Do Americans know where their families are from?

[Carlis]

Considering that America is a young nation that was intensively migrated to during the 19:th century and perhaps even into the 20:th century, does Americans know where their families/ancestors are from? Do elders tell their grand children these things?

 

[Q]

Yep

 

[Vehemence]

I sure don't, nor care

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Yes.

I'm ~50% Ukrainian, ~25% English, ~25% German. All lines easily traceable back to Europe.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Yes, Croatia.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Yes-- I still have direct cousins that live in England and we visit each other from time to time.

 

[BornStar]

75% German, 25% English.

 

[OdiN]

On my mom's side my family goes back to Scotland and Ireland. On my dad's side, it's a mix of a ton of crap - and I am related to Daniel Boone on his side.

 

[Gooberlx2]

50% Czech and a slew of other stuff...

My dad's grandparents were off the boat during the Industrial revolution. My mom's American soil lineage traces back a couple/few hundred years, so it's very mixed.

edit: got updated timeline...NOT original settlers.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: OdiN
On my mom's side my family goes back to Scotland and Ireland. On my dad's side, it's a mix of a ton of crap - and I am related to Daniel Boone on his side.

Me too!...seriously (on my Mom's side).

 

[Carlis]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Yes-- I still have direct cousins that live in England and we visit each other from time to time.

Thats great! Wish I could travel to the US and don't have to pay for a hotel and have a guide and everything...

 

[nakedfrog]

Sometimes. I have no idea what percentages or anything, but I know we're mutts.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Yes.
My grandma (moms side) has traced her decendents directly back to the Mayflower (only baby born on the mayflower is in the lineage).

 

[rivan]

About 90% German here. My kids, however, are pretty high on the mutt scale - they'll get French, English, Spanish and Persian from my wife.

 

[miketheidiot]

i am, in decending order of greatest to least decent

german 3/8
nowegian 1/4
french 1/8
english 1/16
irish 1/16
scottish 1/16
welsh 1/32
swedish 1/32

 

[BassBomb]

I was born in Canada, both my parents are 100% Pakistani

 

[nageov3t]

my dad's family came from france to quebec in the 1600's, and my mom's family came into the US from Poland shortly before WW2.

in terms of specific genealogy, I lose track once I cross the pond.

 

[aphex]

Yep.

My dad's side of the family is originally from Odessa, Russia (now Ukraine)
My mother's side of the family is from Tarnow, Poland and Somewhere in Austria (I don't recall the name of the city)

Both sides emigrated to the US right around 1900, through Ellis Island, and settled in Brooklyn, NY and Manhattan. They eventually migrated to New Jersey where most of my family is today.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Yes, but most do not care in the slightest. Who cares if you are 3/8 German or whatnot when your culture is not German?

 

[clamum]

On my Dad's side my ancestors came from Sweden and on my Mom's I'm not quite as sure, but it's a mix of French Canadian Indian.

 

[hanoverphist]

yup, pennsylvania dutch on one side, mexican on the other. got gen custer on the german side too, a bit removed but there nonetheless. i can trace the mexican side back to argentina a long time ago, and the german side is about 370 yrs back so far. some detached relative had a degree in genealogy and traced that side for his phd or something. makes for a good read when youre bored. the mexican side is all stories, which my kids love to hear.

 

[Deeko]

I'm a mix of a lot of things in Europe. Too mixed to really consider myself having a "heritage" in any one country.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Yes, but most do not care in the slightest. Who cares if you are 3/8 German or whatnot when your culture is not German?

I disagree. I find it interesting to see where your family is from, and trace the generations to different parts of the globe. I used to think Genealogy was stupid as well was I was younger, but as I got a little older I realized how interesting it can be.

 

[Nitemare]

Nope, just know I have some Cherokee, Spanish and Scotch in me

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Carlis
Considering that America is a young nation that was intensively migrated to during the 19:th century and perhaps even into the 20:th century, does Americans know where their families/ancestors are from? Do elders tell their grand children these things?

Yup.

50% Swabian (father is 100% Swabian, though both he and his parents were born in the USA)
50% Celtic (mother's father: Scottish and Irish, mother's mother: Welsh)

Kind of like Anglo-Saxon, except more prone to anger.

ZV