Whenever a form asks for my nationality, I always state "English". I have zero affinity for the Scots, Welsh or Irish. That's putting it mildly. Mind you , I'm none too thrilled with 90% of the English, either.
Wouldn't it just be awful for you to discover Scots, Welsh or Irish ancestry? The chances are you have some.
I've just sent them a feedback form on that story asking whether the census actually IS racist, or whether it was merely an oversight on the part of the BBC not to include England.
I know my great grandfather on my father's side was from Ireland. Strangely enough there is a Spanish version of my surname, so the theory of that side of my family being from a refugee from the Armarda, landing in Ireland, could be correct. His wife could trace her ancestory back to having gone to England with William the Conqueror, from France. My mother's great grandfather was a Ferguson and from Peterhead, so Scottish. I am therefore confused and a true European! Is their a suitable box to tick?
One thing I can't claim fortunately is Welsh ancestory!
wonder if drapes will fail to notice the French connection? One can live in hope for fear of ridicule!
I claim Viking ancestry! My surname is not very common in the UK, but (usually with a 1 letter variation that doesn't change the sound) seems to be widespread in Denmark. The limited investigations I have done shows that side of the family being in Lincolnshire at least over the 150 years prior to 1950. That of course was a popular landing spot for the gentlemen in horned hats looking to do a bit of pillaging, so coupled with the Denmark fact I'm pretty convinced.
I did have to revise my views slightly after the link to the records of ancestors taking part on the Brit side in the Battle of Trafalgar appeared here, as the only one with my surname was born in Hamburg (though the name isn't particularly Germanic). I know think that the ancestors took more of a land route from home, rather than sailing directly from Denmark. It appears that a wine merchant in Hamburg shares my surname too - will have to drop in and see if there are freebies to be had next time I'm in the area!
My wife is one of those funny Celts (Cornish). Tracing her family tree is both easy (they all lived in the same village for 100s of years) and hard (they seem to have kept marrying each other. Which explains a lot!
For myself, I was born in England of an English father and Scottish mother, and have lived most of my life in Scotland. I tend to put "British" on forms, but under the Adapted Tebbit test, I cheer for Scotland in the Calcutta Cup!
Ha ha, the BBC have now changed the opening paragraph.
It now reads: "The national Census is to include a national ID question so people can say if they consider themselves English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish or British"
Got a surname that came over with them Norman invaders who shot people in the eyes. Had a grandma who's dubious parentage was German, Grandpappy was from one of them Scottie clans that wear tartan skirts, Father was true blue English as I am. Details go on forms as English, born in England, live in England etc. Great Britain just does not exist to me, nor the UK.
Hmmm what to put OMR is a Texan with Jockistani refugee and a dash of Cherokee ancestry... SMR is English as as they come (which I suppose means Celtic/Roman/Danish/Germanic/French or something like that).
Whenever a form asks for my nationality, I always state "English".
I always say I am British! I have such a hotch potch of nationalities in my heritage that I am sure there is some Scottish/Welsh or Irish in me somewhere or has been at sometime in the past.
I have such a hotch potch of nationalities in my heritage that I am sure there is some Scottish/Welsh or Irish in me somewhere or has been at sometime in the past.
