How ethnically diverse are we?

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:57 PM

CR, that is really interesting! I've started a second thread as this one is getting so long, so please, everyone, add to it by clicking here. Thanks!

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:30 PM

My late father only about six years ago found out where his grandfather came from. We always assumed it was Russia, because our last name was presumed to be Russian Jewish. He researched family records and contacted distant relatives, and found out his grandfather was a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant. Don't know where dad's paternal grandmother came from - they were presumed to have met in the U.S. Dad's mother came from Austrian Jewish backgound, and on my mother's side, Russian and Polish Jewish. After doing some research on our last name, I found that it exists, with the same spelling, in Norway, as a non-Jewish name, and in Arabic countries as well. The name also can be traced to Spanish Jews. I must have had an ancestor who really "got around."

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: GUEST,Merlin
Date: 15 Jul 00 - 09:48 AM

Hmmmmm. Let's see. I'm 1/2 irish, the other half a blend of Scottish, Dutch, Austrian and Lithuanian. My friends tell me I look like a Leprechaun (red hair and green eyes)although Schneider is an unusual last name for a Leprechaun. My tastes in traditional music are Celtic, particularly Irish (same thing goes for my favorite myths and legends). I guess this was influenced by my mom, who is into Irish music, sort of. But also, I just think it sounds cool.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 07:01 PM

Hmm, cool thread. Lets see...

My father's mother's family is French-Canadian, and his father's family is Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, and Walloon, apparently. Oh, and a little bit German.

My mother's father's family is half French-Canadian and half Slovak, more or less. My mother's mother's family is Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and English.

Gets more mixed up the farther back you go... We're s'posed to be descended from Attila on my dad's side, muahaha...

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:33 PM

Gunner, don't disparage hybrid vigor. It's what keeps me out of hospital, since it certainly ain't my clean living!

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:29 PM

But CULTURALLY I don't consider myself American, because I didn't grow up here. We lived in West Africa from my age 5-20, and through college I went either "home" to Abidjan or to Thailand, where my Dad was transferred later. I didn't start living in the US full-time till after college, and my reflexes are still foreign. I'm an expat, quoi, despite living where my passport says I'm from!

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:29 PM

I'm my own grandpa.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:26 PM

Fascinating.

Mom is Serbian by ethnic identity only because the border moved before she was born; her parents were both Hungarian and she lived in the same house, just in a different country thanks to Balkanization. Her grandparents were Austrohungarian Jews but changed their name to something more Hungarian when the empire broke up so nobody would think they were Austrian. This turned out to be a good think when the Holocaust rolled around, as some of her relatives were not identified as Jewish since they weren't Friedmann's any more.
Dad was American, and the family name can be traced back to the 1740's in the New World. They came from Huguenot France, via England and Ireland. But my dad's MOTHER was Russian. Men in his family tend to marry foreigners, so while I was a teenager my Mom, paternal grandmother and paternal aunt (who's Puerto Rican) all had foreign accents in English. In the tree with my family name are also a Cherokee (and not TOO long ago, my grandfather could have claimed government benefits if he'd wanted to). We are also the bastard branch of the family name from way back when, some woman had one son with her last name (my ancestor) before marrying a Peterson and having another 9.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: GUEST,newbian
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 12:45 AM

refresh?

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 09:32 AM

My mothers family have been traced back to the Viking invaders of Shapinsay - the Orkney Islands,Scotland. Where I still have relatives living.
My Fathers family belong to the Keith Clan and were quite devious and nasty. My Dads mum was from Cork.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Mbo
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 08:25 PM

In Ken Burns book, "The Civil War," there is a picture of Arlington Cemetery soon after the war. Clearly seen is grave #2509--a certain J.Richards, Company B?, 148th Pennsylvania, killed July 4th, 1864. I don't know who this man really was, except from the date, it points to the battle of Cold Harbor. I've always liked to think that he was a relative of mine--the Richards (on my father's side) have been German Pennsylvania coal miners for many generations, and the Christian name James is like a tradition in the family--every generation must have one child named James. It's funny, I hardly know anything about my father's side of the family, but I have this strange connection to this soldier who gave his life on our nation's birthday. I wonder if anyone else remembers #2509...

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: kendall
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 08:07 PM

I cant be sure what my lineage is..all I know for sure is last Saturday night, I had considerable "scotch" in me. and, yes. I know the difference..

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: gunner
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 06:52 PM

kendall, my earliest known ancestor was a norman trooper named "bartellotte" he too waded ashore with billy the bastard fought at hastings then seduced a saxon barmaid and settled down to raise a family, we've mostly worked for that well known british firm of "goforth, kilburn and robb" the last thousand years. i suggest that with the nomadic tendencies of the human race as a whole and the very well known male habit of laying any female who would hold still long enough there ain't any such thing as a "purebred" anybody, particularly when you add in the prevalence of armies and the traditional hobbies of victorious soldiers (only recently severely discouraged in "civilized" armies) of pillage looting and rape you get an almost continual stirring of the genetic pot. (look at the variations in hair colour in japanese since ww2 and the american "occupation" in what was before an almost uniform genetic pool.... and we may have done them a favor, after time a closed population almost cannot avoid inbreeding) i'd say that one possible reason we're "top dogs" in the world so far is because we are such a pack of mutts. "hybrid vigor" i've heard it called. that's one reason i view the current prattle about "celebrating diversity" with suspicion, it seems to be more like an attempt to keep "the peasants" stirred up, split up and sispiscious of each other making us easier to rule by a soi disant "elite". me, i like stew. "gunner"

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Little Dorritt
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 06:45 PM

My mothers family are named landowners in the domesday book and came over with William the Conqueror.My fathers family name is fairfax and we are direct descendants of Cromwell's Lord Chancellor Thomas fairfax who was a Yorkshireman. On my grandmothers side we are descended from Thomas Arne who wrote Rule Brittannia question - where did all the bloody money go???

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: lamarca
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 05:04 PM

Wopolack. My dad's parents were from Sicily, my mom's from Poland. One of my Sicilian great-grandfathers may or may not have come north from Tunesia to Sicily - he was the dark one...My Polish grandfather came to America in 1911 to avoid being drafted into the Austrian army, but talked about those "damned draft-dodgers" during the Vietnam War. I was born in the West Point Military Academy Hospital, so I'm 100% American. (Just salute when you see me...)

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Magpie
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 04:42 PM

Norwegian, Norwegian, Norwegian and Norwegian. Interesting, huh?

Magpie

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 04:33 PM

I have ancestors that fought on both sides of the American Revolution. Good thing they didn't hold grudges.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: kendall
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 04:14 PM

My ancestors invaded England in 1066 with William the conqueror. My great grandfather fought with Sherman, my uncle fought with Patton.. we cant get along with anyone.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 04:01 PM

English - mothers side seem to have been Shropshire for centuries and my fathers side from Norfolk although I believe that my dads side were originaly Flemish weavers who came over I don't know how long ago and were granted the freedon of the City of Norwich and that is when the surname changed. It doesn't mean anything except keeping up an old tradition but I am a heriditary Freeman of of The City of Norwich, as is my father and my 3 brothers.

Receiving the freedom was quite an event for me and my brothers as we waited until Paul my youngest brother was 18 and entitled and went together - somehow we even managed to get free tickets to watch Norwich play Liverpool (in the posh area - behind glass and with a bar) and we won 2-1.

Jon

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Hutzul
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 03:18 PM

Half Ukrainian - Half Slovak

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: paddymac
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 02:35 PM

Like most native-born Americans, I'm "Heinz 57". Genealogically, back to Ireland on all branches on my Dad's side (Counties Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Cork, and probably others), but I'm 4th and 5th generation on this side of the pond. Mom's side is more complex: Irish, Native American, English & Scot discovered so far. Born & raised in the midwest, but a "naturalized" Floridian for 30+ years. I'm drawn to decent folks, irrespective of heredity, and shun arses on the same basis.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: jeffp
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 10:33 AM

On my father's side it's been traced back to an ancestor who was a Norman knight sent to Scotland as a hostage to ensure a treaty would be honored. During 500 years there, a title and lands were acquired and lost, resulting in a hurried trip to America in the late 1600's. So on that side, I'm mostly Norman Scot, with a little Irish married into the mix. On my mother's side, less is known, but I think it's mostly English. There is supposedly a little German and Native American scattered in there too. Another American mutt!

My music tastes run from baroque to trad Irish, bluegrass, rock'n'roll, Andean mountain music, you name it. I'll listen to anything and try to play most of it.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 09:22 AM

Irish on my Dad's side, English on my Mom's ...

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 09:07 AM

1/4 Cherokee, the rest a mutt-mixture of Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Cantonese...

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: InOBU
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 08:02 AM

Anglo Irish, on my fathers side, and Russian and Rom (Gypsy) on my mothers - so what else could I do but play music?
Larry
PS If Rana is still tuned in - drop me an e-mail at [e-mail]. In my recent past in the legal profession, before I cucked it all to get out of the muck and mire of American dog eat dog law, I had the great privelege to help on a few Shik cases, one especialy of a young man who came to the US from England for a visit and was treated horribly by the US gov. A great deal of our forign policies are both ignorent and racist. It is likely that this was behind your treatment. Please accept at least one concerned appology from a US taxpayer - mine.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: IceWolf
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 06:32 AM

Well...

An interesting thread, to say the least. Or, more properly, collection of threads.

On my Dad's side, family legend has it that we are line descendents (albeit on the wrong side of the sheets) of the Draculas. On my mother's side, we're a mix of German peasant, Black-irish, and Welsh, with the latter being the most recent; her grandparents came over from Caernafon.

Musically, I like British (incl Irish, Welsh, and Scottish) and American folk. There's also a, um, bastard child of folk called "filk" which I throroughly enjoy.

With regards to self description: when someone asks me what I am, I say "Human". This reminds me of a story from my days in the Army. My platoon was about half black, one fourth hispanic, and the rest white / other (judging by appearances only). First day of Boot Camp, our Drill Sergeants are giving us a big lecture on tolerance, yada yada. But the thing that stuck in my mind was the line, "We all bleed red, no matter what color our skin is."

--IceWolf

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 05:27 AM

I can pretty much ditto Bonedaddy as a Dutch/English Floridian. Recently had my name Americanised (?)by the Mudcat registration office.

Still Frankie

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Metchosin
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 03:44 AM

Hungarian, Scottish and English

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 03:27 AM

I am with The Shambles on this one!

For those who are interested predominantly Irish with a smidgeon of English and Spanish!

mcmoo

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: MiloBOB
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 10:42 PM

I'm 100% Serb. Not much demand for Serbian folk singers these days, so I play mostly Irish music.

P.S. DADGAD is good for Balkan songs too.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Stewie
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 06:37 PM

I'm Australian. My father was born in Glasgow and came to Australia with his parents when he was 12. My mother was born in Australia and her parents came from County Galway.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 06:01 PM

My Mom was from Romania
My Dad was from Poland
I was raised & groomed to become a Canadian Jewish Princess
The plan failed

BB

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 04:10 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Fionan
Date: 07 Jul 99 - 01:09 PM

English...that's all, as far as I'm aware!.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 07 Jul 99 - 01:24 AM

Bert, you are being too modest. Are you not in fact Sir Bertrand, Lord of Pendennis Minor, Second Earl of Clemwich,Protector of the Queen, and the true Marquesse of Malmsbury? Aha! I thought so. Your regal bearing betrays you.

His LEJliness

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: CarlZen
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 09:44 PM

All four grandparents were born in different parts of Denmark and somehow I ended up in California loving country blues and bluegrass and other folk-related musics, but mostly the two first-mentioned.

I do like some of the Scandinavian fiddle music I've heard, but I haven't had much opportunity to hear a lot of it. I lived in Denmark from '72 to '76 and played and heard a lot of groups. At the time there weren't too many youn Danes playing their own folk music, but they played a lot of British Isles and Amderican music. One exception was a group called "Stegt Kartoffler og ...(forgot the last word)..." They played lots of old Danish dance music.

In terms of real ethnicity, though, I appreciate Spider John's album title;

Raised by Humans.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Penny S.
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 03:41 PM

Mind you, I wish it did come naturally to sir and ma'am everyone. I only use them as in "Sir, I think you've dropped your car keys," and the like.

Penny

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Bert
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 03:17 PM

I quite agree with you Penny. One thing that amused me greatly when I got my American Citizenship - I had to agree to relinquish all my hereditary titles.
Bert.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Penny S.
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 02:51 PM

Isn't it odd that all these titled folk demand to be addressed as if they were God? Majesty, Grace, Highness - what does it say about the way they think of the rest of us?

Penny (Who, not being brought up where it is common to say sir and ma'am to everyone, finds even that sticks in the craw when demanded as a right. And as for Miss being the equivalent of Sir in schools - Pshaw!)

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 12:52 AM

Dai-- Oh, that's fine. I"ve always wanted to be clapped in the Tower anyway. Just for the experience, don't cha know? We Western Women don't have much truck with all them fancy titles and such.

KC

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 08:46 PM

ONE HALF German ~~ ONE HALF a mixture of French, Indian, and English ~~ THE OTHER HALF I'M NOT SURE OF.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Rana
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 02:38 PM

Interesting thread, usually I've just considered myself human. Actually I'm a Brummie (Birmingham, England) born and breed, though my father is of Sikh background and my Mum's of Hindu background. People can be a bit surprised at my interests and activities, however.

We were just Morris Dancing in Orillia this weekend (140 km N. of Toronto) when someone came up to me and said that they thought my ancestors probably came from a long way from Ireland. No problem, I just corrected them, pointing out that Morris Dancinmg was an English folk tradition.

I will agree that immigration types can be a pain - I was delayed 2 hours by US immigration the other week who were querying why the NIH had asked me to go to Washington and that the US government had BOUGHT MY TICKET. When asked why they asked me, I replied that presumably their (US) government thought I was qualified. Well they did finally let me in. It was the beard I suppose.

Anyway, I've always felt that one's ethnic background should not dictate - thsi group is diverse but ceratinly shares common intersets and that is what counts.

Rana

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Penny S
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 01:36 PM

I had never heard of the Melungeon people before this thread, so was quite surprised to find two references tp them and their history on BBC Radio Four on Saturday morning. It was quite useful to be primed by the Mudcat.

Interesting story, isnt it?

Penny

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 03:03 PM

Bill.

Thank you for the explanation of 'Duke's Mix'. I had this thought of it being a collection of Duke Ellington compositions, re-mixed by one of those dance DJ's.

I hope I have not given anyone any ideas! Or does such a thing exist already?

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: amo
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 02:00 PM

It seems that germans do not move very far. I'm just German (just?) and I don't now any different ancestors.

amo

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Mike Strobel
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 08:26 AM

From me Mom's side, Irish........her family from County Cork and County Clare,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,From my Father's side; German........with his family coming from County Munich.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 11:29 AM

KC - Mr. Spencer Compton !!!? <G> enough to get you clapped in the Tower. He's a Marquess, so please be so kind to address him as 'Your Grace', although 'Sir' would pass muster in times of dire need, as would 'My Lord Northampton'. 'Bignose', for example, is right out, as are 'Spence', 'Copmty-baby' and 'Snuggles'.

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 10:36 AM

Every time I come to this thread on the list, I think it says, "how ethically diverse are we"...Maybe we can now run this up to 200 or so...

Art

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 10:19 AM

Bill -- I've actually heard my dad and mom use that term to describe our tribe. "A masterful blend of domestic and imported" pretty well encapsulates my heritage.

KC

Subject: RE: How ethnically diverse are we?
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 08:08 AM

Mbo--

"Duke's Mix" was a fairly common term in my part of the country, and took its name from a particularly popular brand of tobacco called Dukes' Mixture. Its boast that it was a masterful blend of domestic and imported tobaccos apparently made it a useful metaphor for the rather peculiar national and racial backgrounds of the folks in that area. The term is still used among the older folks in the Appalachians, but I suspect that it is not being taken up as a term by the younger generations.