when someone says english descent, do they mean british?

Question

I have a confusion with that. Everytime I hear english I think of the UK and not the US. does anyone know if "english descent" is the same thing as having british descent? please help, thanks!

Answer 1

Yes and no. 'British' covers the whole of the British Isles, which includes Welsh and Scottish, for example, in addition to England. 'English' is just England.

Answer 2

I still have my wartime dock pass for New York. This shows my nationality as British and my race as English. English descent means that your forebears came from England. British descent from anywhere in the British Isles.

Answer 3

In the United States we don't ever say we are of british descent - I don't know why this is. When asked about our descent for most people it's a mixure so we say we are of "English-Irish-Native American Indian" or "English-Irish-Scottish-German" or whatever else depending on the person. It's difficult for many people in the U.S to track their roots, but in many cases we can determine that a grandmother came (to the United States) from Ireland or had an irish surname and that a grandfather came from England and so on.

Answer 4

"NO NO and again NO"
English descent means having a genetic line of ENGLISH forefathers (OK and mothers)

If you wish to mean the UK or Britain, then it would be of BRITISH descent.

This is not difficult.

BRITAIN has seperate countries, SCOTLAND, WALES and ENGLAND (In order or importance) and the UK incorporates "Northen Ireland as well"

Believe me, you do NOT want to stand face to face with a proud Scotsman and claim him to be of "English descent" unless you want a practical example of a "Glasgow kiss" << Google for definition.

Answer 5

Many in Northern Ireland identify as British.

Answer 6

yes English means British (England-English)

Answer 7

the British royal family has quite a lot of German linage in it with several German houses including Wettin (which includeds the Houses of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, Hanover, Saxe Coburg Saalfield in its agnatic descent) from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. early English monarchies are based on the House of Welf (Guelf in English) and House of Este which are European and German. both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have these Germans as common ancestors. Queen Elizabeth mother Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon is Scottish whose family tree has Scottish Lords and Earls and is a member of the Clan of Lyon who have French linage.

Answer 8

when i say english i mean something or someone from England, british would be someone from Great Britain, which covers, england, wales, scotland and northern ireland

Answer 9

when they say english descent they do mean british

Answer 10

It would be descending from England, just as of Italian decent would mean descending from Italy.