What is American ancestry?

Question

Is it when your family was here prior to July 4th 1776 or is it when your family was here for, as an example, 5 or more generations.

Answer 1

Realistically, it can get difficult tracking some families back past about 4 or 5 generations because of poor record keeping.

So they just started counting their ancestry as american when they have all been here for a couple hundred years.

Answer 2

It is just how some people identified themselves on the census when their ancestry is a blend of many national origins.

I have ancestors that were here in the 1600s, one as early as 1608,
and some did not arrive until the middle of the 19th century. I had a great great grandmother whose people were here to greet all the newcomers, the politically correct term used for them today is Native Americans.

In the South, what usually are referred to as Anglo Saxon people are most likely a blend of English, Scottish, Scotch Irish, German, and French Huguenot. All these people became part of the 4 southern colonies.

Answer 3

According to the US Census Bureau, 7.2 percent of all Americans listed their ancestry as American in the last census rather than picking a particular ethnic heritage. Citizens of "American ancestry" are most likely to be found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

"People of 'American' ancestry are generally assumed to be of predominantly English, Scottish, or Welsh stock, though some are likely to be people of several different European ethnicities who are unable or unwilling to choose one." Of course, my grandmother had another name for it, "Heinz 57"!

Answer 4

It starts with the frist person in your family who became an AMERICAN citizen. even if that was today.

Answer 5

If you were born in America, you have American ancestry.

Answer 6

98 percent of us were born on planet earth.

Answer 7

i think it's a personal preference what you say you are. there is no rule.