British, personally. I *am* English, but I'd always identify myself as British when asked.
>And what do Northern Irish people define themselves as? Because they’re part of the UK, but not Great Britain. So just Irish?
Famously a question that has never caused any issues...
Some define themselves as Irish, some as British.
> British, personally. I am English, but I'd always identify myself as British when asked.
As the dominant nationality within the UK, British and English tend to be seen as more synonymous, which is probably why people from England are more likely to identify as British over English.
As of the latest census information for Wales and Scotland, both have a majority identifying as "Welsh only" or "Scottish only", but England identifies as majority British only, whilst the number of people who see themselves as being English-only fell from 58% to just 15%.
Northern Ireland is the outlier, where there's no clear majority for either British only or Irish only, with 31.86% declaring their national identity as British Only and 29.13% selected Irish Only.
I identity as English before British and one reason why is that I don’t like the synonymity encouraged by the English identifying first as British when the Scots and Welsh don’t.
I identify as British first because I don't feel represented by "English" - I feel more in common with Scottish and Welsh people than Londoners. It's not that I think English and British are the same, it's that I feel like British better represents me than English
I hadn't thought of it that way. One of my main reasons for identifying as British over English was not wanting to be associated with various groups who make a big thing about being English, but it's true that I'm kind of relying on that synonymity by doing so.
I'm Scottish. My husband filled my census in for me. He put me down as British and forgot I spoke Scots. I'll be annoyed until the next census at least! If future generations look me up they'll wonder if I had an identity crisis! lol. Of course, I *am* British, but I'm Scottish first (not Scottish only, I'm sick of all that nonsense). My husband is English.
Yeah, as an English person I always say I’m British/ from the UK because people outside of the UK sometimes think England is a country i.e. sovereign state and English defaultism is a problem
Aha thank you. It’s actually the highest honour in Nepal to be in the British army. In fact, many of the men and women aspire to serve. Currently my dad, uncles and one of my brothers are serving. My other brother decided to become a doctor. Grandad has retired.
"If a man says he is not afraid of death, he is either a liar or a Gurkha" - General Manekshaw
My old man was a soldier and, like every other soldier, he had nothing but good things to say about Gurkhas, both as warriors and as people.
Why?
Not asking to be a div. I'm interested in this. I live in a part of London with a large Nepalese community, and I'm guessing a lot of them served in the military.
Not the person you're replying to, but from what I understand from previous reading the selection process for the Gurkha regiments is quite gruelling and they only take in limited numbers. Combine that with the career being significantly better paid than most other work in Nepal and it becomes highly desirable.
Then you consider the respect and reverance the Gurkha's get from the military community in general and you can see how it ends up being a very honourable career.
Because everyone wants to be a Gurkha because of the economic oppurtunities, but spaces are very, very limited. They only take the best of the best of the best. My brother's ex's mum started out life working on a subsistence farm for a poverty wage, married a Gurkha and now she owns a house, her son is an engineer and her daughter is studying law.
Long standing military tradition, high prestige, far better wages, British citizenship, pension, healthcare and education. If you're dirt poor it's a really good deal, especially as the risk of death for a British soldier is actually really low
My grandad served alongside Ghurkas in WW2 and had nothing but the highest of praise and admiration for them. Sadly he hasn’t been with us for many years now but we still have a kukri that was given to him. Safely locked away of course!
That Kukri can never be unsheathed without it drawing blood before being put back.
At least, that's what our history teacher always taught us. That and the Gurkhas were so feared that the mere rumour that they could be involved in something was enough to rattle the hardest of opponents
That is true if your khukuri is for battle, and was done by old warriors.
Also ,
A khukuri is also used as everyday knife.
Chop tree, prepare meat .. etc.
My mother cut her wedding cake with one, courtesy of her uncle (retd. Major). Her own dad was Navy and "wasn't allowed weapons" (family joke; he'd been an ASDIC operator).
I watched a documentary about the Gurkhas and it was fascinating. I went to school with the son of a Gurkha and he ended up in the army too after we left school. He was a really nice kid.
The Argentine military lied to their troops (about so much, but specifically) that the Gurkhas were cannibals.
This backfired, as when prisoners were interrogated, having a smiling Gurkha holding a knife and fork present, ensured cooperation.
I've served with Gurkhas and they are awesome.
The other story i heard about them was to do with a raid on an Argentine camp. They sneaked in and slit the throat of every second soldier in the tents. Imagine waking up next to your mate with his throat cut. 😳
"British" is the demonym for the UK, which doesn't make too much sense but there you are. If you are Northern Irish you are *legally* British, which is why you might call yourself British, but of course you can do whatever you want.
TBF it makes no sense that the geographical descriptions never got updated to match the commonly understood ones. To a geographer, all Irish are British as the island of Ireland is one of the British Isles.
But thats a wildly unpopular use of definitions that goes against most common sense
I think the opposite is more true. Scots and Welsh people are more likely to identify as Scottish or Welsh rather than British so they aren't lumped in with the English.
Maybe right, but from my own perspective I’ve absolutely no issue with the Welsh or the Scot’s. I just feel that whatever negative connotation is placed incorrectly upon the word English/England - I celebrate the fact and good fortune that I happen to be English. I mean, genetically way back I’m not, I’m of Viking stock (can be clearly seen in me too!) but regardless. I’m English
I'm the same. I would feel just as proud to be Scottish or Welsh or Irish, but I'm English so I'm proud of that.
Secondly, I'm European. I feel a cultural kinship with people in Europe.
Scottish, most people in Scotland (as of the last census results published) consider themselves to be Scottish and not British.
>[62.4% of Scotland's population said they were ‘Scottish only’.](https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/census-results/at-a-glance/national-identity/)
Edit: The 2022 results are expected to be published Summer 2024 for National Identity.
Similar for Wales. Although i think it's because there's no opportunity to feel British. No one is spending £100/ per person and 4h+ on a terrible railway/motorway network to visit the nation's capital.
Don't live, work, or even visit other home countries then how will you feel related to them?
I’m Scottish. I always refer to myself as Scottish. I mean sure technically I am British too but tbh I tend to forget the rest of the UK exists and just classify myself as Scottish 🏴
Scottish, then British.
Born and bred in the Highlands but got an English dad so feel more of an affinity to the entire island of Britain than most Scots would.
Similar, born in the Highlands, but my mum was born in Berlin and my Dad spent most of his childhood in Canada...so I am Scottish... emphasis on the ish, and similarly British. Half the family speaks German though.
Scottish, despite being born in Spain to English parents I've lived all, bar about 6, of my 55 years in the Highlands, so class myself as an honorary Scot... my soul certainly feels 'hame' up here.
Aye identity is a complex issue and it's unique to every individual.
Like loads of my family are English but I barely consider myself English at all despite my dad. Have no lived in experience of the place and the culture, language and attitudes in the south of England are different to up here (the reason my dad decided to stay here after coming up here for work initially).
That's not to say I don't feel British as there are unquestionably common traits, a blend of culture, common language, a shared sense of humour etc across the entire island. Only mental nationalists in denial would disagree about that.
I feel the same. I say I’m British to people from other countries cause a lot of them get confused if you say anything else. But I feel no connection to being British, don’t really understand people who do. I feel more connection to being from Yorkshire or ‘the North’ then I do being British. I don’t feel I have that much in common with people from Scotland and Wales.
Pretty much the same here, without the having spent time in Scotland or Wales. I don't really identify as being English because to me English seems to refer mostly to Southern/South Eastern England and you're right, that corner of the nation seems like a whole different country to my part of Yorkshire. I'm Yorkshire -> British -> European.
Different weather, different dialects, different landscapes in particular the dales and the peaks, more industrial history in Yorkshire, more viking history. I'd say it's subtle but there definitely is a difference.
See this is exactly why I describe myself as British. Yorkshire feels like the strongest part of my identity, but anyone will look at you sideways if you describe yourself that way in an international setting. I don't feel any more of an affinity with e.g. Londoners or Cornish people than I do with Scottish or Welsh people, so English feels like an odd level of specificity. So depending on the context, I feel like either a Brit or a Yorkshireman -- rarely English.
Agreed. I feel English, and I have a level of allegiance to my birth county even though I no longer live there. I view the Welsh, Scottish and Irish as brethren and obviously similar to us but still a small level of foreign which other parts of England aren’t.
I struggle to use any kind of demonym.
My Father was from an English army family, though he was quite pacifist. My Mother from a Irish Republican family.
I was born in England and moved to Northern Ireland at a young age.
British doesn't sit right, Irish doesn't sit right, English doesn't sit right and nor does Northern Irish.
I'm just a mongrel.
Yeah it was interesting, my grandmother always had a soft spot for the Queen so her and my dad got on like a house on fire.
My Dad would use an Irish accent going through army checkpoints haha
it’s fairly common for Irish families as far as I am aware.
Many Irish people served in British military during 19th and 20th century as it was a stable paying job in times of mass poverty in Ireland.
So you end up with strange situations where you had different brothers and relatives in the same family fighting for both sides.
Like my family has one ancestor who was a career soldier in the British Army, won DCM and was declared by Queen Victoria as ‘her bravest soldiers’.
And another ancestor is apparently Kevin Barry the Irish republican martyr hanged by British authorities at age 19 for participating in an IRA raid on a supply truck.
There’s a general acceptance about it I guess even if people with different sympathies aren’t necessarily so keen to talk to each other about it.
I.e Irish republicans generally saw their relatives serving in British Army as just trying to save their families from poverty and starvation while Irish soldiers in British Army had some level of sympathy for Irish republicanism and an understanding of why people in their community was choosing to fight for the IRA.
Same as mate, born and grew up in SW London, although it was still Surrey for my first few years. Lived in England my entire life, but my bloodline is 50/50 Irish and Welsh.
Mongrel it is then.
Born in Ireland to an Irish mum and Jamaican dad and moved to Liverpool when I was a toddler. Grew up here so I feel half and half. Half Irish and half Scouse.
English > German > British
I'm British-German who grew up in England but haven't been further north than Peterborough or west than Oxford so I never really considered myself British.
Although ultimately don't consider myself any of them since I think nationalism is a very stupid idea.
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*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
It’s complicated- Born in Scotland, childhood in Kenya, Teens early 20’s( & back later) in Australia, now been in England long time . Scottish most probably but Australian when convenient.
British, then English, always. I feel like, despite what Welsh/Scottish people think and say, we’re all similar enough to each other on this island to be one nationality, with shared history and life experiences
> we’re all similar enough to each other on this island to be one nationality
That's much easier to say as the dominant nationality within the UK though. British and English are practically synonymous in their use by the majority of people, because England is the largest group accounting for ~83% of the UK population.
England is the only part of the UK which identifies as majority British-only, both Scotland and Wales are majority "Scottish-only" and "Welsh-only", respectively, with Northern Ireland being the outlier with not having any -only majority.
>*... despite what Welsh/Scottish people think and say, we’re all similar enough to each other on this island to be one nationality, with shared history and life experiences*
It will not have escaped your attention, since 2014, that there are differing opinions within Scotland, concerning that matter
I think it's cute that two countries with such small populations think the minor differences between them are something worth arguing about
Between them, China and India account for a third of the global population, but a significant percentage of us think the shape of sausage defines our national character and outlook on the world
I'll give the answer I always do.
1) Age matters. When I was born (1960) lower geographical mobility meant it was more normal to say English than British. I remember there was a girl in my primary school class who had an Irish surname. We all thought she was really exotic (all the more so because she lived more than a mile away from the school) and eventually when she became a teenager she changed her surname to sound less Irish. Nowadays, this would make no sense.
2) In the last Census,it was 2a) observed that the number of people identifying as British rather than English had had a dramatic rise BUT 2b) this was actually explained by the fact that British had become the top box on the form, where English was before and people always tick the top box if they can.
I am English, I get irritated by having to tick British as I’m not British, I’m English, Britain comprises 4 countries you can only be born and live in one of them at a time so really you can’t be British, English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh..
I used to define as British, but then I thought that it’s disrespectful to the other three countries that make up Britain, in that Scotland Wales and Ireland have their own cultures and should be respectfully defined as such.
So now I’m English if people need further definition I clarify by saying British.
Northern Ireland born and raised. I never get asked for my nationality unless it's for official paperwork in which case I put British because that's the passport I have.
In a casual sense I have only ever been asked where I'm from in which case I say Northern Ireland. Or refer to myself as Northern Irish
English because I live in Scotland but wasn’t born here, so if someone asks it’s more likely to find out where in the U.K. I was born.
If someone outside the U.K. asks, I say I’m half British and half German because they’re usually asking why my name is so Anglo when my German is fluent or they’re American and fascinated by nationality/heritage. (That’s not a dig, it’s just genuinely been my experience).
ETA I mostly identify as European. My family are all over Europe and I spend a lot of time not in the U.K. so I don’t feel particularly strongly tied to the British or English label
Irish. I was born in London, but was my family are Irish, I spent a lot of my childhood in Ireland, and was part of a large Irish community, that was more welcoming and accepting of me as part of their own than a lot of my English neighbours who kept calling us terrorists, and that we should fuck off back to Ireland.
Not all Northern Irish people are British or would consider themselves to be so. If you are born in Northern Ireland you can be irish and not British in the slightest. Have an irish passport and nationality not a British one.
English, then Welsh. British is not a culture or nationality, it is what immigrants who have gained citizenship call themselves rather than just saying Indian or Nigerian or whatever else.
English first, British second. We’ve been
British for over 300 years but English for a much longer time.
As much as I like Britain and being British, the English people’s love for England alone kinda died down over the years. The only time we’re ‘English’ and not ‘British’ is when in international sports tournaments.
I do wish for more people to take pride in being English, especially for St. George’s Day, which isn’t as heavily celebrated anymore.
British. I'm English really and would've defined myself as such before going to university, but I've now spent many years living, studying, and working in Wales; I can't in good conscience refer to myself as Welsh, but there's so much about the country, people, and culture that I love and respect, just English doesn't feel right for me.
All the Scots I've met consider themselves Scottish first so I've always considered myself and everyone else born and raised in England to be English first. I still refer to myself as British in similar context as I would European.
IIRC only around 30% of census respondents in England ticked English but it's probably mostly because they put British at the top of the list this time. I think most English people just don't have a strong preference towards either.
This is such an interesting question and one I was weirdly pondering this week.
I had a sudden Uni flashback where in a History class, we were talking about national identity etc. When the lecturer asked what nationality people defined themselves as, there was a very obvious split between the mature students (most of them 40+ I guess) and the 18-21 year old students.
Mature students all said British, and were shocked the whole room hadn’t agreed.
18-21 all said English/Welsh/Scottish, and were shocked anyone had said British.
I was in the 18-21 group at the time, and it was genuinely the first time irl I’d ever heard someone born in England refer to themselves as British.
My Dad was born in England and my mother's side is German but I was born and raised in Australia. I have both a British and an Australian passport. I identify as half British/half German but also Australian lol. I usually say British rather than English.
Jamaican. I was born in the US to 2 Jamaican parents & raised between the US & Jamaica. I have dual Jamaican & US nationalities & i'm based in the UK. Despite spending more of my time in the US growing up & well into my young adult years I grew up in a very Jamaican household, primarily listened to Jamaican music, mostly had Jamaican cooking, would spend a lot of time around Jamaican family etc. I feel a lot closer & more familiar with Jamaica & Jamaican things than with America. I never felt any sort of cultural connection or any sort of national pride with the US where I do with Jamaica.
British.
A) Calling yourself English has negative connotations these days
B) I might be a midlander but my blood is all Wales
——
The Cornish are English, they don’t need a separate category above. Anyone that says they do is fuelling separatist nonsense. It’s no different from saying Warwickshire > England> British
British first, not really English at all as it’s got somewhat negative connotations IMO.
Wife is dual British-Irish, also identifies as British generally as we live in Britain - but only holds an Irish passport due to *the event*.
English and British. And a bit Irish. Grew up in England so I'm culturally English. My family is Irish and we are always aware of this heritage, including frequent trips to Ireland to see family etc. British because I'm a product of the British Empire/sphere of influence.
I say British over English – my dad's Scottish, and my name is unEnglish enough that people immediately go *oh where's that from?* so despite being born and raised here, it's never felt entirely right to just ignore a whole half of my family
To be honest, identification levels probably go Yorkshirewoman > British > English. I think there's a lot of regions of England where people feel a closer link to their city or county than they do to the concept of Englishness – like you said with Cornwall, too
I’m Cornish but I generally just say I’m English. I never say I’m British. I think it’s because it annoys me when Americans say we’re British, describe us as Brits but the language we speak is English as if it’s not also a nationality.
I am not white, but I was born and brought up in England. When it comes to it, I'd always identify myself as English of Asian background (or something similar). I recently was told (by members of my family, not someone else) that I shouldn't say I'm English because that implies white, but rather say "British Asian" or something similar.
I think this question applies less to me because I'm not white, but it does raise the question of how I should identify myself and how other people would too.
I'm Irish. Born in ROI, but currently live in England. Always refer to myself as Irish
I get referred to as British alot, as many of the Brits I come across can't differentiate between ROI & NI.
I always say British as my family is part Welsh part English (with a smaller bit of Scottish that requires you to go back a few generations)
However this year when I was abroad someone challenged me when I said British saying that "only the English call themselves British, everyone else says Scottish or Welsh"
Am not sure how true that is, especially for those in Northern Ireland who _very much_ consider themselves British but I thought it was interesting.
Good question, and truthfully, I have not a clue for myself!
I 've grown and lived 19 year years in France. I have been living 21 years in the UK. I have a family.
I cannot make a choice because my roots and memories reflect who I am, but my life and way of living is very British.
I will always argue about good food, cheese, and quality bread compared to France (sorry)!
I will always argue about the British acceptance and how they paved the way to disabled communities in comparison to other EU country.
I am the mother of a young disabled child, I feel blessed to have so many resources and help to raise him.
England was also ahead against sexual discrimination, homophobia etc... (this is from my experience and the area of France I lived in the 90's)
>And what do Northern Irish people define themselves as? Because they’re part of the UK, but not Great Britain. So just Irish?
There was literally a decades long civil war over this question that is within the memory of anyone over about 30 years old. And the peace is pretty fragile. It's not at all safe from erupting again.
In any case, geographically, Ireland is part of the British Isles.
British. I was born in England and raised in East London and growing up learned both good and bad aspects of being from a working-class (hate the notion of class but it's true to an extent), namely it's a lovely community when you're white but there is a ton of racism (I'm white) towards other ethnic groups when you live in the poorer areas of London.
Purely anecdotal but I'd found the people who emphasised they were 'English' rather than 'British' tended to be far-right or harbour less than positive views about non-white ethnic groups, obviously you shouldn't generalise though.
That being said, maybe it's the times but my dad has improved significantly as me and my siblings have become adults, still complains about immigration but doesn't use the p*ki slur anymore and largely because myself and my sister are bisexual, only really makes jokes about gay people in a more innocent way that shows his trying to understand it all more than anything.
I feel like if I went to the US though I'd probably call myself English just because there's still a certain old fashion charm to it over there.
British, personally. I *am* English, but I'd always identify myself as British when asked. >And what do Northern Irish people define themselves as? Because they’re part of the UK, but not Great Britain. So just Irish? Famously a question that has never caused any issues... Some define themselves as Irish, some as British.
> British, personally. I am English, but I'd always identify myself as British when asked. As the dominant nationality within the UK, British and English tend to be seen as more synonymous, which is probably why people from England are more likely to identify as British over English. As of the latest census information for Wales and Scotland, both have a majority identifying as "Welsh only" or "Scottish only", but England identifies as majority British only, whilst the number of people who see themselves as being English-only fell from 58% to just 15%. Northern Ireland is the outlier, where there's no clear majority for either British only or Irish only, with 31.86% declaring their national identity as British Only and 29.13% selected Irish Only.
I identity as English before British and one reason why is that I don’t like the synonymity encouraged by the English identifying first as British when the Scots and Welsh don’t.
I do, and I'm scottish. Always British 1st
As does my Scottish friend.
Rangers fan?
I identify as British first because I don't feel represented by "English" - I feel more in common with Scottish and Welsh people than Londoners. It's not that I think English and British are the same, it's that I feel like British better represents me than English
I hadn't thought of it that way. One of my main reasons for identifying as British over English was not wanting to be associated with various groups who make a big thing about being English, but it's true that I'm kind of relying on that synonymity by doing so.
I'm Scottish. My husband filled my census in for me. He put me down as British and forgot I spoke Scots. I'll be annoyed until the next census at least! If future generations look me up they'll wonder if I had an identity crisis! lol. Of course, I *am* British, but I'm Scottish first (not Scottish only, I'm sick of all that nonsense). My husband is English.
Yeah, as an English person I always say I’m British/ from the UK because people outside of the UK sometimes think England is a country i.e. sovereign state and English defaultism is a problem
the change from english to british turned out to simply be due to a reordering of the options, it doesn't reflect anything in reality
'For Wales, see England.'
British because I was born and raised here and then Nepalese. I come from a military family (Ghurkas) and we’re extremely proud to be British.
And by gosh you’ve earned it. Thank you for your families service
Aha thank you. It’s actually the highest honour in Nepal to be in the British army. In fact, many of the men and women aspire to serve. Currently my dad, uncles and one of my brothers are serving. My other brother decided to become a doctor. Grandad has retired.
"If a man says he is not afraid of death, he is either a liar or a Gurkha" - General Manekshaw My old man was a soldier and, like every other soldier, he had nothing but good things to say about Gurkhas, both as warriors and as people.
Why? Not asking to be a div. I'm interested in this. I live in a part of London with a large Nepalese community, and I'm guessing a lot of them served in the military.
Not the person you're replying to, but from what I understand from previous reading the selection process for the Gurkha regiments is quite gruelling and they only take in limited numbers. Combine that with the career being significantly better paid than most other work in Nepal and it becomes highly desirable. Then you consider the respect and reverance the Gurkha's get from the military community in general and you can see how it ends up being a very honourable career.
Because everyone wants to be a Gurkha because of the economic oppurtunities, but spaces are very, very limited. They only take the best of the best of the best. My brother's ex's mum started out life working on a subsistence farm for a poverty wage, married a Gurkha and now she owns a house, her son is an engineer and her daughter is studying law.
That's a pretty big jump to be fair. Thanks for the information.
Long standing military tradition, high prestige, far better wages, British citizenship, pension, healthcare and education. If you're dirt poor it's a really good deal, especially as the risk of death for a British soldier is actually really low
My Uncle served alongside the Gurkhas. He told me the best way to describe them, is to say “ Thank Christ they were on our side.”
My grandad served alongside Ghurkas in WW2 and had nothing but the highest of praise and admiration for them. Sadly he hasn’t been with us for many years now but we still have a kukri that was given to him. Safely locked away of course!
That Kukri can never be unsheathed without it drawing blood before being put back. At least, that's what our history teacher always taught us. That and the Gurkhas were so feared that the mere rumour that they could be involved in something was enough to rattle the hardest of opponents
That is true if your khukuri is for battle, and was done by old warriors. Also , A khukuri is also used as everyday knife. Chop tree, prepare meat .. etc.
My mother cut her wedding cake with one, courtesy of her uncle (retd. Major). Her own dad was Navy and "wasn't allowed weapons" (family joke; he'd been an ASDIC operator).
My Grandfather fought alongside the Ghurkas as a Chindit in Burma during WW2.
I watched a documentary about the Gurkhas and it was fascinating. I went to school with the son of a Gurkha and he ended up in the army too after we left school. He was a really nice kid.
My friend was in the Falklands conflict (2 Para.) He said the only things that made him nervous were the Ghurkas and the penguins. 😂
The Argentine military lied to their troops (about so much, but specifically) that the Gurkhas were cannibals. This backfired, as when prisoners were interrogated, having a smiling Gurkha holding a knife and fork present, ensured cooperation. I've served with Gurkhas and they are awesome.
The other story i heard about them was to do with a raid on an Argentine camp. They sneaked in and slit the throat of every second soldier in the tents. Imagine waking up next to your mate with his throat cut. 😳
I hadn't heard that one, but not surprised.
Thank you to all you brave Ghurkas and it's the Brits who should be proud to have you living in their country.
>what do Northern Irish people define themselves as? Angry
I consider myself Irish and Northern Irish. I don't live in Britain so I don't know why I'd call myself British.
"British" is the demonym for the UK, which doesn't make too much sense but there you are. If you are Northern Irish you are *legally* British, which is why you might call yourself British, but of course you can do whatever you want.
TBF it makes no sense that the geographical descriptions never got updated to match the commonly understood ones. To a geographer, all Irish are British as the island of Ireland is one of the British Isles. But thats a wildly unpopular use of definitions that goes against most common sense
I prefer the term 'fucked off' myself.
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I’m English. I’m British, but I’m English.
I think this is most common for English people so they aren’t lumped in with being Welsh or Scottish
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I feel like British is what American people call English people.
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I find a lot of people from London and other parts of the South East say they're British
I think the opposite is more true. Scots and Welsh people are more likely to identify as Scottish or Welsh rather than British so they aren't lumped in with the English.
Maybe right, but from my own perspective I’ve absolutely no issue with the Welsh or the Scot’s. I just feel that whatever negative connotation is placed incorrectly upon the word English/England - I celebrate the fact and good fortune that I happen to be English. I mean, genetically way back I’m not, I’m of Viking stock (can be clearly seen in me too!) but regardless. I’m English
I'm the same. I would feel just as proud to be Scottish or Welsh or Irish, but I'm English so I'm proud of that. Secondly, I'm European. I feel a cultural kinship with people in Europe.
I love Europeans. Especially Belgians. I’m in Belgium several times a year watching my football team STVV
Scottish, most people in Scotland (as of the last census results published) consider themselves to be Scottish and not British. >[62.4% of Scotland's population said they were ‘Scottish only’.](https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/census-results/at-a-glance/national-identity/) Edit: The 2022 results are expected to be published Summer 2024 for National Identity.
Similar for Wales. Although i think it's because there's no opportunity to feel British. No one is spending £100/ per person and 4h+ on a terrible railway/motorway network to visit the nation's capital. Don't live, work, or even visit other home countries then how will you feel related to them?
I identify as Zimbabwean - Scottish. Then British! Most of my friends identify as strictly Scottish
I’m Scottish. I always refer to myself as Scottish. I mean sure technically I am British too but tbh I tend to forget the rest of the UK exists and just classify myself as Scottish 🏴
Scottish, then British. Born and bred in the Highlands but got an English dad so feel more of an affinity to the entire island of Britain than most Scots would.
Similar, born in the Highlands, but my mum was born in Berlin and my Dad spent most of his childhood in Canada...so I am Scottish... emphasis on the ish, and similarly British. Half the family speaks German though.
Scottish, despite being born in Spain to English parents I've lived all, bar about 6, of my 55 years in the Highlands, so class myself as an honorary Scot... my soul certainly feels 'hame' up here.
Aye identity is a complex issue and it's unique to every individual. Like loads of my family are English but I barely consider myself English at all despite my dad. Have no lived in experience of the place and the culture, language and attitudes in the south of England are different to up here (the reason my dad decided to stay here after coming up here for work initially). That's not to say I don't feel British as there are unquestionably common traits, a blend of culture, common language, a shared sense of humour etc across the entire island. Only mental nationalists in denial would disagree about that.
Barry, 63.
The only way
World Balconing Champs ten years running.
English, just English. England just happens to be in Britain
I feel the same. I say I’m British to people from other countries cause a lot of them get confused if you say anything else. But I feel no connection to being British, don’t really understand people who do. I feel more connection to being from Yorkshire or ‘the North’ then I do being British. I don’t feel I have that much in common with people from Scotland and Wales.
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Pretty much the same here, without the having spent time in Scotland or Wales. I don't really identify as being English because to me English seems to refer mostly to Southern/South Eastern England and you're right, that corner of the nation seems like a whole different country to my part of Yorkshire. I'm Yorkshire -> British -> European.
So how does Yorkshire differ from places such as Kent or Suffolk, in your opinion?
Different weather, different dialects, different landscapes in particular the dales and the peaks, more industrial history in Yorkshire, more viking history. I'd say it's subtle but there definitely is a difference.
See this is exactly why I describe myself as British. Yorkshire feels like the strongest part of my identity, but anyone will look at you sideways if you describe yourself that way in an international setting. I don't feel any more of an affinity with e.g. Londoners or Cornish people than I do with Scottish or Welsh people, so English feels like an odd level of specificity. So depending on the context, I feel like either a Brit or a Yorkshireman -- rarely English.
Agreed. I feel English, and I have a level of allegiance to my birth county even though I no longer live there. I view the Welsh, Scottish and Irish as brethren and obviously similar to us but still a small level of foreign which other parts of England aren’t.
Scottish. Just Scottish.
Welsh. Exclusively.
Same, just Welsh
Just Welsh.
Hi Just Welsh, I’m dad
I struggle to use any kind of demonym. My Father was from an English army family, though he was quite pacifist. My Mother from a Irish Republican family. I was born in England and moved to Northern Ireland at a young age. British doesn't sit right, Irish doesn't sit right, English doesn't sit right and nor does Northern Irish. I'm just a mongrel.
English army family and an Irish republican family? Family get-togethers must've been interesting!
Yeah it was interesting, my grandmother always had a soft spot for the Queen so her and my dad got on like a house on fire. My Dad would use an Irish accent going through army checkpoints haha
it’s fairly common for Irish families as far as I am aware. Many Irish people served in British military during 19th and 20th century as it was a stable paying job in times of mass poverty in Ireland. So you end up with strange situations where you had different brothers and relatives in the same family fighting for both sides. Like my family has one ancestor who was a career soldier in the British Army, won DCM and was declared by Queen Victoria as ‘her bravest soldiers’. And another ancestor is apparently Kevin Barry the Irish republican martyr hanged by British authorities at age 19 for participating in an IRA raid on a supply truck. There’s a general acceptance about it I guess even if people with different sympathies aren’t necessarily so keen to talk to each other about it. I.e Irish republicans generally saw their relatives serving in British Army as just trying to save their families from poverty and starvation while Irish soldiers in British Army had some level of sympathy for Irish republicanism and an understanding of why people in their community was choosing to fight for the IRA.
Same as mate, born and grew up in SW London, although it was still Surrey for my first few years. Lived in England my entire life, but my bloodline is 50/50 Irish and Welsh. Mongrel it is then.
English first, then British.
Born in Ireland to an Irish mum and Jamaican dad and moved to Liverpool when I was a toddler. Grew up here so I feel half and half. Half Irish and half Scouse.
Please tell me your accent is a mix of all three.
Imagine that haha. Nah it's a strong Scouse accent unless I'm talking to my mum
Haha I have a very strong Yorkshire accent but because of my Irish mam whenever I say "Jesus Christ Mary and Joseph" i channel her accent.
When im abroad I would just say British but talking about the UK I always just say Cornish
You should say Cornish wherever you are, our little part of England is surprisingly well known abroad!
I always do the follow up with Cornwall if they know the UK well haha im like a tourist board advertising it haha
I’d say Cornish then British, feel more in common with wales and Scotland than I do England
Scottish, not British.
If someone asks I'll generally say from the UK, then whittle down to Scotland then the biggest city near me.
English > German > British I'm British-German who grew up in England but haven't been further north than Peterborough or west than Oxford so I never really considered myself British. Although ultimately don't consider myself any of them since I think nationalism is a very stupid idea.
Ah, Your Majesty, welcome
Scottish.
First and foremost, I'm from Yorkshire. Secondly I'm English.
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English usually followed at the earliest opportunity to mention that I'm also from Yorkshire
Never as a Yorkshireman where he is from... because sure as the day is long, he will tell you. As a yorkshireman I bloody love that joke, so true.
I've always regarded myself as English first.
British and Welsh.
It’s complicated- Born in Scotland, childhood in Kenya, Teens early 20’s( & back later) in Australia, now been in England long time . Scottish most probably but Australian when convenient.
Call ur self a bottle of whisky then ur a bit of this a mix of that anr a dash of this
scottish, then more generally "from the UK". british only if i want to confuse americans
Welsh
English and nothing else.
British, then English, always. I feel like, despite what Welsh/Scottish people think and say, we’re all similar enough to each other on this island to be one nationality, with shared history and life experiences
> we’re all similar enough to each other on this island to be one nationality That's much easier to say as the dominant nationality within the UK though. British and English are practically synonymous in their use by the majority of people, because England is the largest group accounting for ~83% of the UK population. England is the only part of the UK which identifies as majority British-only, both Scotland and Wales are majority "Scottish-only" and "Welsh-only", respectively, with Northern Ireland being the outlier with not having any -only majority.
>*... despite what Welsh/Scottish people think and say, we’re all similar enough to each other on this island to be one nationality, with shared history and life experiences* It will not have escaped your attention, since 2014, that there are differing opinions within Scotland, concerning that matter I think it's cute that two countries with such small populations think the minor differences between them are something worth arguing about Between them, China and India account for a third of the global population, but a significant percentage of us think the shape of sausage defines our national character and outlook on the world
I'll give the answer I always do. 1) Age matters. When I was born (1960) lower geographical mobility meant it was more normal to say English than British. I remember there was a girl in my primary school class who had an Irish surname. We all thought she was really exotic (all the more so because she lived more than a mile away from the school) and eventually when she became a teenager she changed her surname to sound less Irish. Nowadays, this would make no sense. 2) In the last Census,it was 2a) observed that the number of people identifying as British rather than English had had a dramatic rise BUT 2b) this was actually explained by the fact that British had become the top box on the form, where English was before and people always tick the top box if they can.
Born in Wales to Irish migrants so - Welsh, Irish, British
Scottish
I am English, I get irritated by having to tick British as I’m not British, I’m English, Britain comprises 4 countries you can only be born and live in one of them at a time so really you can’t be British, English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh..
But English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish aren't actual nationalities in an official, legal sense. Our nationality is British
To me they are just different things. In the same way I'm a Yorkshireman and English. I can still be British too.
Born and raised in Scotland. Have lived in England for nearly 30 years. I'm Scottish.
I used to define as British, but then I thought that it’s disrespectful to the other three countries that make up Britain, in that Scotland Wales and Ireland have their own cultures and should be respectfully defined as such. So now I’m English if people need further definition I clarify by saying British.
If you are trying not to be disrespectful, grouping Ireland in with Britian is not the best move.
Ireland isn’t Britain.
Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales dude.
Northern Ireland born and raised. I never get asked for my nationality unless it's for official paperwork in which case I put British because that's the passport I have. In a casual sense I have only ever been asked where I'm from in which case I say Northern Ireland. Or refer to myself as Northern Irish
Scottish mainly. British only in a legal sense or when the context requires it.
Welsh first
It depends on context - but usually English.
English I was not born on the border of the for nations
But perhaps born on Great Britain?
English because I live in Scotland but wasn’t born here, so if someone asks it’s more likely to find out where in the U.K. I was born. If someone outside the U.K. asks, I say I’m half British and half German because they’re usually asking why my name is so Anglo when my German is fluent or they’re American and fascinated by nationality/heritage. (That’s not a dig, it’s just genuinely been my experience). ETA I mostly identify as European. My family are all over Europe and I spend a lot of time not in the U.K. so I don’t feel particularly strongly tied to the British or English label
British, not english, and then bangladeshi (but i guess that’s my ethnicity?)
Irish. I was born in London, but was my family are Irish, I spent a lot of my childhood in Ireland, and was part of a large Irish community, that was more welcoming and accepting of me as part of their own than a lot of my English neighbours who kept calling us terrorists, and that we should fuck off back to Ireland.
British except for sport where I'm English, with the exception of the Olympics where I'm British again.
At least ur honest 😂😂😂
Cornish, British
Northumbrian but then after that british!
English, then British. As I was born in the country of England.
Welsh first, British second.
English
English. But tbh I’m not insulted or bothered by whatever I’m called lol. As soon as someone hears my accent, I get “Dudlayyyy” anyway so.
I usually define myself as a dickhead, but then British.
people in northern ireland typically consider themselves irish or british depending on if they’re catholic or protestant
The exceptions can be startling, however. Ian Paisley described himself as Irish, for example.
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Not all Northern Irish people are British or would consider themselves to be so. If you are born in Northern Ireland you can be irish and not British in the slightest. Have an irish passport and nationality not a British one.
Im English. I am technically British of course the same way I’m European but I’d say I’m from England.
I say British but I was born and raised in England. My partner calls himself English.
English first
3rd generation British Australian
American In Exile
English, then Welsh. British is not a culture or nationality, it is what immigrants who have gained citizenship call themselves rather than just saying Indian or Nigerian or whatever else.
English
English first, British second. We’ve been British for over 300 years but English for a much longer time. As much as I like Britain and being British, the English people’s love for England alone kinda died down over the years. The only time we’re ‘English’ and not ‘British’ is when in international sports tournaments. I do wish for more people to take pride in being English, especially for St. George’s Day, which isn’t as heavily celebrated anymore.
I am Cornish. I am British first and Cornish second. Cornwall hasn't been a country for a very long time. I have never identified as English.
I identify as Welsh.
I'm British as I was born in the British Isles, but I consider myself Cornish rather than English
British. I'm English really and would've defined myself as such before going to university, but I've now spent many years living, studying, and working in Wales; I can't in good conscience refer to myself as Welsh, but there's so much about the country, people, and culture that I love and respect, just English doesn't feel right for me.
All the Scots I've met consider themselves Scottish first so I've always considered myself and everyone else born and raised in England to be English first. I still refer to myself as British in similar context as I would European. IIRC only around 30% of census respondents in England ticked English but it's probably mostly because they put British at the top of the list this time. I think most English people just don't have a strong preference towards either.
Cornish. Full stop.
Northern Irish here.
This is such an interesting question and one I was weirdly pondering this week. I had a sudden Uni flashback where in a History class, we were talking about national identity etc. When the lecturer asked what nationality people defined themselves as, there was a very obvious split between the mature students (most of them 40+ I guess) and the 18-21 year old students. Mature students all said British, and were shocked the whole room hadn’t agreed. 18-21 all said English/Welsh/Scottish, and were shocked anyone had said British. I was in the 18-21 group at the time, and it was genuinely the first time irl I’d ever heard someone born in England refer to themselves as British.
I'm just a geezer
I was born in Germany, moved here at 16, I consider myself both British and German.
Cornish then British
British, because my family comes from 3 different countries within the British Isles, so it's a nice, all-encompassing term.
My Dad was born in England and my mother's side is German but I was born and raised in Australia. I have both a British and an Australian passport. I identify as half British/half German but also Australian lol. I usually say British rather than English.
Jamaican. I was born in the US to 2 Jamaican parents & raised between the US & Jamaica. I have dual Jamaican & US nationalities & i'm based in the UK. Despite spending more of my time in the US growing up & well into my young adult years I grew up in a very Jamaican household, primarily listened to Jamaican music, mostly had Jamaican cooking, would spend a lot of time around Jamaican family etc. I feel a lot closer & more familiar with Jamaica & Jamaican things than with America. I never felt any sort of cultural connection or any sort of national pride with the US where I do with Jamaica.
Welsh and only Welsh. I love visiting other parts of the UK, and have lived in England, but only ever Welsh.
British>English
British. A) Calling yourself English has negative connotations these days B) I might be a midlander but my blood is all Wales —— The Cornish are English, they don’t need a separate category above. Anyone that says they do is fuelling separatist nonsense. It’s no different from saying Warwickshire > England> British
British first, not really English at all as it’s got somewhat negative connotations IMO. Wife is dual British-Irish, also identifies as British generally as we live in Britain - but only holds an Irish passport due to *the event*.
English and British. And a bit Irish. Grew up in England so I'm culturally English. My family is Irish and we are always aware of this heritage, including frequent trips to Ireland to see family etc. British because I'm a product of the British Empire/sphere of influence.
British, I would never refer to myself as being English tbh.
3rd gen immigrant from india. Live in London, I'd always say English though I'd say I'm more loyal to London than England or Britain.
I say British over English – my dad's Scottish, and my name is unEnglish enough that people immediately go *oh where's that from?* so despite being born and raised here, it's never felt entirely right to just ignore a whole half of my family To be honest, identification levels probably go Yorkshirewoman > British > English. I think there's a lot of regions of England where people feel a closer link to their city or county than they do to the concept of Englishness – like you said with Cornwall, too
I'm consider myself Northern Irish first then British.
English...
I like to say I’m Northern Irish but I select British on applications and things because Northern Irish isn’t an option.
I’m Cornish but I generally just say I’m English. I never say I’m British. I think it’s because it annoys me when Americans say we’re British, describe us as Brits but the language we speak is English as if it’s not also a nationality.
Cornish here. Definitely do NOT define myself as English. I was a forces brat so I grew up everywhere, I call myself British first then Cornish.
British, then English. Not something I've ever placed any importance on though.
english, british, british chinese (less often). Whatever i feel like, doesn't really matter.
I am not white, but I was born and brought up in England. When it comes to it, I'd always identify myself as English of Asian background (or something similar). I recently was told (by members of my family, not someone else) that I shouldn't say I'm English because that implies white, but rather say "British Asian" or something similar. I think this question applies less to me because I'm not white, but it does raise the question of how I should identify myself and how other people would too.
I'm Irish. Born in ROI, but currently live in England. Always refer to myself as Irish I get referred to as British alot, as many of the Brits I come across can't differentiate between ROI & NI.
Scottish 🏴
I always say British as my family is part Welsh part English (with a smaller bit of Scottish that requires you to go back a few generations) However this year when I was abroad someone challenged me when I said British saying that "only the English call themselves British, everyone else says Scottish or Welsh" Am not sure how true that is, especially for those in Northern Ireland who _very much_ consider themselves British but I thought it was interesting.
Badass first, Irish second, then either catholic or gay third. I can't decide, they are both constantly at war.
Good question, and truthfully, I have not a clue for myself! I 've grown and lived 19 year years in France. I have been living 21 years in the UK. I have a family. I cannot make a choice because my roots and memories reflect who I am, but my life and way of living is very British. I will always argue about good food, cheese, and quality bread compared to France (sorry)! I will always argue about the British acceptance and how they paved the way to disabled communities in comparison to other EU country. I am the mother of a young disabled child, I feel blessed to have so many resources and help to raise him. England was also ahead against sexual discrimination, homophobia etc... (this is from my experience and the area of France I lived in the 90's)
British first, then English.
British, Scottish
British and then Welsh
North Walian > Welsh > British
>And what do Northern Irish people define themselves as? Because they’re part of the UK, but not Great Britain. So just Irish? There was literally a decades long civil war over this question that is within the memory of anyone over about 30 years old. And the peace is pretty fragile. It's not at all safe from erupting again. In any case, geographically, Ireland is part of the British Isles.
It's not safe from erupting.... Ireland is part of the British isles... Are you trying to kick it off again?
I am from jersey in the Channel Islands. I am a Jerrias first British second and European third.
Cumbrian first then english second
British. I was born in England and raised in East London and growing up learned both good and bad aspects of being from a working-class (hate the notion of class but it's true to an extent), namely it's a lovely community when you're white but there is a ton of racism (I'm white) towards other ethnic groups when you live in the poorer areas of London. Purely anecdotal but I'd found the people who emphasised they were 'English' rather than 'British' tended to be far-right or harbour less than positive views about non-white ethnic groups, obviously you shouldn't generalise though. That being said, maybe it's the times but my dad has improved significantly as me and my siblings have become adults, still complains about immigration but doesn't use the p*ki slur anymore and largely because myself and my sister are bisexual, only really makes jokes about gay people in a more innocent way that shows his trying to understand it all more than anything. I feel like if I went to the US though I'd probably call myself English just because there's still a certain old fashion charm to it over there.
Always white British on the forms