What Are You?

I had a discussion once about how many people claim "American" as their ancestry on the U.S. census. This person felt that this was a sign of how many people didn't know where their ancestry originated. I took it as a sign of a lot of people feeling they are not English just because their great-grandfather was. Usually when people ask me, I say I'm American. But if I give that answer and the inquirer is specifically asking about my heritage, "American" doesn't really appease them. I know my Americans came from somewhere, but they've been here a rather long time. In fact, MOST of my ancestors have been in America for a long time. I have many ancestors who fought in the Civil War (both sides), and many who were around and fought in the Revolutionary War. Not to mention my Dutch ancestors who helped settle New Amsterdam (which, as They Might Be Giants have taught us, is now New York City).

For example (I'm using the Ahnentafel numbering system, lest there be any confusion about why I started on #4):

My Grandparents (for simplicity's sake, born about 1920):
4. California
5. California
6. Iowa
7. Texas

Looking at just those four, I'm 100% American.

My Great-Grandparents (furthering simplicity - born about 1890-1900):
8. England
9. Illinois
10. Tennessee
11. Alabama
12. Virginia
13. Wisconsin
14. Texas
15. Texas

Looking at those eight, I'm 87.5% American and 12.5% English.

And my Great-Great Grandparents (born approximately 1860 - 1880):

16. England
17. England
18. New York
19. Illinois
20. Tennessee
21. Tennessee
22. France
23. Tennessee
24. New York
25. New York
26. Denmark
27. Denmark
28. Texas
29. Georgia
30. Alabama
31. Texas

As you can see there's only slightly more variation when you go back a generation. 68.75% American, 12.5% English, 12.5% Danish and 6.25% French.

You could also break it up by Yankees vs. Confederates, in which case the Confederates win: 43.75% Confederate; 31.25% neutral; and 25% Yankee.

I guess I better wear some more grey.

But anyway, what are you?