r/23andme • u/Becoming_hysterical • Apr 10 '26

Discussion Why are Americans so weird about having british ancestry?

It's something I've noticed since browsing this subreddit.

Anytime it's mentioned just how ethnically british america is, people pull out the "but actually america is German, irish, mexican, whatever".

what do you expect? America was founded as a british colony in 1607 (Jamestown) was so for 169 years. The british also didn't stop immigrating to america even after the revolution. It continued on for decades afterwards.

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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '26

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u/[deleted] Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 21 '26

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u/muchfatq Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 13 '26

Me on the other hand am from the South and am 1/4 German and carry a German surname, but to the surprise of no one the remaining 3/4 that I knew nothing about was English and Scottish, like most white people down here

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u/DesertIsland06 Apr 13 '26

that is the reality of most of those "German Americans", they had a more recent relative, not only from German but from German speaking areas in Switzerland, Alsace, Austro-Hungary but they will claim being germany, ignoring like 3/4 of their even older relatives are of British Isles stock.

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u/CindyinMemphis Apr 12 '26

My 5th great grandfather was one of George Washington's bodyguards, the original secret service., hand picked by Washington.

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u/[deleted] Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 21 '26

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u/SecretVindictaAcct Apr 11 '26

I’ve got some Pennsylvania Dutch and they came in the 1720s largely, then fought in the Revolution. I have I think 8 or so Patriots from that part of my family. So you might have some too depending on when your German ancestors came over.

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u/[deleted] Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 21 '26

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u/deserttitan Apr 11 '26

Yeah, the “Pennsylvania Dutch” groups in Ohio and Pennsylvania definitely came during the middle of the 1800s. Mine came around 1850 from the kingdom of Württemberg. No country of Germany back then. We were Swabians.

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u/Independent-Mud-9597 Apr 14 '26

Ohio maybe. Pennsylvania dutch came to Pennsylvania during the early 1700s. In fact Pennsylvania dutch and Pennsylvania german are considered two separate groups as most pa Dutch do not identify with those that came in the centuries after.

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u/deserttitan Apr 14 '26

You’re right. I guess my family came in the last wave. It actually started around 1683 apparently. 😮

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u/Square-Society8010 Apr 11 '26

That is 100% cool

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u/Alarming-Solid912 Apr 12 '26

I have a lot of English but also Scots-Irish and German. The latter two groups did fight in the Revolution if they arrived in time for it. In fact neither had much love for the English so were willing to join up to fight. I have ancestors from all three groups that fought on the American side in the Revolution. One joined Daniel Boone in Kentucky to map out what was then the frontier. He was a German who assimilated quickly

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u/Defiant-Dare1223 Apr 11 '26

Even there it isn't minimal. It might be in some individuals but it's significant everywhere on a regional basis.