recent ancestry, ppl dnt include over 200 years of ancestry, because its so mixed u can be any ancestry, its too complicated, if u ask English person what u r they will say English NOT Anglo-saxon cuz that goes far back beyond wat u can even classify urself that, English pplr mixed, Normans, Danish Scandanvian, but most of all most ppl in England (whites) are of Celtic ancestry, its just that the Saxons imposed their names, languae , culture to them, and this was cuz the Celtics, were outnumbered so they had to let the saxons control them.

2007-02-23 14:03:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2 1

Yes if you know your history thats what the word means. Anglo land became England so to be English you are a Saxon who are from Germany Jesus it gets confusing bring back the Romans. I am mainly English but i think your question was quite clever as most people will not know any history

2007-02-20 11:53:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

Yes, you are right. People whose ancestry is Anglo-Saxon are the English proper. I think you ought to look at a sociology book and see the theories on identity. Your definition is very classic and thus not realistic. There is hybridization of identity that takes place when people interact with each other - and that has been taking place for at least a few centuries. Identities take on cultural forms- but those borrow from other cultures constantly. It shows how far removed from reality old definitions are. It's very interesting to look into!

2007-02-20 08:35:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2 1

the genetic make up of the English includes Celtic and Norse Anglo Saxon predominates in the south,here in the north it is Norse and Celtic this could partly account for the north South divide

2007-02-20 10:37:37 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 2 0

I suppose so, just like you wouldn't have any people from any other race but Caucasian originally from the Caucasus mountains.

2007-02-20 08:41:02 · answer #7 · answered by Heywood J Helpaguy 2 · 2 0

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