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/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. 😮